Local volunteers invited to join BLM and Audubon for 117th annual Christmas Bird Count
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MONTROSE, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management and the Audubon Society invite local hawk-eyed volunteers to assess the health of bird populations near Montrose, Delta, Gunnison and Hotchkiss in December and January.
Each year, the Audubon Christmas Bird Count mobilizes over 70,000 volunteers in more than 2,400 locations across the Western Hemisphere. Volunteers will record every individual bird and bird species observed in specified areas, contributing to a vast citizen science network that continues a tradition stretching back more than 100 years.
“The volunteers who brave snow, wind, or rain, to take part in the annual Christmas Bird Count make an enormous contribution to conservation,” said Missy Sider, Bureau of Land Management Wildlife Biologist. “The BLM, Audubon and other organizations use this census data to help guide conservation action.”
The count takes place within count circles, which focus on specific geographical areas and each circle is overseen by a count compiler. Count circles are divided and areas assigned to participants at the meeting sites listed below. Novice birders will join a group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher.
The counts will take place on the following dates and locations:
Saturday, Dec. 17, in Montrose
Volunteers meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Montrose Public Lands Center parking lot (2465 S. Townsend Ave.). Bird counting is done until the circle is complete or until dark. Contact Missy Siders, 970-240-5332 or msiders@blm.gov.
Sunday, Dec. 18, in Gunnison
Volunteers meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Western State College Campus, Hurst Hall, Room 130 to get organized. A chili potluck is held at 5:30 p.m. while results are compiled. Contact Arden Anderson at 970-641-5322 the week before the count if there are any questions.
Saturday, Dec. 31, in Delta
Volunteers meet at 8 a.m. in the Delta City Market parking lot to receive maps, data sheets and directions for conducting surveys. Please contact Amy Seglund at 970-252-6014 or amy.seglund@state.co.us if you are interested in participating or need additional information.
Sunday, Jan. 1, in Hotchkiss
Volunteers meet at 8 a.m. in the Hotchkiss City Market parking lot to break into groups. For more information and to RSVP, contact Jason Beason at 970-310-5117 or jason.beason@birdconservancy.
If your home is within the boundaries of a Count Circle, you can stay home and report the birds that visit your feeder.
Volunteers should bring warm clothes, snacks and/or lunch, drinks, binoculars, spotting scope and bird identification books. Each volunteer will receive maps of birding areas, checklists of birds that may be observed and additional instructions.
For more information about Christmas Bird Count participation, visit Audubon's website at http://www.audubon.org/
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.