On Saturday, December 21st, Kittitas Audubon will embark on its 46th CBC, participating in the longest-running community science survey in the world. The very first count occurred 125 years ago, a result of the concern for decreasing bird populations harvested mainly for ladies’ fashions. (Feathers are gorgeous.)
Here’s how each count works! No matter the weather, teams of people cover a slice of a 15-mile diameter circle. (Ellensburg’s circle is centered near the west interchange and we have nine teams.) Every species, and how many birds of that species seen, is counted. Some teams begin before sunrise to count night species, such as owls. Some areas require a fair amount of walking, but much counting is done from cars as roads are slowly traveled. Birds seen at feeders within the count circle are of equal importance. For those who prefer the ‘Armchair CBC’, your sightings this day are also needed (for any amount of time).
Most team areas require the best part of the day to cover, but at 5:00pm, we gather for a potluck at Hal Holmes, where bird species and counts are tallied. Phil Mattocks tallies and submits the statistics and writes a synopsis of our count day that will appear in January’s Hooter. The compiled results of all these counts over the years, added to additional research surveys, help to track fluctuations in bird populations and are used to guide conservation programs around the world. Critical data indicates species population trends in time and space…. significant as the climate changes and natural habitat decreases.
If you have never participated and would like to do so, or if you plan to count at your feeder, please email gloriabaldi55@gmail.com for instructions.
Note: For those in the upper county, the Cle Elum Bird Count is scheduled for Monday, December 16th. For more information contact Michael Hobbs at birdmarymoor@gmail.com.