By Jay V. Huner
Journal Correspondent

Christmas is an exciting time for birders throughout the Piney Woods region. This is the period, December 16 through January 2, when professional and amateur birders spread out through the region and attempt to find, count, and record all of the birds in designated 15 mile diameter circles during a 24-hour period. Birders refer to Christmas Bird Counts affectionately as CBCs.

Christmas Bird Counts are conducted throughout the USA and Canada as well as the Caribbean and Latin America. The first CBC was organized under the umbrella of the National Audubon Society 107 years ago when 27 conservationists decided to protest traditional holiday "side hunts" by counting birds rather than killing them. Times have changed, however, since hunters often organized teams for "side hunts" to see who could shoot the most birds and mammals in a day. Now, of course, hunting is closely managed to ensure that game animals are sustained as renewable resources and many of the best CBC participants give up one or more hunting days to count birds.

Game and non-game birds are counted during CBCs. Valuable data about the status of wintering birds are generated by these counts each year. Long term trends showing declines, increases, and stability of our bird populations are generated by CBCs. As a result, conservation actions can be taken when needed to address problems before serious problems occur.

Christmas Bird Counts are conducted under virtually all weather conditions. They are seldom postponed although one avid birder left to cover his territory near Pine Prairie, Louisiana before he could be called to let him know that, because of sub-freezing weather, that count had been postponed! Talk about dedication. Of course, this CBC took place in the days before cell phones were available.

In Louisiana and Texas most CBCs generate numbers in excess of 100 different bird species. The surveys are conducted with a great deal of intensity. Participants are assigned different sections within the count circle and carefully record time and mileage including foot, boat, and vehicle effort. Most tend to start their surveys just before dawn to detect owls and continue to about dark. Some folks continue into the night but those are the most dedicated of participants.

There were approximately 10 CBCs for Dec. 16, 2006 - Jan. 2, 2007 in Piney Woods areas in both Texas and Louisiana. Overall, Louisiana had 23 counts and Texas had 102 counts reflecting the huge geographical area occupied by the Lone Star State. And, it was no surprise, for the same reason, that Texas birders recorded 386 species compared to the Pelican State's 247 species.

So, you would like to participate in a Christmas Bird Count and want to find out how to do so. If you are not at least a beginning birder who owns a pair of decent binoculars and knows how to use it, you are not going to be an asset to any count. You really need to acquire some birding skills before volunteering to participate in a CBC. Otherwise, you will just "get in the way". Skilled birders are always welcomed by count coordinators. Other birders can work with better birders in a positive way by finding birds by sight and call that would otherwise be missed by solo birders.

Contact information for CBC coordinators and CBC dates are published on state birding listserves (LABIRD in Louisiana and TEXBIRDS in Texas) in October and November. This information may also be found on state bird websites, Texas Ornithological Society and Louisiana Ornithological Society.

All CBC participants pay a $5 registration fee to a count coordinator. In return, the National Audubon Society sends them a 120+ page summary that arrives just before the next CBC. Historical CBC data are available at the National Audubon Society website. So, get ready for the 2008-2009 CBC--get your binoculars, sharpen your birding skills, and join the fun.

Jay V. Huner, Louisiana Ecrevisse, 428 Hickory Hill Drive, Boyce, LA 71409. 318 793-5529 / piku@classicnet.net

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