The 112th Christmas Bird Count
White-winged Crossbill on Stratton Mountain, VT. Photo by K.P. McFarland
The longest running citizen science program in the world, the count originally began on Christmas Day in 1900 when ornithologist and legendary birder Frank Chapman posed an alternative to an earlier traditional holiday "side hunt." Chapman proposed “hunting” birds to record their numbers. Instead of firing a shotgun, now we have an annual snapshot. Decades of data have added up to results envied by other scientists who don’t enjoy such a fleet of volunteer help, or creatures as easily seen and counted as birds.
While there is a specific methodology to the CBC and you need to count birds within an existing Christmas Bird Count circle, everyone can participate! If you are a beginning birder, you will be able to join a group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher. If your home is within the boundaries of a Christmas Bird Count circle, then you can stay home and report the birds that visit your feeder or join a group of birdwatchers in the field. If you have never been on a CBC before and you want to participate in a count this year, including feeder counting, please contact your count compiler prior to the count.
Would you like to explore the data from seasons past? Visit the Christmas Bird Count home page to create your own graphs and tables!
VERMONT COUNTS:
Barnet
January 1
Contact: Charlie Brown
cbrowne@fairbanksmuseum.org
Bennington
Dec. 28
Contact: Bonnie Dundas
kinglet@sover.net
Brattleboro
Dec. 17
Contact: Al Merritt
chpmnkx@sover.net
Burlington
Dec. 18
Contact: Shirley Johnson
Compiler: Eric Lazarus
Champlain Islands/St. Albans
Dec. 18
Contact: Liz Alton
redbnuthatch@gmail.com
Ferrisburgh
Dec. 17
Contact: Mike Winslow
Hanover-Norwich
Jan. 1
Contact: Daniel Crook
daniel.crook@hitchcock.org
Hinesburg-Huntington
Dec. 31
Contact: Paul Wieczoreck
mgcpw@gmavt.net
Island Pond
Dec. 15
Contact: Jayson Benoit
jayson@northwoodscenter.org
Mad River Valley/Northfield
Dec. 16
Contact Pat Folsom
pfols@gmavt.net
Middlebury
Dec. 18
Contact: Jim Andrews
jandrews@middlebury.edu
Mt. Abraham
Dec. 17
Contact: Randy Durand
durand@gmavt.net
Plainfield
Dec. 17
Contact: Chip Darmstadt
chip@NorthBranchNatureCenter.org
Randolph Area
Dec. 17
Contact: Rick Enser
rickenser@yahoo.com
Rutland
Dec. 31
Contact: Roy Pilcher
shamwariVT@aol.com
Saxton's River
Dec. 17
Contact: Don Clark
sapsbks@sover.net
Springfield
Dec. 18
Contact: Hugh Putnam
putnams@vermontel.net
Winhall/Windham
Dec. 17
Contact: Ruth Stewart
birder_rws@hotmail.com
Woodstock
Dec. 28
Contact: Sally Laughlin
laughlin@sover.net
