The 109th Christmas Bird Count Sunday, December 14, 2008 to Monday, January 5, 2009
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 Jan. 1, 2009
Contact: Charlie Brown
cbrowne@fairbanksmuseum.org
Bennington Dec. 27, 2008
Contact: Bonnie Dundas
kinglet@sover.net
Brattleboro
Contact: Alfred Merritt
Burlington Dec. 14, 2008
Contact: Eric Lazarus
ericlazarus@verizon.net
Champlain Islands/St. Albans Dec. 14, 2008
Contact: Liz Alton
nuthatch@aol.com
Ferrisburgh Dec. 20, 2008
Contact: Mike Winslow
mikekira@verizon.net
Hanover-Norwich Jan. 1, 2009
Contact: Daniel Crook
daniel.crook@hitchcock.org
Hinesburg-Huntington Jan. 3, 2009
Contact: Paul Wieczoreck
mgcpw@gmavt.net
Island Pond Dec. 22, 2008
Contact: Jayson Benoit
jayson@northwoodscenter.org
Mad River Valley/Northfield Dec. 19, 2008
Contact Bridget Butler
bridget@birddiva.com
Middlebury Dec. 14, 2008
Contact: Jim Andrews
jandrews@middlebury.edu
Mt. Abraham Dec. 20, 2008
Contact: Randy Durand
durand@gmavt.net
Plainfield Dec. 14, 2008
Contact: Chip Darmstadt
chip@NorthBranchNatureCenter.org
Randolph Area Dec. 14, 2008
Contact: Rick Enser
rickenser@yahoo.com
Rutland Dec. 27, 2008
Contact: Roy Pilcher
shamwariVT@aol.com
Saxton's River Dec. 20, 2008
Contact: Don Clark
sapsbks@sover.net
Springfield Dec. 21, 2008
Contact: Hugh Putnam
putnams@vermontel.net
Winhall/Windham Jan. 3, 2009
Contact: Ruth Stewart
birder_rws@hotmail.com
Woodstock Dec. 30
Contact: Sally Laughlin
laughlin@sover.net
Julie Nicholson
jmlnicholson@verizon.net
