Peoria Audubon Society
124th Annual National Audubon
Christmas Bird Counts
Saturday, December
16 - Peoria CBC
Saturday, December
23 - Chautauqua CBC
Saturday, December
30 - Chillicothe CBC
Peoria Audubon
Society participates in three local Christmas Bird Counts.
What is a Christmas Bird Count?
Teams of volunteer birders go out "into the field"
in a defined area within the 15-mile diameter count circle and take
a census of birds. [Peoria
count circle is shown below. A separate count circle is defined for
Chautauqua in Fulton County and for Chillicothe.] This means that each bird the team
sees is identified and counted. With large flocks, a scientific
estimate is made on the number in the flock. The time and distance
traveled (both on foot and in a vehicle) is logged. Each team is
responsible to report on the species they find within their areas.
At the national level, the count data from the
counts -
2621 count circles worldwide last year - are uploaded and
entered into a database for establishing statistical and historical
trend analysis. Researchers and private citizens can access the
national data.

Peoria CBC Count Circle (15 miles wide);
(Click for
Larger)
How do
I go on a count?
Contact
one (or more) of the following count organizers to go out and count
birds. In each of the identified regions within a count circle, a
team leader will contact the team members to get organized and
discuss any logistics or answer any questions.
Contacts:
-
Peoria Count, Dec.
16: Contact
Mike Miller 309.273.7312
-
Chautauqua Count,
Dec. 23: Contact
Rick Fox 309.369.5330
-
Chillicothe Count,
Dec. 30: Contact
Tracy Fox 309.369.5331
What
if I am a novice and not good at identifying a species?
Novice
birders are teamed up with people more seasoned at identifying and
counting the expected species. It is a great opportunity for a
beginning birder to go out and learn more about the diversity of
birds around us. The pace is leisurely and, although the data is
scientifically valid, it is important to take your time and have
fun! Each team determines where and when to take breaks - which
takes on an increased importance when the temperatures are low.
Peoria Audubon encourages beginning birders to join in the count.
Each team leader takes pride in making the experience enjoyable for
the novices.
How long have bird
counts been conducted?
The Christmas Bird Count,
sponsored by the National Audubon Society, is one of the nation's
longest-running examples of citizen science. Started in 1900, the
number of local bird counts have have expanded to include 2621
locations in the Western Hemisphere in 2022 (each identified as a
15-mile diameter count circle). The Annual Audubon Christmas Bird
Count is the longest running Citizen Science survey in the world!
Keep watching our
Calendar of
Events for the latest updated information on meetings,
field trips and special events.
Peoria Audubon meetings always feature timely topics and
everyone is welcome. And, the meetings are always
FREE!
----------------------
Public is Always
Welcome
Meetings are
free and open to the public

Monthly
meetings of Peoria Audubon Society are held at
Forest Park
Nature Center in Peoria Heights.
|