Save the Date! The 2019 Christmas Bird Count will be held on Saturday, December 28.

Since its beginning more than a century ago, the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) has relied on the dedication and commitment of volunteers like you. This annual Audubon-led census is one of the longest-running bird-monitoring projects in the world. Its data has helped researchers gauge how species will adapt to climate change and identify shifting population trends in rare and common wildlife. The Palm Beach County Christmas bird count has been an annual event since 1956; this will be our 64th year of consecutive counts.

Again this year, we are fortunate to have Chuck Weber serving as our CBC Organizer and Data Compiler. Our 15-mile diameter “count circle” is subdivided into “count areas,” each with a team leader. Teams include both experienced birders, less-experienced birders (who can help with keeping the tally of the birds the other team members call out), and photographers. If you are interested in participating in the CBC, please contact us ASAP at info@AudubonEverglades.org.  There are many areas where you can help.

In accordance with event rules, birders must stay within a 15-mile radius, while they scramble to observe as many bird species as possible within that radius. Palm Beach County’s count area extends from just south of Southern Boulevard in West Palm Beach to Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. It encompasses part of the coastline and about 10 percent of the 226-square-mile Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. The terrain of our circle has evolved over the years as farm areas west of Military Trail have become residential communities. There are many gated communities with good habitat for birds within our count circle now, and we would like to include these areas in our count again this year. If you live in one of these communities, you could help us out tremendously by paving the way for one of our teams to gain access to your community and by offering to escort them around for a quick survey for birds. Several of our golf communities include habitat certified by Audubon International, such as Quail Ridge in Boynton Beach, where Jen Estan has offered to set up a team and survey their large community. Other communities of interest to us include Wycliff Country Club, The Fountains, Hunter’s Run, Indian Springs Country Club, Pinetree Golf Club, The Isles, and Olympia. Please contact us if you are willing to help us survey your community at info@AudubonEverglades.org.

West Palm Beach – Audubon Everglades CBC Count Circle
Click to see bigger image

After a busy day of birding, we will have our annual CBC Compilation Gathering. Audubon Everglades will again cater a dinner for everyone who participated in the count. Teams will report their findings, and we will get a quick glimpse of our successful day. Please consider volunteering at the event -another opportunity to support the Christmas Bird Count. The Gathering is always a festive Audubon Everglades event. We are working on finding a location, and details will be posted soon. We look forward to another successful CBC this year. Please consider joining the fun!