What began as a lark in the park for a few dedicated birders in 1899 has become an official, international, annual event. More than 50,000 volunteers participate in the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) every year. These results form the longest running database in ornithology.

The Christmas Bird Count began when a small group of birders from New York, decided to celebrate the holiday by counting the birds in Cenral Park. The event was probably in response to the sport of shooting birds on Christmas Day that was a popular holiday activity in those days! In 1899 conservationism and environmentalism were pretty new concepts, but the people who understood the need to care for the environment were dedicated. These birders captured numbers instead of dinner or trophies and recorded the results.

While it may have been fun, most scientists were not interested in the results of that first survey. Ornithologists were amused by the amateurs' enthusiasm, but not impressed by the lack of scientific standards used in collecting the data. Did this stop the New Yorkers and bird lovers from other areas from getting together the next year... and every year after? Of course not!

Persistance did pay off. Other bird watchers and birding groups in Boston and New England began adding their own unscientific data to the Christmas Count. When the National Audubon Society formed in 1905, the data had a central place to be stored. Through the years the Bird Count spread to all 50 US states, all of the Canadian provinces, many parts of the Caribbean and Central and South America. It's just a matter of time before the annual count is embraced by birders in every country, creating a truly international database.

The Annual Christmas Bird Count is also getting more accurate every year as the organizers, leaders and compilers stress the importance of getting it right to the volunteers. Field guides and training tapes hone the amateur bird watcher's skills. Better binoculars and other equipment make it less likely that a stray leaf will be reported as a rare bird. Scientists now support the effort...it is the longest running continuous census in the world!

Collecting data for more than a century tends to smooth out the statistics. The results of the Christmas Bird Count are now entered into computer databases and the data is available to scientists from all over the world. This information is extremely valueable to scientists who study bird populations and distribution.

108th Annual Christmas Bird Count - Sunday, December 16th in Central Park

Join the New York City Parks Department, The Central Park Conservancy, and the Audubon Society for the 108th Annual Christmas Bird Count.

Teams of birdwatchers will canvas the entire 843 acres of Central Park, recording the number and species of birds they observe. The counting begins at 8:00 a.m. sharp, and the official tally will occur at noon. This event is free and open to everyone.

Birders will gather at the South Pumping Station of Central Park's Reservoir...
Enter at 85th Street and 5th Ave

8:00 am - The Bird Count will begin
12:00 pm - Counting ends and the numbers are tallied
3:00 pm - The Bird Count will end

Call: 212-628-2345 for more information and the details for this year's event.

Saturday December 15th at Prospect Park in Brooklyn...

The results of this survey help identify bird species that are in danger and pick up environmental problems in the earliest stages. Volunteers have been making a difference in the world through this effort for more than a century and plan to keep on counting until pigs fly!

2006 107th Annual Christmas Bird Count

Check the MidManhattan.com Advent Calendar for more New York Holiday Events and Activities