Home About Archives RSS Feed

Christmas Bird Count Bright and Early

Nichole Dupont

The snow geese spotted in South County during last year's CBC.

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Saturday morning, while many of us are still plastered to the bed (or plastered, period), a hardy troupe of South County folks will be up with the sun to brave the elements.

 Their mission: counting birds.

These dedicated bird watchers and citizen scientists are doing their part for the National Audobon Society’s 111th annual Christmas Bird Count, which began on Dec. 14, 2010,  and will continue through Jan. 5, 2011. The purpose of the count is to help researchers and conservation biologists study the status of bird populations in North America and in so doing develop strategies to protect bird species and habitats.

Ironically, the count originated when ornithologist Frank Chapman, founder of Audubon magazine, proposed doing a "Christmas Bird Census" as opposed to killing them in a Christmas "side hunt,"  a popular pastime before the turn of the 19th century. Today, the CBC spans from the tip of South America to the Yukon territory, and requires the help of thousands of volunteers.

According to last year's CBC summary, 2,914 volunteers and observers counted 214 species in New England. In South County alone, 20 volunteer observers were able to identify more than 60 species (including two snow geese, a great horned owl and a blue heron, to name a few).

Certainly collecting data is not for the faint of heart. Saturday morning observers will gather at 7 a.m. in the parking lot of Monument Mountain Regional High School. From there they will head out to different observation outposts throughout the area in search of the rare, the common and the beautiful birds of the area. Who knows, maybe there is a new species lurking in your yard.

The Central Berkshire bird count, organized by the Hoffman Bird Club, was held the weekend before Christmas. The South County count will run all day Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Volunteers are strongly encouraged to wear several layers of warm clothing and to bring binoculars or a scope if possible … as well as thermos of hot soup for lunch.

Not all the Berkshire County bird watchers are in the Berkshires. Among the not-so-rare snowbirds is well-known bird authority Dick Ferren of Lenox, who was interviewed for a story about the count on a cold (!) day in Bradenton, Fla.

The retired Berkshire Community College professor told Bradenton.com, "Some people are on chemical drugs, some are on electric drugs like TV and video games, and other people are drunk on nature. Some of us are addicted to birds."

Bird addicts can find out more information on the South County count by calling Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary at 413-637-0320, or just show up at the high school Saturday morning ready to search.

More information on what's been seen so far across the state and Western Mass. can be found here.

Tags: bird count, birds      

Support Local News

We show up at hurricanes, budget meetings, high school games, accidents, fires and community events. We show up at celebrations and tragedies and everything in between. We show up so our readers can learn about pivotal events that affect their communities and their lives.

How important is local news to you? You can support independent, unbiased journalism and help iBerkshires grow for as a little as the cost of a cup of coffee a week.

News Headlines
Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified
Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests
MCLA Men's Lacrosse Falls in League Opener
Letter: Vote for Someone Other Than Trump
Berkshire Art Center's Dance Party Returns
Dalton Committee Seeks Funding for Invasive Species
Dog Daycare Planned for Former Williamstown Restaurant Site
Simon's Rock Awarded Freedom to Read Grant
American Legion National Commander To Visit Dalton Post 155
Chamber Music by Local Composers to be Premiered at Simon's Rock


Categories:
Culture (10)
History (3)
Museums (1)
Nature (5)
Real Estate (4)
Shopping (6)
Archives:
Tags:
Projectnorman Lee Great Barrington Celebrities Salt Berkshire Darryl's Mountain School Ideas Vacation New Year's Contest Pittsfield Town Clerk Brother Great Bakery Birds Barrington Lenox Archives Pctv Bird Count Closing Buildings Art Show Karen Clothing Survey Other Fire Station Consignment Richmond
Popular Entries:
Town Accepting Bids for Old Fire Station
Could New Neighbors Be Wall Street Journal Heirs?
The Last of the Insects
African-American Festival Coming to the Berkshires
Christmas Bird Count Bright and Early
Norman Rockwell Archive Goes Live Online
Late-Night Host Fallon Skis Butternut
Back to the Basics: Holiday Toy Shopping Done Right
Owls for Turkeys
A Place for Us: Re-Wear Brings Style to Sheffield
Recent Entries:
Schooled in Passion: Packer's "Women of Will" at Shake & Co.
A Place for Us: Re-Wear Brings Style to Sheffield
Richmond Still Looking For Town Clerk
The Last of the Insects
Is Verizon Making Good on Its Word?
Building Collapses in Great Barrington
Could New Neighbors Be Wall Street Journal Heirs?
Mother Nature is No Match for Cheese
Construct Running Out of Emergency Funds
Winter Breakdown at Ben's in Lee