Christmas Bird Count - Citizen Science in Action

Red-tailed hawk gets
counted!

by F. Portmann

The Audubon Christmas Bird Count, a tradition first proposed by ornithologist Frank M. Chapman on Christmas Day 1900, is the nation's longest-running citizen-science bird project. New York City Audubon plays its part in this annual bird population survey, which is now conducted across North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Pacific Islands. The data collected by observers over the past century allow researchers, conservation biologists, and other interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. View the full history of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count and the compiled nationwide data here.

To see this year’s results from all over the country as they come in, as well as to get historical data from years prior, visit Audubon’s website here.

The 118th annual Christmas Bird Count is underway nationwide and in all five boroughs of New York City. NYC Audubon is responsible for reporting data for the Lower Hudson Count Circle, which includes all of Manhattan and parts of New Jersey. And we host Manhattan's Central Park compilation gathering at the Central Park Arsenal each year, a festive event!

This year's Central Park Count took place on Sunday, December 17, 2017.

Central Park Count Schedule:

8am: Meet at the South Pump Station of the Reservoir (85th Street & 5th Avenue). All counting groups will be escorted by Urban Park Rangers.

12:30pm: Data tally and refreshments at the Arsenal Gallery (3rd floor of the Arsenal at 64th Street & 5th Avenue).

Dress warmly and don’t forget your binoculars!

To get more information or sign up for other New York City counts, please contact the coordinator for each borough, below:

Count	Date	Coordinator	eMail
Brooklyn	Saturday, 12/16	Bobbi Manian	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Staten Island	Saturday, 12/16	Cliff Hagen	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Manhattan	Sunday, 12/17	Kaitlyn Parkins	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Queens	Sunday, 12/17	Corey Finger	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Bronx	Saturday, 12/23	Michael Bochnik	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.