• Join the 119th Annual Christmas Bird Count in Vermont

    Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator). © K.P. McFarland

    The 119th Christmas Bird Count will take place from December 14  through January 5. This is perhaps the longest running citizen science project in Vermont. Each count occurs in a designated circle, 15 miles in diameter, and is led by an experienced birder, or designated “compiler”. Read more to learn where Vermont CBCs are located, date of counts and compiler contact information.

    The longest running citizen science program in the world, the count originally began on Christmas Day in 1900 when ornithologist and legendary birder and ornithologist Frank Chapman posed an alternative to an earlier traditional holiday “side hunt.” Chapman proposed “hunting” birds to record their numbers. Instead of firing a shotgun, now we have an annual snapshot. Decades of data have added up to results envied by other scientists who don’t enjoy such a fleet of volunteer help, or creatures as easily seen and counted as birds.

    While there is a specific methodology to the CBC and you need to count birds within an existing Christmas Bird Count circle, everyone can participate! If you are a beginning birder, you will be able to join a group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher. If your home is within the boundaries of a Christmas Bird Count circle, then you can stay home and report the birds that visit your feeder or join a group of birdwatchers in the field. If you have never been on a CBC before and you want to participate in a count this year, including feeder counting, please contact your count compiler prior to the count.

    Would you like to explore the data from seasons past or see a map of count circles? Visit the Christmas Bird Count home page to learn more.

    Are you planning on adding your observations to Vermont eBird too? Check out this short article about helpful hints.

    VERMONT COUNTS (view map):

    Barnet
    Jan. 1, 2019
    Contact: Charlie Brown – 

    Bennington
    Dec. 22, 2018
    Contact: Kevin Hemeon –

    Brattleboro
    Dec. 15, 2018
    Contact: Cory Ross – 

    Burlington
    Dec. 16, 2018
    Contact: Elizabeth Mitchell Spinney –
    Compiler: Eric Lazarus – .

    Champlain Islands/St. Albans
    Dec. 16, 2018
    Contact: Terry Marron – 

    East Franklin County
    Jan. 5, 2019
    Contact: Charlotte Bill –  

    Ferrisburgh
    Dec. 15, 2018
    Contact: Mike Winslow – 

    Hanover-Norwich
    Jan. 1, 2018
    Meet in front of Hopkins Center in Hanover, N.H. at 7am
    Contact: Daniel Crook –

    Hinesburg-Huntington
    Jan. 5, 2019
    Contact: Paul Wieczoreck – 

    Hunger Mountain
    Dec. 26, 2018
    Contact: Zach Cota-Weaver- 
    Sign-up

    Island Pond
    2018
    Contact:

    Lamoille County
    Dec. 29, 2018
    Contact: Noel Dodge –

    Mad River Valley/Northfield
    Dec. 14, 2018
    Contact: Mad Birders – 

    Middlebury
    Dec. 16, 2018
    Contact: Jim and Kris Andrews – or 802-352-4734

    Mt. Abraham
    Dec. 14, 2018
    Contact: Randy Durand –

    Plainfield
    Dec. 15, 2018
    Contact: Sean Beckett –

    Plattsburgh, NY (reaches the VT Champlain islands)
    Dec. 16, 2018
    Contact: Michael Burgess –

    Randolph Area
    Dec. 15, 2018
    Contact: Brian Lowe –

    Rutland
    Dec. 29, 2018
    Contact:Rutland Audubon – 

    Saxton’s River
    Dec. 15, 2018
    Contact: Don Clark –

    Springfield
    Dec. 16, 2018
    Contact: Hugh Putnam – or 802-886-8430

    Winhall/Windham
    Dec. 15, 2018
    Contact: Ruth Stewart –

    Woodstock
    Dec. 18, 2018
    Contact: Sally Laughlin –

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    Comments (4)

    1. I am in Erwinna PA near Frenchtown NJ. Have any Juncos been spotted in the North East? I have not seen any here for the first time. I’ve been living here for 20 years and have always seen them.

    2. Kenneth & Ruth LeMoyne says:

      i HAVE A COUNT TO GIVE YOU FROM DERBY, VT
      dEC 26 CHICKADEES, PURPLE FINCHES, GOLD FINCHES.
      dEC 27: 1 HAIRY WOOD PECKER, 2 BLUE jAYS, 3 NUTHATCHES, 12 SPARROWS, 10 HOLF GINVHRD, BLACKBIRDS, 3 RAVENS, 6 CHICKADEES, 10 REDPOLES, 20 ROSE BREASTED GROSSBEAKS

    3. Kenneth & Ruth LeMoyne says:

      THAT IS 10 GOLD FINCHES

    4. Kenneth & Ruth LeMoyne says:

      YES 1 FLOCK OF JUNCOS THIS MORNING, HAVE THEM ON DAILY VIEWING

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