History of the Christmas Bird Count - Audubon
"Prior to the turn of the 20th century, hunters engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas "Side Hunt." They would choose sides and go afield with their guns—whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won.
Conservation was in its beginning stages in that era, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations. Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer in the then-nascent Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition—a "Christmas Bird Census" that would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them.
So began the Christmas Bird Count. Thanks to the inspiration of Chapman and the enthusiasm of 27 dedicated birders, 25 Christmas Bird Counts were held that day. The locations ranged from Toronto, Ontario to Pacific Grove, California with most counts in or near the population centers of northeastern North America. Those original 27 Christmas Bird Counters tallied around 90 species on all the counts combined." Audubon website .
"Prior to the turn of the 20th century, hunters engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas "Side Hunt." They would choose sides and go afield with their guns—whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won.
Conservation was in its beginning stages in that era, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations. Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer in the then-nascent Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition—a "Christmas Bird Census" that would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them.
So began the Christmas Bird Count. Thanks to the inspiration of Chapman and the enthusiasm of 27 dedicated birders, 25 Christmas Bird Counts were held that day. The locations ranged from Toronto, Ontario to Pacific Grove, California with most counts in or near the population centers of northeastern North America. Those original 27 Christmas Bird Counters tallied around 90 species on all the counts combined." Audubon website .
Our Story
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History of the Edmonton Christmas Bird Count, 1906–2013
Geoff Holroyd The Christmas Bird Count has a long and storied history in Edmonton. The Edmonton CBC has been conducted 65 times from 1906 to 2013, and continuously since 1955. ... The first CBCs had few rules. By the 1950s the rules established a 15-mile diameter for each count... (Includes trends in bird populations.) Read the article: Holroyd, G.L. 2015. History of the Edmonton Christmas Bird Count, 1906–2013. Parkland Naturalist January-April 2015 |
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Sidney S.S. Stansell, Alberta's First Christmas Bird Counter
Geoff Holroyd and Carla Palaschuk Sidney Stansell was an Alberta teacher who not only conducted the first Christmas Bird Counts in Alberta, but also founded the provincial Audubon Society. He published several articles about the birds of central Alberta between 1907 and 1912. ... In this article we also tell a little of his personal history. (Includes notes on changes in species observed.) Read the article: Holroyd, G.L. and C. Palaschuk. 1996a. Sidney S.S. Stansell, Alberta’s first Christmas Bird Counter. Alberta Naturalist 26(2):26–28. |
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A Pebble of a Christmas Bird Count
Geoff Holroyd Only one Christmas Bird Count so far has ever had over 1000 participants: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada had 1288 participants in December 1987. Why did that count get so large and what were the benefits? ... Not only do the participants and the count benefit, but the benefits will spill over into bird conservation. Read the article: Holroyd, G.L. 2000. A Pebble of a Christmas Bird Count. American Birds 54:24–26. |
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Banner photo: House Finch, a changing species in our Count history.
