Get In The Christmas Bird Count Spirit

PRATT – It is the most wonderful time of the year, especially if you enjoy birdwatching. Christmas Bird Count traditions provide a great way to spend time outdoors, learn about birds and enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded birders. And the best part: it’s free.

Birders of all skill levels are welcome to the events, where groups will spend time canvassing established circular census areas, recording species and numbers of birds observed. Information recorded at events is entered into regional and national databases and can show population and migration trends. Some Christmas Bird Counts have been conducted for more than 100 years, and more than 2,000 events are conducted across the U.S. each year, so databases are extensive. There are usually more than 50 events conducted in Kansas each winter between Dec. 13 and January 9.

To learn more about Kansas Christmas Bird Count locations, go to the Kansas Ornithological Society’s (KOS) website, www.ksbirds.org. You’ll find a list of events scheduled to date, along with locations and contact information. To learn more about Audubon-sponsored events go to www.audubon.org.

All you need to participate is clothing appropriate for traipsing outdoors on a mid-winter day, a pair of binoculars, and a good field guide. Spotting scopes are handy if large wetlands or reservoirs are included in the census area. Add in a little adventurous spirit and some good friends and you have the recipe for a great day in the Kansas outdoors.

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS IN 112TH YEAR

Image via Wikipedia

Kansas Ornithological Society Christmas Bird Count runs Dec. 11-Jan. 8; Audubon count Dec. 14-Jan. 5
PRATT — An early December cold spell has many bird lovers filling their backyard feeders and preparing for the winter delight of backyard bird watching. For the most avid of bird watchers, December is also the time to go afield and participate in the annual Christmas bird counts (CBCs), sponsored by the Kansas Ornithological Society (KOS) and the Kansas Audubon Society. Christmas bird counts are great for making new acquaintances, renewing old friendships, and learning more about birds and bird watching in Kansas.

This is the 112th year for organized Christmas bird counts, and more than 2,000 counts are held across the nation each year. Kansas averages 50 counts per year, with more than 40 scheduled so far this year and others yet to be announced. Many counts are concentrated in the eastern and southern parts of the state, but in recent years, more have been conducted in western portions of the state — such as Clark County and the Cimarron National Grasslands — providing additional opportunities to participate.

Christmas bird counts are conducted in circular census areas with a 7.5 mile radius. This is consistent from count-to-count and year-to-year, always surveying the same locations and ensuring that data collected is comparable for population trends over time.

CBCs are easy to prepare for, the best tools being a pair of binoculars, a good field guide, and appropriate clothing and footwear for possible extreme weather. For those counting in an area with a lake, a good spotting scope can be extremely helpful in identifying birds at a distance. It’s also a good idea to study what the expected species are for your location.

There are many count compilers in Kansas who only send data to the Kansas Ornithological Society (KOS), and these counts are free. The KOS will accept data collected on counts from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5, 2012, giving counters plenty of time to help survey their favorite areas. However, the official Audubon Christmas Bird Count period is Dec. 14 to Jan. 5 every year. The Audubon count requires a $5 participation fee for persons 18 and older, with the money going toward the cost of data publication.

Information about Kansas CBCs can be found at the Kansas Ornithological Society website,www.ksbirds.org. For details, just click Kansas Christmas Bird Counts. Information about Audubon counts may be found at birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count# .

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KANSAS WETLANDS EDUCATION CENTER PLANNING DECEMBER EVENTS

Birding, star gazing, wetland van tours on the agenda
PRATT — The Kansas Wetlands Education Center — 10 miles northeast of the intersection of U.S. highways 281 and 156, northeast of Great Bend — will conduct a number of special events in the last weeks of 2010. On Thursday, Dec. 16, the Cheyenne Bottoms Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The public is invited to participate in this educational information-gathering activity. Participants will meet at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center at 8 a.m. The Nature Conservancy and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center will provide lunch. Those planning to participate should phone 620-786-7456, so planners will know how many to expect for lunch. Be sure to wear warm clothing.

On Sunday, Dec. 19, the center will host a waterfowl identification workshop at 2 p.m. Waterfowl enthusiasts of all ages, novice or experienced, are invited to come to attend this free workshop focusing on all things waterfowl. Tom Bidrowski, migratory bird specialist for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, will present tips on identifying the numerous species of waterfowl seen in Kansas. In addition, Kansas waterfowl viewing opportunities will be covered.

On Monday, Dec. 20, the universe will unfold at the Wetlands Center with a star-gazing program at 7:30 p.m. If the weather cooperates, participants will have the opportunity to view a total lunar eclipse, constellations, planets, and clusters through telescopes. Fort Hays State University (FHSU) professors Dr. Paul Adams and Dr. Jack Maseberg, along with the FHSU Astronomy Club, will lead the evening activities. Participants will also be able to make a “Big Dipper star clock.” The program is free. Participation is limited to 30, with preregistration required. Register by calling 620-786-7456 or 877-243-9268. The registration deadline is Dec. 18. Participants should bring chairs and warm clothing.

In addition to these events, the center offers guided van tours of Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area every weekend, and by special arrangements during the week. These are 30-minute and 90-minutes tours in a 12-passenger van.

The Kansas Wetlands Education Center also has many great gifts to complete visitors’ Christmas shopping lists. This includes a wide selection of nature-based merchandise, wildlife-related toys, science kits, Kansas-made products, field guides, T-shirts, and Kansas Sesquicentennial (150th Anniversary) commemorative Christmas Ornaments.

For more information on any of the events or tours, phone the center toll-free at 1-877-243-9268 or email cjwolf@fhsu.edu.