This year represents the 113th annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC), one of the longest running citizen science projects in the United States. The counted started as a non-consumptive alternative to a traditional Christmas Day activity where participants blasted away at birds and mammals in a terrible waste of wildlife. Frank Chapman, then the editor of Bird-Lore magazine, proposed a different type of Christmas Day outing that focused on counting live birds. The CBC was born.

For the 112th count last year, 37 participants counted 73 species in Moab. The 15-mile diameter count circle extended from the Colorado River through Spanish Valley and east into Castle Valley. Teams were assigned to cover sections of the circle to avoid double counting. Of course, birds tend to move and large flocks or particularly unusual species were recorded as to time and location, especially if they were moving across the valley. Later on the teams could determine if they observed the same groups or not.

Worldwide for the 112th CBC, there were 2215 counts: 1714 in the United States, 394 in Canada and 107 in Latin America and the Caribbean. Nearly 65 million birds were recorded totaling 646 species; quite a difference between the 20 species observed on the first count in 1900.

So what types of birds can one expect during the count? Depending upon the area of the Moab circle, waterfowl, raptors, woodpeckers, jays, wrens, sparrows and finches make up the majority of the species sighted. It is amazing the diversity of birds that occur in neighborhoods and urban spaces in town.

Great horned and western screech owls also ended up on last year’s list, but other years’ counts have turned up barn, northern pygmy and northern saw-whet owls, as well. Though the owls are hard to find, other diurnal raptors like northern harriers, bald eagles and red-tailed hawks are easier to locate.

So what does the CBC indicate? The count provides a regional or national snapshot of winter bird populations. Researchers who look at the data have discovered some interesting declines and increases for species over the years. In Moab, the proliferation of Eurasian collared-doves is revealed through increased numbers over the years. These birds, native to the Caribbean and southeast, have extended their ranges across the country. In addition to the collared-doves, white-winged and mourning doves were also observed. In my years of participating on the Moab CBC, finding a wintering mourning dove was a big event, while the other two species were non-existent.

So how does one go about participating in the Moab CBC? First off, you don’t need to be an expert birder to join. The count organizers mix and match teams so that novices don’t go alone or in fledgling flocks. Each group has a team leader who knows the area and where to look for different birds.

After the count, on January 6, there will be a wrap-up potluck brunch held at The Nature Conservancy office on Kane Creek Boulevard. Besides a late breakfast, teams turn in their count forms and compare notes. The rundown also provides an opportunity to look for “count week” species, those that were missed on Count Day. To participate, contact organizer Marcy Hafner at marcymoab@yahoo.com or 259-6197 and enjoy the birding!