The National Audobon Society of the US, and Bird Studies Canada collect information from over 2400 individual bird counts in North America. These counts are held between Dec. 14 - Jan. 5th. You can visit their websites for more information if you want to join in with an organized count in your area. Or you can just create your own count any time of year (or more often) as a way of getting outdoors and learning more about the local wildlife.

- Learn about the variety of bird species in your neighborhood.
- Observe and measure the changes in species population.
- Sharpen your listening and observation skills.
- All ages can participate.
- Any environment - urban, suburban or rural.
- Helps acknowledge the importance of local wildlife and the natural world.

Notebook - Each person should have his or her own notebook to keep a record of sightings, sketches and anecdotes. At the end of the day, everyone tallies their sightings and the total is recorded in each persons' book, along with the number of people participating. You'll re-use this notebook with every bird count, and before long it will become a "memory book" to enjoy throughout the year.

Binoculars - It works best if each person has their own pair. Look for an inexpensive pair of binoculars with a 7 or 8x magnification. Zoom lenses are not necessary - although they magnify the image, they also narrow the field of view. Smaller binoculars are easier to pack, less expensive and good enough for all but the more serious birders.

Colored pencils - A small set of the basic colors will do, along with a small pocket pencil sharpener. They are useful for making sketches in your notebook. Not all species are easy to identify in the field, and the sketch is consulted later on when making the tally of the day. The sketches also make your journal look good.

Field Guide - Just as essential as the binoculars. Get a local Field Guide to Birds, not Birds of the World. Be sure to get a paperback edition as it's easy to pocket, and will be put to hard use in the field. Good photos or detailed color drawings are more useful than a lot of technical information.

Camera - Optional. If you want a 'game trophy' of your best sighting, bring one along. Be sure it has a good zoom lens.

Listening Aids - Serious birders often use expensive little hearing aids to help locate birds in the wild. They are effective, but certainly not essential. Developing natural listening skills is satisfying, helps to focus concentration and is a good basic skill to hone for enjoying and discovering more in nature.

Water and Snacks - No need to cut short a good time because someone has the munchies!

Route
Take the time to plan a good route. It should be long enough for a hike of several hours, and lead through a variety of terrain and habitat. Try to do the same or similar route each year to get a good record of the status of your local bird population. Make a record of the route and enter it in your journal.

Time
Spend about the same amount of time each time you do a bird count, for more accurate comparisons. Also, try to go out at the same time of day, again for comparisons. Early morning is usually the favored time for general bird sightings in most areas.

Count
Try to record the number of birds within each species you see. This is a valuable element in the process. If you see a flock of birds, try to estimate their number. When making repeat sightings, make a note and enter it later in your journal under the tally section.

Seasonal
Annual Bird Counts can be more than once a year. Every season brings migratory changes, all worth observing and noting.

Group Size
Any number can participate, and an Annual Bird Count is a great community event. A notice can be posted showing the overall boundary of the Bird Count, and people can choose any route they like. At days end all meet together to tally the results. A shared pot-luck dinner can make the event downright festive. It will likely become an annual event.

Kids
Let the young ones make some of the sightings. If you see a 'new' bird, wait and give them a chance make the discovery. Let even the youngest ones have their own journal to keep their drawings and entries. They'll be proud to share their entries with the group later on, and over time their journals will become family treasures.

Quiet
Remind them that loud exclamations when making a new sighting can scare the bird away.

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........ ..Let us know how your Annual Bird Count works out!
....................Have any tips or suggestions to share?

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