Enderis Park Bird Watching Club - CBC (Christmas Bird Count)

The National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is an early-winter survey of birds. The CBC is a 2-week period of time (around Christmas) where birders across the country spend (at least) 8 hours in a single day (in a specially designated area assigned to them) counting the birds and species they encounter.  How is works is that a person looks at a "group" of birds for a couple minutes and "counts" the numbers in the species.  It is better if two (or more) people are together looking at that same group of birds and counting so that a consensus can be reached, but one will do.  Any number of people that go out counting in a single area are considered a "group" (from 1-100).  Although counts occur in Central and South America, most CBCs occur in North America. The sample area for a count is a circle that is 15 miles in diameter, and varying numbers of volunteers count all birds they see in the circle during a single day, which is within 2 weeks of 25 December. (Butcher 1990) Although this analysis only considers the interval 1959 - 1988, the CBC was begun in 1900. The number of circles and participants has changed dramatically since the early years. Butcher (1990) notes that 1,508 circles were surveyed in 1986-1987.

Audubon.org CBC information

History of the Christmas Bird Count

Wisconsin Society for Ornithology CBC Info

DATE:

BIRD COUNT DIARY:

The Enderis Park Bird Watching Club made its second contribution to the world of "Bird Counting" this year by again participating in the Christmas Bird Count of 2007. 

Four members of the Enderis Park Bird Watching Club, Joseph Devereaux, Nola Devereaux, Julie Ristow and Tammy Bokern met at Jacobus Park, Wauwatosa, WI at 7:30 AM into the 23.9 degree air. Snow began to fall gently, was quite thick at times and continued all day.  A total of 5-7" would fall before the next morning dawned. Birds in flight were few, and birds on the ground, practically non-existent.  One needed to scan the branches of trees and shrubs very carefully to even see anything.

(L-R) Joe, Julie, Tammy, Nola at Jacobus Park - 7:30 AM December 15, 2007

Ice on the Pond

Julie, Tammy, and Nola crossing the foot bridge at Hart Park (Area 20)

Mallard Ducks under a heavy snow

Winter Hornet's Nest

The building's at Hart Park as seen from the ridge to the south across the Menomonee River

(L-R) Nola, Tammy and Julie Stop for Coffee at the One-Way Cafe

Snowy Binoculars were the accessories dujour.

Julie spots her first Dark-eyed Junco ever!

A rose among thorns - Resplendent Mama Cardinal

"Area 20" and has boundaries from North Avenue on the North, Hwy. 94 on the South, 76th Street on the West and 43rd Street on the East.

Area 20

With the girl's all gone around 11:30.  I drove over to Dineen Park in Area 16.  The pond was totally frozen over, so the familiar gulls, ducks and Canadian Geese were missing.  I began to get sad as I trudged through the 12" of snow on the Frisbee golf course until I remembered that during last year's CBC, I had seen birds on the eastern side of the park near the apartments.  I waddled my way there and, BINGO!  Birds, birds and more birds!

Joe Devereaux at Dineen - Milwaukee County Park 2007

Cedar Waxwings cluster in this shrub like Christmas ornaments

Three (turtle) doves? - Tough to see too

Can you see 10 Robins Here?

Winter Robin

Anyone wish to have a picnic?

The best kind of ornament - Northern Cardinal

"Area 16" and has boundaries from Capitol Drive on the North, North Avenue on the South, 76th Street on the West and 43rd Street on the East.

Area 16