Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Please reach us at if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Check out this great video about the history of the CBC.
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. The data collected by observers over the past century allow Audubon researchers, conservation biologists, wildlife agencies and other interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America.
Well for starters it's fun! There are several reasons you should participate in the CBC including: you can earn volunteer hours, you can participate in and contribute to one of the longest running community science programs, you can spend time in nature, the important data you will collect helps save birds!
While attending the Tucson Bird Festival my 13 yr old son and I watched a documentary about the CBC and it inspired Ninja Birder (aka Rowyn Balman) to get involved. When we checked the CBC circle map for AZ we realized that no one was counting the urban birds. We contacted some of the surrounding counts to see if we could participate, however they either weren't accepting new participants or did not let youth participate. So we decided to start the Phoenix MetroCBC, and made sure to include several birding hot spots, like Gilbert Riparian Preserve, in the 15 mile circle. We conducted a trial run in 2019 in preparation for our official run in 2020.
If you need volunteer hours for a certification you may count your time in the field as hours. Please let us know if you need any documentation.
Anyone can join our team. You may go out by yourself if you are experienced, or with people in your social circle, or join one of the set-up groups. Children are encouraged to participate as well. Each group needs to have at least one person that is comfortable with bird identification.
Yes. Since each CBC is a real census, and since the 15-mile diameter circle contains a lot of area to be covered, single-observer counts (except in unusual circumstances) cannot be allowed. To participate in the CBC, you will need to join an existing CBC circle by contacting the compiler in advance of the count day.
Please have any friends or family interested in joining the Phoenix CBC complete the registration form on the home page and we will send them the training schedule. They may cover their own sector or join you in your sector.
Yes your contact info needs to be entered into our data entry application, this information will be gathered on the registration form.
This map shows the outermost points for the 15 mile radius, plus several key birding hotspots in each sector are marked with pins. We will be covering most of Phoenix Metro.
Phoenix Metro has not been counted since the early 1900s, so this data will be very important in highlighting our urban birds!
Count volunteers follow specified routes through a designated 15-mile diameter circle, counting every bird they see or hear all day. It's not just a species tally—all birds are counted all day, giving an indication of the total number of birds in the circle that day. You will need to let us know what sector you would prefer to cover on the registration form and if you'd like to be a leader. Leaders must be experienced birders and will be in charge of their sector and leading a team of birders (some may be inexperienced). If you are not a leader, we will provide your sector leader with your contact information so they can connect with you to plan out the day.
Yes. Since we are an urban CBC many of the areas are accessible and have paved paths. Let us know if you need help choosing locations that are accessible. Kathy is a Birdability Captain and can help ensure you are able to participate. We also allow backyard birding if you live within our circle.
The count day needs to be held between December 14 through January 5. December 17th is the day we have decided to conduct our count on in 2023. We will try to keep it around this date each year.
We would like you to go out all day if possible. If you are unable to do all day let us know so we can ensure someone can cover your sector later in the day. If you want to go owling you may start at 12:01 am on the 17th and/or from 8 pm - 11:59 pm.
You will log your data on the provided form and send it to the compiler, Kathy Balman. US, HC, LC flags: The US (unusual species) flag is for species that are out of range or seasonal or are difficult to identify, the HC (high count) flag is used if the number of birds observed is an unusually high count, the LC (low count) flag is for unusually low numbers. Make a copy of the form and then edit it with your information for your sector, only 1 form from the sector leader should be submitted.
There are apps like Merlin and Audubon which can help with identifying birds. We also provide participants with additional resources and guides.
In addition to the bird identification you will also need to log the weather, wind, snow (which I don’t think you will need to worry about), water type, cloud cover, precipitation, effort, party hours and distance, mode of transportation, and observer names. If you conduct nocturnal observations or feeder birds that info is also logged, but is separate from the field effort numbers. Watch this video to learn why we need effort data.
We recommend you have a cellphone with the recommended id apps downloaded, a map of your area, a camera, binoculars/scope and lots of energy!
You can see photos posted from others who are scouting for or participating in the Christmas Bird Count, and upload your own photos here on the Audubon website. We also recommend sharing on social media (use hashtags #christmasbirdcount2023, #christmasbirdcount, #phoenixcbc, #frenchfrybirdsmatter), and/or share with others who are participating in our circle on our Google Group (we will add you to the group when you register) and our Google Drive Photo File (which we will add you to when you register).
Copyright © 2024 The Rowyn Balman Metro Phoenix Christmas Bird Count - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.