This event was started nationwide in 1900 by eminent ornithologist Frank Chapman, and involves groups of enthusiasts going out to local parks, nature preserves, and any wild habitats to count all the birds they can find on a single winter day. It started as Chapman’s alternative to the Christmas hunt, where all living things were fair game for teams of sportsmen, and it helped spawn the conservation movement in the United States. Now it is run by the Audubon Society and has expanded to hundreds of counts, with new ones added nearly every year since. 

Columbus’ count, first reported in 1913, had several starts and stops, with just 19 counts conducted between the years of 1913 and 1954 when the count became an established tradition. The count has run continuosly and was officially incorporated in 1971. Repeatedly done every year, long-running CBCs have become an effective narrative of the changes in the bird-life of different locales. In fact, the Christmas Bird Count has become the longest running environmental inventory run by volunteers.

Like any durable event, this one has some simple ground rules.  The count must take place within an imaginary circle of 15 miles diameter and must take place on one day between Dec. 14 and Jan 5. Count circles don’t move once started, and are carefully sited to take in as many good parks and preserves as possible. 

The Columbus circle is centered just north of Bexley, so that it stretches from Upper Arlington east to Blacklick, and from Minerva Park south to Groveport. The area is decidedly urban and suburban, but it was much less so in the past. In this sense, our CBC has chronicled the birds’ responses as Columbus has grown into a major metropolitan area. 

Not surprisingly, pigeons, starlings, and house sparrows have steadily increased, while many of their wilder cousins have declined. Still, a surprising number of wild bird species call Columbus a winter home, and the count will aim to document these birds’ presence. Also, the count has repeatedly turned up rare migrant stragglers, toughing out the winter in the milder-temperature, feeder-enhanced neighborhoods of the city. Last year, we had a first-ever Rufous Hummingbird wintering at a feeder in Blendon Woods, a rare Orange-crowned Warbler along the Scioto River near Marble Cliff, 7 sapsuckers, 9 red-headed woodpeckers, and a Rough-legged Hawk near Gahanna among the 76 species we found.  We never know what rarities will turn up. Teams of birdwatchers will comb parts of the city inside the circle, looking for common birds and unusual rarities alike. Most of the major parks in the circle will have teams of birders. We need as many birders as we can recruit, since more eyes make spotting birds easier. Come out for the morning, or the whole day, or just keep an eye on your birdfeeders.

Hoover Reservoir Christmas Bird Count 

This is the 48th year for the Hoover Reservoir Circle. Since the first count in 1956 there have been 131 species recorded within the circle. Meet at the parking lot at the Hoover Reservoir Dam on Sunbury Road. Participants gather at 8:00 a.m. to break into area teams. All are always warmly welcome and appreciated.  

O’Shaughnessy Reservoir Christmas Bird Count

Meet at the McDonald’s at the corner of Frantz and state Route 161. This is Jim Adair’s last year as a compiler for the CBC. If anyone is interested in taking over his position next year please give him a call.

Delaware Christmas Bird Count

This is the 17th year for the Delaware Christmas Bird Count. There will be a potluck compilation dinner at the USDA lab at 6:00 p.m. that evening for all participants. Contact Jed Burtt for meeting place, time and information on the Horned Lark contest.

Kingston Christmas Bird Count (Chillicothe/Circleville)

The Kingston Christmas Bird Count, which has its center northeast of Chillicothe, has taken place each year since 1970. This count was started to monitor the large population of wintering raptors, which have recently shown a decline in number. This is what CBCs are about. They provide information that is essential to
researchers that are monitoring long-term population trends in many species of birds. So if you are like me and the thought of watching endless hours of football on New Year’s Day is not appealing, join Brad Sparks on the Kingston CBC.  

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