Christmas Bird Count - Fort Bragg

ALL DAY - October 21, 2024

Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count is the largest and longest-running citizen-science effort in the world. Started by Frank Chapman in 1900, it quickly became a popular alternative to the “side hunt” of the 19th century. Last year almost eighty thousand people participated in the Count.

Participants join field teams, or bird their own yards, within a defined circle 15 miles in diameter. The goal is to identify and count every bird you see within the circle in a 24-hour period. Some of us start in the early morning darkness, calling and listening for owls, and sometimes linger after dark hoping for just one more. Others just pop out for a couple of hours in the morning, or even stay indoors and count birds through the window. It’s all good and it all counts!

The Fort Bragg Count will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2024. The circle extends from the south bank of Big River north to Little Valley Road. If you live anywhere within that region, you can participate simply by counting birds in your yard. Or you can join a team birding in the field – walking, driving, bicycling, kayaking, and possibly taking a boat out to sea. At the end of the day, we will meet at the Caspar Community Center for a Count Dinner and tally up the finds. Contact the Compiler: Tim Bray, tbray@mcn.org for team assignment, checklist and protocols.