Christmas Bird Count Prep Hike

About this event

Join us on a hike to bird watch and learn the protocols for participation in the annual Christmas Bird Count. Join Sierra Club leader and Pa Master Naturalist in training Theresa Colecchia, and Cassandra Ziegler, PhD candidate at Duquesne University to learn about the history of the Christmas Bird Count, practice the techniques for participation, and identify bird species we spot on the hike.

The Christmas Bird Count is the longest citizen science project in the world and is managed by the Audubon Society. In the late 19th century, there was a tradition of going out on Christmas Day to shoot as many birds as possible. In December of 1900, Audubon officer Frank Chapman suggested going out to take a bird census instead, to document the decline in species such as the passenger pigeon. The Christmas Bird Count has become an important long term data collection tool that informs all kinds of important conservation work. Anyone can participate in the bird count, but there are some protocols that are followed to ensure the consistency and accuracy of the data.

This hike is your chance to become a citizen scientist and contribute to this work—or just learn how to become a better observer of the birds around you. We will also review how to use iNaturalist and eBird to allow you to make your own contribution to conservation data collection all year round.

Please also register here: https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po00002KcIVjIAN

From Going Outside with the Sierra Club