Everybody is welcome to participate in the Charlottesville Christmas Bird Count.
The Christmas Bird Count is a national survey of winter bird populations of North America run by the National Audubon Society. It has been in existence since 1900; the Charlottesville count began in 1924. All counts take place in a circle 15 miles in diameter. The center of the C’ville CBC is in Ivy. Normally we have about 20 teams going out on the day of the count with total participation about 60 people. We record every individual of every species we observe. There will be a Zoom tally the evening of the count at 7PM. Information about the tally will be on the PVBC website.
A map of the Charlottesville CBC circle can be found at
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1eknucdD37OJCRPt6gr3EDPncw1fRhOQK&usp=sharing
Many people are using the Merlin app these days. NAS has guidelines for its use.
Audubon Guidelines for use of Merlin birding app on Christmas Bird Count
With the rapid increase in use of the Merlin birding app for identifying bird vocalizations in the field, Audubon needs to address the best use practices of this birding tool on Christmas Bird Counts.
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- If an unfamiliar vocalization is heard by CBC participants and Merlin is used to assist in the identification, inclusion of the species is permitted.
- If Merlin picks up a vocalization of a bird species that participants did not hear right away, but that then do then hear and identify, inclusion of the species is permitted.
- If Merlin assists in the identification of the call of a rare or hard-to-identify species, secondary identification by sight or photography should be obtained to permit inclusion of that species.
- As with by-ear identification, species that are often imitated by others (hawks by jays, mimicry by mimids, etc.) should also be visually confirmed for inclusion.
- If Merlin identifies a vocalization of a species that is neither heard nor independently seen by participants on a Christmas Bird Count, that species may not be included in the CBC results.
The National Audubon Society (while addressing compilers) recommends we use the following guidelines regarding COVID-19. Unless there is a great increase in hospital admissions between now and then, I suggest you use your best judgement as to the precautions you choose to take.
- Gatherings are at the local compiler’s discretion, and participants’ health and safety should be paramount. We encourage compilation gatherings be held outdoors, if possible, and urge participants to wear masks indoors and follow local COVID-19 guidelines.
- Refer to CDC and local transmission information to determine whether participants should mask even while outdoors or in the field.
- Carpooling should only occur within existing familiar or social “pod” groups.
- Activities must comply with all current state and municipal COVID-19 regulations.
- Allow for flexibility as it is not possible to know individual or family situations with respect to their home or family risks.
If you are a newcomer – a beginner, an advanced birder or somewhere in between – and would like to participate in this year’s C’ville CBC please contact Jenny Gaden. All participants are assigned to a team. Jenny, along with the team leaders, will do their best to make that happen.
Jenny Gaden, compiler
[email protected]
