The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is a bird census, first
proposed in December 1900 by ornithologist Frank Chapman. The first CBC was
held on December 25, 1900, with 27 participants. The CBC is the
oldest citizen science project in the United States, and this is its 125th year.
Participants in the CBC spend the day listening, looking for, and counting
birds within a predetermined area. The 7th annual NYMS
(Minnewaska-Shawangunk) Christmas Bird Count circle is one of thousands of
other circles in North America, Central America, South America, the Pacific,
and the Caribbean, that participate in this winter tradition. Interested
parties will be searching a 15-mile diameter circle for birds, which includes
most of Minnewaska State Park Preserve. Field teams should
be prepared for a full day outdoors. Residents with bird feeders within
the Minnewaska-Shawangunk CBC circle may also participate by counting birds at
their feeders, however, participation must be coordinated prior to the count.
See a map of the circle at:
https://arcg.is/1bqrPK0. Contact Nicholas Martin at Nicholas.Martin@parks.ny.gov or
845-255-0752 no later than December 28th for an assignment or to
learn how to report your bird feeder count.