114th Christmas Bird Count Announcements
ANNOUNCING THE 114th CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT SEASON AND LOCAL COUNTS
The National Audubon Society's (NAS) longest-running wintertime tradition, the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC), will take place throughout the Americas from Saturday, December 14, 2013 to Sunday, January 5, 2014.
There will be at least 12 Christmas Bird Counts in West River SD and Black Hills of Wyoming, 10 of which are official counts that contribute data to the National Audubon Society's (NAS) database.
What are Christmas Bird Counts (CBC)?
Each Christmas season tens of thousands of volunteers will count and record each individual bird and bird species they encounter during one calendar day, within a 15-mile diameter circle. The results are compiled into the longest running database in ornithology, representing over a century of unbroken data on trends of early-winter bird populations across the Americas. The censuses provide valuable data about the number of bird species and numbers of each species occurring within set geographic areas on an early winter day.
Last year's count shattered records. A total of 2,369 counts and 71,531 people tallied over 60 million birds of 2,296 different species. Counts took place in all 50 states, all Canadian provinces, and over 100 count circles in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands. Three new counts were even welcomed in Cuba, where for the first time ever the tiniest bird in the world, the Bee Hummingbird, was included in CBC results.
The CBC revealed the dramatic impact climate change is already having on birds, and a disturbing decline in common birds, including the Northern Bobwhite quail. The many decades of data, not only helps identify birds in need of conservation action, it also reveals success stories. The CBC helped document the comeback of the Bald Eagle and significant increases in waterfowl populations, both the result of conservation efforts.
Note to Potential First-timers: Christmas Bird Counts are open to birders of all skill levels. While there is a specific methodology to the CBC and you need to count birds within an existing Christmas Bird Count circle, everyone can participate! If you are a beginning birder, on most counts you will be able to join a group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher. Feeder watchers and backyard watchers are needed too.
What to bring?
Participants should bring lunch, drinking water, warm clothing and footwear. Binoculars, field guides and spotting scopes are suggested, for those who have them. The five-dollar fee has been dropped to encourage more participation and the annual published report, (American Birds) previously available in paper will be made digital. http://birds.audubon.org/american-birds-annual-summary-christmas-bird-count
For more information on each count:
Below we list the actual counts in Western SD and Black Hills of Wyoming. We give you some more details on some counts and the compilers name and contact into. Please contact him/her for more information about the count.
We have also included a list of counts in eastern SD and NE Wyoming. We include a few of the counts in North Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska, which are near SD.
INTERNET REFERENCES
Nationwide NAS Press Releases:
Nationwide CBC Data (all states)
South Dakota:
Nebraska:
Wyoming:
ACTUAL CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS (CBCs)
114th CBC Season, December 14th, 2013 - January 5th, 2014
WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA AND BLACK HILLS OF WYOMING COUNTS
BISON, SD, -- Date - To Be Determined (TBD)
Contact, Pat or Meghan Dinkins, 605-244-5632, trapperpat@sdplains.com
HOT SPRINGS, SD - Saturday, 14th of December 2013
Meet at the Hot Springs Bakery at 7:30 am, Count off at Hot Springs Pizza Hut 5:00 pm
STURGIS, SD - - Saturday, 14th of December 2013
Severe weather alternate is - Dec 19th, Birders meet at McDonalds in Sturgis, at 7:30 AM. A compilation potluck is at the home of Vic/Donna Fondy, 12067 Crook City Rd, Whitewood, SD after count. Vic Fondy - (605) 269-2553,vicdonna@live.com
PIERRE, SD - Saturday, 14th of December 2013
CBC organizational meeting is Thurs. the 12th at 7:30 PM in the Science Room at First United Methodist Church. Sat eve meet at Perkins restaurant, Fort Pierre after 5:00 PM to turn in results, Doug Backlund, (605) 280-6642,dougback@wildphotosphotography.com,
RAPID CITY, SD - Sunday, 15th of December, 2013
Count off meet is at QDoba's Mexican in Baken Park at 5 pm, Michael Melius - (605) 255-4766, mmmelius@hotmail.com
WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK, SD - Sunday, 15th of December 2013,
Meet at Park Visitor Center 8 am, ending time is app. 4:15 pm for Pot Luck Supper and sharing of the day's findings. Dan Roddy - (605) 745-1157 or Barbara Muenchau (745-1150), dan_roddy@nps.gov, Barbara_Muenchau@nps.gov
PIEDMONT, SD - Tuesday, 17th of December 2013, Addison Ball - compiler
(The severe weather alternate date is 12/20)
SHADEHILL, SD - Tuesday, the 17th of December 2013
Meet at store in Shadehill along SD 73 (i.e. the Summerville Store) at 7:30 am. Dan Svingen, 701-214-8286,
dsvingen@fs.fed.us
SUNDANCE, WY - Saturday, 21st of December 2013
We will meet at the Rapid Stop Conoco Service Station, 7:30 AM at the West end of Sundance. Contact Jennifer Adams at 307-283-2467,
ravenssong@rangeweb.net
PINE RIDGE RESERVATION, SD, -- Sunday, 22nd of December 2013
Severe weather alternate: January 5, Meet briefly prior to count at 7 am at Big Bat's gas station (Shell) in downtown Pine Ridge Contact: Peter Hill, (605) 595-3715, petermhill@yahoo.com,
Saturday night overnight hosting may be available..
BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK, SD - Friday, 27th of December 2013
Meet at Park Headquarters at 7:45 am, for route assignments, Nancy Drilling nancy.drilling@rmbo.org, 605-791-0459 or Eddie_Childers@nps.gov, office: 605.433.5263, 605.391.3680 (cell)
SPEARFISH, SD - Sunday, 5th of January 2014.
EAST RIVER, SOUTH DAKOTA CBC DATES
Christmas bird counts are also planned in East River SD. These locations will have counts:
Aberdeen (Dec. 14th, 2013), Gary Olson , olsonfam@nvc.net, (605) 225-5241 or (605) 715-5242
Yankton, (Dec. 15th, 2013), Contact Roger Dietrich, (605) 665-7240, (605) 660-6247, rogerd@iw.net
Waubay N.W.R., (Dec. 17th , 2013 ) - Contact Laura Hubers (605) 947-4521 Ext. 116, Laura_Hubers@fws.gov
Madison, (Dec. 19th, 2013), Contact Jeffrey S. Palmer (605) 256-5190, jeff.palmer@dsu.edu
Lake Andes, (Dec. 20th, 2013) - Contact Mick Hanan, (605) 487-7603 Ext. 107,
mick_hanan@fws.gov
SOME CBC DATES NEAR SD BUT IN OTHER NEARBY STATES:
Christmas bird counts that are near enough that SD folks may be interested in:
NORTH EAST WYOMING CBC DATES
Christmas bird counts are also planned NE Wyoming. These locations will have counts:
Casper, WY, (Dec. 14th, 2013), Contact Chris Michelson, 307-234-8726, michelsonce@aol.com, or Stacey Scott (262-0055)
NEBRASKA
Lake McConaughy, NE , (Dec. 28th, 2013), Stephen J. Dinsmore, 515-294-1348,
cootjr@iastate.edu
IOWA
NORTH DAKOTA
Theodore Roosevelt N.P. (South Unit) Medora, ND, (Dec. 21st, 2013), Valerie Naylor, 701-623-4730 ext 3409,, Valerie_Naylor@nps.gov.
Theodore Roosevelt N.P., ND, (North unit), (Date -To Be Determined), Valerie Naylor, 701-623-4730 ext 3409 Valerie_Naylor@nps.gov,
