Vermont Public is independent, community-supported media, serving Vermont with trusted, relevant and essential information. We share stories that bring people together, from every corner of our region. New to Vermont Public? Start here.

© 2024 Vermont Public | 365 Troy Ave. Colchester, VT 05446

Public Files:
WVTI · WOXM · WVBA · WVNK · WVTQ · WVTX
WVPR · WRVT · WOXR · WNCH · WVPA
WVPS · WVXR · WETK · WVTB · WVER
WVER-FM · WVLR-FM · WBTN-FM

For assistance accessing our public files, please contact hello@vermontpublic.org or call 802-655-9451.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Public Post is a community reporting initiative using digital tools to report on cities and towns across Vermont.Public Post is the only resource that lets you browse and search documents across dozens of Vermont municipal websites in one place.Follow reporter Amy Kolb Noyes and #PublicPost on Twitter and read news from the Post below.

Annual Christmas Bird Count Kicks Off Sunday

Toby Talbot
/
AP/file
Bird counters look through their binoculars in Fayston in 2008. This year's 115th annual Christmas Bird Count runs December 14 through January 5.

How would you like to be part of the world's longest running citizen science program? Sunday kicks off the 115th annual Christmas Bird Count, and birders throughout the state are invited to participate.

The count is conducted in specific areas, known as Christmas Bird Count circles. Each 15-mile diameter circle is managed by an experienced birder. Leaders and their contact information are listed on the website Vermont ebird.

"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," Vermont eBird explains. "If you are a beginning birder, you will be able to join a group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher. If your home is within the boundaries of a Christmas Bird Count circle, then you can stay home and report the birds that visit your feeder or join a group of birdwatchers in the field."

Vermont eBird also provides the following history of the event:

The longest running citizen science program in the world, the count originally began on Christmas Day in 1900 when ornithologist and legendary birder Frank Chapman posed an alternative to an earlier traditional holiday “side hunt.” Chapman proposed “hunting” birds to record their numbers. Instead of firing a shotgun, now we have an annual snapshot. Decades of data have added up to results envied by other scientists who don’t enjoy such a fleet of volunteer help, or creatures as easily seen and counted as birds.

Vermont Christmas Bird Count circles include Barnet, Brattleboro, Burlington, Chaplain Islands/St. Albans, East Franklin County, Ferrisburgh, Hanover-Norwich, Hinesburg-Huntington, Island Pond, Lamoille County, Mad River Valley/Northfield, Middlebury, Mt. Abraham, Plainfield, Randolph area, Rutland, Saxton's River, Springield, Winhall/Windham and Woodstock.

Amy is an award winning journalist who has worked in print and radio in Vermont since 1991. Her first job in professional radio was at WVMX in Stowe, where she worked as News Director and co-host of The Morning Show. She was a VPR contributor from 2006 to 2020.
Latest Stories