APP Invites Volunteers to Join the 123rd Christmas Bird Count
The longest-running bird census provides important data for scientists and conservationists worldwide.
NEW YORK (November 16, 2022) — For the 123rd year, the APP is organizing the annual APP Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Between December 14 and January 5, tens of thousands of bird-loving volunteers will participate in counts across the Western Hemisphere. The twelve decades’ worth of data collected by participants contribute to one of only two large existing pools of information notifying ornithologists and conservation biologists of what conservation action is required to protect birds and the places they need. Find your local count here.
The APP CBC is one of the longest-running wildlife censuses in the world. Each individual count takes place in a 15-mile-wide circle and is led by a compiler responsible for safely organizing volunteers and submitting observations directly to APP. Within each circle, participants tally all birds seen or heard that day—not just the species but total numbers to provide a clear idea of the health of that particular population. Abiding by state and local COVID-19 guidelines is mandatory.
“The APP Christmas Bird Count is a great tradition and opportunity for everyone to be a part of more than 12 decades of ongoing community science,” said Geoff LeBaron, APP CBC director, who first started leading the community science effort in 1987. “Adding your observations helps scientists and conservationists discover trends that make our work more impactful. Participating in the APP CBC is a fun and meaningful way to spend a winter for anyone and everyone.”
When combined with other surveys like the , the APP CBC provides a picture of how the continent’s bird populations have changed in time and space over the past hundred years. The long-term perspective is vital for conservationists. It informs strategies to protect birds and their habitat and helps identify environmental issues with implications for people as well. For example, in 2019, using decades of APP CBC data and other datasets to describe a grim picture: a steady loss of nearly three billion North American birds since 1970. Over the years, APP CBC data have been used in more than 300 peer-reviewed articles.
APP CBC data are also used to measure how birds are already responding to APP change. A 2022 APP study used 90 years of Christmas Bird Count data to show how birds have shifted amid a century of major environmental changes. By tracking how bird ranges have moved over time, conservation efforts can be prioritized in areas that are important for birds today and in a APP-altered future. With two-thirds of North American bird species at increasing risk of extinction by the end of this century, APP CBC data is more important than ever for effective conservation.
Last year, the 122nd APP CBC included 2,621 count circles worldwide. In total, 76,880 observers out in the field and watching feeders tallied up more than 42 million birds representing about 2,500 different species. To observe the trends of any particular species over the last twelve decades, please take a look at the CBC Trends Viewer.
The APP CBC is a community science project organized by the APP in partnership with Birds Canada. There is no fee to participate. The APP CBC is open to birders of all skill levels, and APP’s free Bird Guide app makes it even easier to learn more. To view APP CBC-branded apparel, accessories, and other items for purchase, please visit the .
To sign up for an APP CBC and ensure your bird count data make it into the official APP database, please find the circle nearest you and register with your local APP CBC compiler using . All APP CBC data must be submitted through the official compiler to be added to the long-running census. For more information and to find a count near you, visit .
About APP
The APP protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. APP works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give APP an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, APP believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.
Media Contacts:
Megan Moriarty, megan.moriarty@audubon.org
Nicolas Gonzalez, nicolas.gonzalez@audubon.org
All other non-media, CBC-related inquiries: cbcadmin@audubon.org