Christmas 2020 Bird Count
BY: STEVE BIASETTI, GROUP FOR THE EAST END DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Snowy owl, photo by Jay Rand
Each year – between December 14 and January 5 – bird-watching enthusiasts embark on daylong wildlife surveys collectively known as Christmas Bird Counts (CBC). These ecological censuses trace their beginnings to 1900, when a handful of naturalists ventured forth with this creative nonlethal alternative to the “Christmas Day” hunting tradition. Fast-forward 120 years to the present, and the current Christmas Bird Count involves 70,000 searchers covering 2,000 CBC territories (i.e., circular areas measuring 15 miles in diameter) within 17 countries.
10 CBCs take place on Long Island each year. I took part in my first count on Long Island in 1992, and have been involved in at least one local count every year since then. In recent years, I have participated in four CBCs annually (Orient, Montauk, Quogue to Water Mill, Central Suffolk).
Eastern bluebird, photo by Jay Rand
Here are a few personal highlights from my local CBC outings in December 2020. My friend, Jay Rand, accompanied me on one of four days, and has graciously provided several of his stunning photos of local birds:
I saw at least one bald eagle on three of the four days;
Eastern bluebirds (the New York State bird) were spotted on two of the days;
I heard great horned owls and northern saw-whet owls pre-dawn on three of the four days, and heard eastern screech owls before first light on two of the days;
Yellow-bellied sapsuckers (of “Honeymooners” fame) were seen on two of the days;
I spied penguin-like razorbills on the water on two of the days;
Red crossbills, uncommon winter finches from the north, were sighted feeding on pine cones in Hampton Bays;
A parrot-green female painted bunting – instead of basking in the south Florida sun -- was found feeding in the grasses of Montauk for the second winter in a row;
And twenty species of waterfowl (i.e., ducks, geese, and swans) were counted in East Moriches.
Great horned owl, photo by Jay Rand
Razorbills, photo by Jay Rand
These counts occur “rain or shine” -- and any other weather condition, too! Over time, the collected data provides valuable information about the status and health of avian populations locally, regionally and globally. Personally, I’m thrilled to volunteer for these worthwhile citizen-science projects and eagerly look forward to the next round of Christmas Bird Counts.