This is an exciting time of year - Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs) will begin to
be happening this weekend in Kentucky!
I am hoping this year's counts are well-participated and enjoyable for
everyone involved.
This is just a quick reminder about the concept of "count week"
observations. For the three days before your local CBC, and three days after -
please keep an eye out for birds in the count circle. Pay particular
attention to unexpected species reported on your favorite Listserv,
Facebook page, and in eBird.
Whether you do so in eBird or if you go old-school with a pencil and field
notebook, keep track of when and where you saw your bird, and if your local
CBC doesn't list that species on Count Day, your bird might be tallied as a
"count week bird." Note that the bird must be observed inside a CBC circle.
Photographs of the rare birds are welcome, of course!
A list of the CBCs to be held in KY (first ones are Saturday morning!) can
be found on the Kentucky Ornithological Society's website
<http://www.birdky.org/christmas-bird-counts.html>.
Please reach out to the compiler listed there if you see something
interesting during count week - they will make sure to note the
observations appropriately.
Good birding (and good birding weather) to everyone. Thank you for
participating!
--
*James A. Wheat*
*Regional Editor, KY CBCs*
*Louisville KY*
