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Cincinnati Christmas Bird Count Invitation posted by Jay Stenger on December 23, 2009 at 18:31:37

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	Cincinnati Christmas Bird Count Invitation         posted by Jay Stenger on December 23, 2009 at 18:31:37
	The 63rd annual Cincinnati Christmas Bird Count will be conducted this coming Sunday, December 27th. It’s not too late to make arrangements to participate, and we encourage anyone with an interest in birds to join us. Help us keep this long local birding tradition strong. A full day of CBC counting can be tiring and weather isn’t always the best. But these counts are supposed to be fun and no one will ask you to do something you don’t want to do. If you can only do part of the day, that’s great. If you just want to watch a feeder, fine. Feeder numbers can really help boost count numbers. You don’t want to walk rough terrain, that’s OK, walk the roadsides. If you get cold or wet, go somewhere and warm up. If you like, go home for a while and come back later. What ever your pace you can be accommodated. Any level of birding experience is welcome. Last years count participation of 135 was good for the 21st highest total of all of the 2,124 Audubon Society counts conducted and the 14th highest in the United States. We also tied our counts all-time high with 92 total species last year. Our previous high of 94 was set the year before in 2007. 92 was good for second place in Ohio last year, but curiously we have led Ohio with as few as 86 species in the past. Over the past 6 years we have averaged 90 species on this count. You might be surprised to learn that the Cincinnati CBC has often led the nation with the highest number of individuals of certain species. In our history, we have led the nation for 18 separate species at least once. We led the nation in Carolina Chickadees the past three years and a total of 33 times. We have also led in Northern Cardinal 34 times (including 2004), Downy Woodpecker 24, Tufted Titmouse 18, Carolina Wren 17, and Red-bellied Woodpecker 7. The National Audubon fee remains $5.00, but participants age 18 and younger are free. In addition, there is no fee charged to Feeder Watchers. If you know anyone who feeds birds in the count circle, I encourage you to ask them to count the birds in their yards, even if for just a short time. Bob Foppe has set up an email address where Feeder Watchers can report their birds the day of the count. Contact Bob directly at fopsinc@aol.com or (513) 685-2739. The count area is a 15-mile diameter circle set on Cincinnati’s east side, and is centered in Mt. Carmel. It includes Camp Dennison to the north, Batavia and Amelia to the east, New Palestine and a bit of Campbell County KY to the south, Hyde Park and Madeira to the east and all points in between. . After the day of counting birds most of us meet at the Cincinnati Nature Center around 6:00 PM for a bring-your-own dinner and Grand Tally. The party-like holiday atmosphere and birder camaraderie is always a lot of fun and there are always a few surprises in the results. I highly recommend attending. Thanks to Bill Creasey and the CNC for their hospitality. So, if you’re not sick of Christmas counts yet, or haven’t yet participated in any, give it a shot. If you would like to sign up or have any questions please email me at jaystenger@cinci.rr.com or call me at (513) 522-8147.
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