Hi Folks
The Boise Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will be Sat, Dec 16 and, though we don’t want to steal anyone from counts in other parts of the state that day :-), we would love your help. Even if you can only bird for part of the day, if you’re interested in contributing, please coordinate with us ahead of time so that we don’t end up duplicating effort (and can instead ensure coverage of more areas).
Details are below and listed on the Golden Eagle Audubon calendar – please e-mail RL or myself if you have questions.
Also, if you’d be interested in hiking in the foothills, *weather/snow allowing* we may look to explore some areas we haven’t often covered and we’d like to pair people up for safety. Please let us know if this might interest you, for part or more of a day, and we’ll see what we can pull together
Thanks and enjoy your Christmas bird counting!
Jay
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Golden Eagle Audubon Society – Home
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When: Sat, December 16, 7am – duskWhere: Trophy Room, Idaho Fish and Game HQ, 600 S Walnut St, Boise, ID 83712, USA (map) northeast entrance (in rear)
Co-compiler/primary contact: RL Rowland, rlrowland@centurylink.net (208) 336-9808 (H) best; no answer, try (208) 297-9953 (C)
This year of 2017 is the National Audubon Society’s 118th Christmas Bird Count (CBC), arguably the oldest continuous Citizen Science project in the country. This 118th Count Year also marks our 51st Boise CBC.
RL will furnish the morning’s sugar jump-start of Uncle Joe’s finest mixed pastries, participants please to bring their own breakfast beverage of choice to go with.No fees to participate, just your time, maybe a bit of gas, some shoe leather. Dress appropriately for the weather. We’ve tried to mix the areas so that each includes some walking as well as some driving. Plenty of choices.
Know one of the fourteen areas well? Contact RL if you would like to take charge of that particular area, assemble your team from the gathered volunteers on Count Day, etc.
Still a beginning Birder? We can put you with others to help you learn. No need to sign-up in advance, just show up at the appointed place and time on Count Day.We are all volunteers, so whether you can only do a part day or, better yet, all day, please to join in and Let’s Count Some Birds!
For general knowledge, the several components to a CBC:
– Count Period: the chosen eleven day period either side of Christmas in which each individual count is to be completed, runs from 14 December to 05 January, all CBC’s must be done during this time frame.
– Count Week: three days either side of Count Day, only species can be noted no numbers of individuals. Species found during count week but not on the count day are added into the compilation as “Count Week” species.
– Count Day: actual day of the count, a census of all bird species and their numbers.
– Count Circle: the area covered. The Boise circle, as with all circles, has a 7.5mi. radius. Boise’s is centered on the State Capitol dome, making for an area of nearly 178 sq.mi. and broken into 14 individual sections. Folks at the morning meeting can decide what section they would like to count in, collect their data packets and a briefing from RL on reported birds to look for in some areas.
– Feeder Watch: those not able/desiring to participate in the field can count birds coming to feeders, whether their own or a friend’s. Contact RL for info on how to do a Feeder Watch. Very simple and doesn’t take much time.However, all birds noted or counted during Count Week, Count Day and Feeder Watch must be within the confines of the Count Circle (see 4 above).
After the count, we will compile the results at a pot luck at Libby Burtner’s house. Libby will provide soup or chili and bread; guests may bring salads, drinks or desserts if they like. Directions to the house will be provided the morning of the count.
