Paria River District invites citizen scientists to help collect data on feathered friends during Audubon’s 124th Christmas Bird Count
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KANAB, Utah — On Dec. 14 and Dec. 15, 2023, the Bureau of Land Management Paria River District will support local citizen scientists in support of the National Audubon Society’s winter-bird census, called the Christmas Bird Count.
“The Christmas Bird Count is an event for all ages,” said Kanab Field Office Wildlife Biologist Lisa Church. “Bird count contributions can be tallied from the treetops, in your own backyard, or even on a hike. We invite everyone to join us in collecting data about the feathered residents of your public lands.”
Locally, residents and visitors have participated in the Christmas Bird Count for 31 years. Last year, participants counted and identified more than 3,000 birds representing over 70 species in-and-around Bryce Canyon, Kanab, Escalante, Utah, and Page, Arizona.
“The data collected by observers over the past century allows researchers, conservation biologists, and interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America,” said Church. “My primary objective is to encourage youthful interest in science while supporting the census with data collection; data that is made possible through citizen science programs like the Christmas Bird Count that help researchers monitor the status and distribution of birds across the Western Hemisphere.”
When combined with other surveys like the Breeding Bird Survey, the Audubon Christmas Bird Count 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, as it informs strategies to protect birds and bird habitat and helps identify environmental issues with implications for people as well. Local bird count details include:
• Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center, 755 W Main Street, Escalante, Utah. For more information, contact Marvin Contreras at marvin1725@protonmail.com.
• Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Paria River District Headquarters, 669 S Highway 89A, Kanab, Utah. For more information contact BLM Wildlife Biologist Lisa Church at lchurch@blm.gov or call 435-644-1273.
Data can be submitted on paper in person or by email. Several area schools are also participating. Count forms will be sent home with students and may be returned to the school. For more information on other bird count events near you, visit the 2023 Christmas Bird Count Schedule at http://utahbirds.org/.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.