2023-2024 Regional list of Christmas Bird Counts
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National Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count Season will run from Thursday Dec 14th, 2023 to Friday January 5th, 2024.
To find a count near you on an interactive map:
https://audubon.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=ac275eeb01434cedb1c5dcd0fd3fc7b4
To download this years CBC announcement as a PDF visit Scribd link:
https://www.scribd.com/document/692209583/Announcing-Christmas-Bird-Count-FINAL-ma-23-24-3
ANNOUNCING THE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS IN OUR REGION
This is a list of Christmas Bird Counts in South Dakota and the closest parts of nearby states. The list is created by Prairie Hills Audubon Society of Western SD.
December 14th, 2023-January 5th, 2024
Audubon’s 124th Annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC)
https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count
All official counts will be held between the dates, Wednesday, December 14th, 2023 through, Thursday, January 5th, 2024.
This year, the Audubon Christmas Bird Count will mobilize nearly 80,000 volunteer bird counters in more than 2,600 locations across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America. The Audubon Christmas Bird Count utilizes the power of volunteers to track the health of bird populations at a scale that scientists could never accomplish alone.
The censuses provide valuable data about the number of bird species and numbers of each species occurring within set geographic areas on an early winter day. The results are compiled into the longest running database in ornithology, representing 124 years of unbroken data on trends of early-winter bird populations across the Americas.
When combined with other surveys such as the Breeding Bird Survey, Audubon’s 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. It informs strategies to protect birds and their habitat, and helps identify environmental issues with implications for people as well. Christmas Bird Count data have been used in more than 300 peer-reviewed articles.
Birders of all ages are welcome to contribute to this fun, nationwide community science project, which provides ornithologists with a crucial snapshot of our native bird populations during the winter months. Each individual count is performed in a count circle with a diameter of 15 miles. At least ten volunteers, including a compiler to coordinate the process, normally count in each circle. The volunteers break up into small parties and follow assigned routes, which change little from year to year, counting every bird they see. In most count circles, some people also watch feeders instead of following routes.
Interested birders must arrange with the count compiler in advance to participate. If weather is adverse, please check with comiler to verify it is still happening on the planned date
What to bring?
Participants should bring lunch, drinking water, warm clothing and footwear. Binoculars, field guides and spotting scopes are suggested, for those who have them.
The five-dollar fee has been dropped to encourage more participation and the annual published report,
(American Birds) previously available in paper has been made digital – see link:
https://www.audubon.org/content/american-birds-annual-summary-christmas-bird-count
Links to CBC web pages:
https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count
To find a count near you on an interactive map provided by National Audubon Society:
https://audubon.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=ac275eeb01434cedb1c5dcd0fd3fc7b4
Other links:
SOUTH DAKOTA
https://phas-wsd.org/citizen-science/
http://sdoubirds.org/SDOU/Calendar.aspx
NEBRASKA:
http://www.noubirds.org/Activities/CBC.aspx
MINNESOTA:
http://moumn.org/CBC/cal/calendar.php
IOWA
https://iowabirds.org/Connections/CBC.aspx
WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA’s CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS
STURGIS, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
Saturday, 12/16/23, Bad weather alternate date is Saturday 12/23/23
Contact: Erik Davis: speargoose@gmail.com
PIERRE/FT. PIERRE, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
Saturday, 12/16/2023,
Bad weather alternate is 12/18/23
Contact: Ricky Olson, tatanka40@pie.midco.net
WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
Sunday December 17th 2023,
Contact: Angela Jarding, angela_jarding@nps.gov , (605)-745-1157,
This CBC is not affiliated with National Audubon.
RAPID CITY, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
Sunday, 12/17/23
Contact: Peg Mcintire, mcintire14@me.com,
SHADEHILL, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
Tuesday, 12/19/2023
Contact: Greg Schonert, gregory.schonert@usda.gov
Greg’s Phone: 701-989-7309 (office) 701-202-0833 (cell), Forest Service (Grand River District) 605-374-3592
BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
TBD, likely either 12/29th or 12/30th
Contact: Nancy Drilling, dril0008@gmail.com, 605-791-0459.
SPEARFISH, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
Sunday, 12/31/2023,
Meet at McDonalds at 7:30 a.m. MT
Contact: Daniel Bjerke, 605-381-0493, dlbjerke@midco.net
HARDING COUNTY, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
1/2/2024,
Meet in the Tatanka Plaza parking lot in Buffalo at 8 am
Contact: Janice Bovankovich, jbovankovich@abcbirds.org,
PINE RIDGE RESERVATION, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
TBD, likely to occur towards the end of the season
Contact: Peter Hill, petermhill@yahoo.com, 605-441-9346.
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HOT SPRINGS, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
It is not happening this season
Contact: Duane or Marie Weber – (605) 673-2032, mmcurtin@gwtc.net
PIEDMONT, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
It is not happening this season. A new compiler is needed.
Contact: Gene Hess: gene@neopaleo.net,
BISON, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
We believe that it is not happening this season & a new compiler is needed. –
Contact: Meghan Dinkins, meghandinkins@hotmail.com,
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EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA’s CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS
Sand Lake N.W.R. Christmas Bird Count,
12/14/2023
Contact: Lindsey Wickre, lindsey_wickre@fws.gov, 605-228-8421,
Aberdeen Christmas Bird Count,
12/16/2023
Contact: Gary T Olson – olsonfam@nvc.net, 605-885-6284
Mitchell Christmas Bird Count, –
12/16/2023
Contact: Jeff Hansen, jeff.hansen.sd@gmail.com, 785-806-6917
Sioux Falls Christmas Bird Count,
12/16/2023
Contact: Chris Anderson, canderson1@sio.midco.net, 605-254-2550
Brookings Christmas Bird Count,
12/16/2023
Contact: Dan Kemp, dankemp@brookings.net
Yankton Christmas Bird Count,
12/17/20237
Contact: Roger Dietrich: 1947rogerd@gmail.com, (605) 660-6247,
Waubay N.W.R. Christmas Bird Count,
TBD, maybe the week of Dec 17th,
Contact: Brad Johnson – brad_johnson@fws.gov, 605-947-4521
Madison Christmas Bird Count,
12/20/23
Contact: Jeffrey S. Palmer, jeff.palmer@dsu.edu, (605) 256-5190
Canton Christmas Bird Count,
12/30/2023
Contact: Chris Anderson, canderson1@sio.midco.net, 605-254-2550
Huron Christmas Bird Count,
12/29/2023
Contact: Ryan Thompson, ryemel4@santel.net
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Lake Andes Christmas Bird Count,
It is not happening this season: 2023-24 and it needs a new compiler to volunteer.
Contact: Mick Hanan, mick_hanan@fws.gov, 605-481-2347
SOME OTHER CBC DATES, NEAR SD BUT IN NEARBY STATES:
Christmas bird counts in other states, that are near enough, that SD folks may be interested in them –
We are especially interested those CBCs that are closer to us (Prairie Hills Audubon Society) in western SD:
SOME NEBRASKA CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS
Ponca State Park, NE, Christmas Bird Count,
12/14/2023
Contact: Bill Huser, BillFHuser@gmail.com, or 712-574-3107
Scottsbluff, NE, Christmas Bird Count,
12/15/2023
Contact: Kathy DeLara, renosmom@charter.net,
Norfolk, NE, Christmas Bird Count,
12/16/2023
Contact: Duane Wolff, duane.wolff@audubonmember.org, (402)-841-0130,
David Heidt, heidtdw@gmail.com,
North Platte, NE, Christmas Bird Count,
12/16/23
Contact: Thomas Walker, thomas.walker@nebraska.gov, 308,-530-7659
Fort Niobrara, NE, Christmas Bird Count,
12/19/23
Contact: Kristine Askerooth, kristine_askerooth@fws.gov
Lake McConaughy, NE, Christmas Bird Count,
12/30/2023
Contact: Stephen Dinsmore, cootjr@iastate.edu, 515-294-1348
Crawford NE, Christmas Bird Count,
12/30/2023
Contact: : Kathy DeLara, renosmom@charter.net
Harrison NE, Christmas Bird Count,
12/31/2023
Contact: : Kathy DeLara, renosmom@charter.net
SOME WYOMING CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS
Gillette, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
12/16/23
Contact: William Vetter wm_vetter@msn.com, (307) 670-1145,
Dustin Downey, 307.756.3941, 504.453.4139, ddowney@audubon.org,
Sheridan, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
12/16/2023
Contact: Annie Dunn, anniegitterdunn@gmail.com, (253) 307-9082.
Casper, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
12/16/2023
Contact: Bruce Walgren, piranga@bresnan.net, 307-234-7456,
or Stacey Scott at hustace@gmail.com or (307) 262-0055
Kane, WY, Christmas Bird Count,,
12/16/2023
Contact: Christy Fleming: christy_fleming@nps.gov, 307-548-5402
Buffalo, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
12/17/2023
Contact: Deane Bjerke, bjerkedp@gmail.com,
Goshen Hole, WY, Christmas Bird Count
12/17/2023
Contact: Zachariah Hutchinson, zhutchinson@audubon.org
Story-Bighorn, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
12/30/2023
Contact: Ariel Downing: at 307-751- 2303, bandgeek832@gmail.com, Christy_Fleming@nps.gov
Guernsey/Ft. Laramie, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
1/1/2024
Contact: Jane Dorn, 307-640-4002, linglebird@yahoo.com,
Bates Hole, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
1/1/2024
Contact: Hustace “Stacey” Scott, hustace@gmail.com, call Stacey at 307-262-0055 or Charlie at 307-473-2512
Sundance, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
TBD – likely later in the CBC season
Contact: Jen at 307-290-0457, ravenssong18@gmail.com,
SOME IOWA CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS
Westfield, IA, Christmas Bird Count,
12/15/2023
Contact: Bill Zales, doczales44@hotmail.com
Sioux City, IA, Christmas Bird Count,
12/16/2023
Contact: Jerry Probst, probstsuebee@aol.com, 712-490-8256,
SOME MINNESOTA CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS
Ortonville, MN, Christmas Bird Count
12/16/2023
Contact: Brandon Semel: brandon_semel@fws.gov
Hendricks, MN, Christmas Bird Count,
12/15/2023
Contact: William A. Schultze, bcbrats@itctel.com, 605-479-3015
Pipestone National Monument, MN, Christmas Bird Count,
12/30/23
Contact: Garrett Wee, garrettwee@hotmail.com,
(507) 829-8187, or Natalie Barber, Natalie_Barber@nps.gov
SOME NORTH DAKOTA CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS
Long Lake N.W.R. ND, Christmas Bird Count,
12/14/2023
Contact: Madison Fladeland (madison_fladeland@fws.gov) (701-319-6279)
or Jared Newton, Jared_Newton@fws.gov
Tewaukon N.W.R., ND, Christmas Bird Count,
12/14/23, This year the CBC is not open to public
Contact: Eric Wilson, eric_wilson@fws.gov, 701-724-3598 ext 2,
Bismarck-Mandan, ND, Christmas Bird Count,
Either 12/16/23 or 12/23/23 – we have heard both dates
Contact: Corey Ellingson, crackerjackbirder@bis.midco, 701-400-5891
Medora, ND, Theodore Roosevelt N.P. South Unit, ND, Christmas Bird Count,
TBD, but likely 12/31/2023
Contact: Kevin Melzo, kevin_melzo@nps.gov, 701-623-4730 ext 1403
Theodore Roosevelt N.P., North Unit, ND, Christmas Bird Count
, TBD, but maybe 1/1/2024
Contact: Kevin Melzo, kevin_melzo@nps.gov, 701-623-4730 ext 1403
SOME MONTANA CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS
Miles City, MT, Christmas Bird Count,
12/18/23
Contact: Jennifer Muscha, jenmuscha@midrivers.com, 406-951-2799
Results of Christmas Bird Counts In the Past:
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Link to last year’s (2022-2023) PHAS’s regional CBC announcement as posted on Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/document/690938817/Final2-2022-23-CBC-Announce-122nd-final-2ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.