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Christmas Bird Counts December 14th thru January 5th
December 14, 2022 - January 5, 2023
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS IN OUR REGION
This is a list of Christmas Bird Counts in South Dakota and immediate parts of nearby states.
It is created by Prairie Hills Audubon Society of Western SD.
December 14th, 2022-January 5th, 2023
Christmas Bird Counts
December 14th- January 5th
Audubon’s 123rd Annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC)
All official counts will be held between the dates, Wednesday, December 14th, 2022 through, Thursday, January 5th, 2023 .
Harding County CBC, Sunday 12/18/22, Jessica Howell: jhowell@abcbirds.org (Bad Weather alternate date)
Rapid City CBC, Sunday, 12/18/22, Michael Melius: mmmelius@hotmail.com
Pierre CBC, , Saturday, 12/19/22, Ricky Olson: tatanka40@pie.midco.net, (Bad Weather alternate date)
Sturgis CBC, Friday, December 23rd. Eric Davis: speargoose@gmail.com, (Bad Weather alternate date)
Sundance, CBC, 12/30/22, Jen: ravenssong18@gmail.com,
Spearfish CBC, 1/1/23, Daniel Bjerke: dlbjerke@midco.net
Badlands National Park CBC,1/1/23, NancyDrilling:dril0008@gmail.com
Pine Ridge CBC, 1/3/23, Peter Hill: petermhill@yahoo.com
Shadehill CBC, 1/3/23, Greg Schonert: Gregory.Schonert@usda.gov – (Bad Weather alternate date)
Bison CBC, Not happening this year, Meghan Dinkins, meghandinkins@hotmail.com
Piedmont CBC, Not happening this year,, Gene Hess, gene@neopaleo.net,
Hot Springs CBC, Not happening this year,, Duane Weber,
This year the start of the season overlapped with a 4-day blizzard in parts of the region. Some counts have been rescheduled and we may not have discovered all rescheduled dates.
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 123 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.
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:
Links to CBC web pages:
To find a count near you on an interactive map: