CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT, 3: Counting birds for fun and 
science ... on Passport to Texas.

This is Passport to Texas

05 SFX [" ... I will count them.] Counting birds at dawn during the 
Christmas Bird Count guarantees you'll see lots of them. 
Yet, a big bunch of birds can lead to confusion.

04 -- Especially if you get into a big flock of robins or grackles; 
you just have to start estimating numbers. But, it's really fun 
when you start getting big numbers of species. You know, 
you've only been out for an hour and you already have 30 
species of birds; that's really fun.

Cliff Shackelford is a non-game ornithologist with TPW. 
This year's count is December 14 through January 5. 

07 -- There are over a hundred Christmas Bird Counts in Texas; 
so, chances are there's one in existence in your area.

 


Counts take place inside 15-mile radius circles. Cliff says 
the best way to find a nearby count is online. 

09 -- Search for Christmas Bird Counts in Texas, and figure out 
which one is nearest you. Also, you'll see who the compiler is, 
and you can get phone number or email and start coordinating 
with that person.


Compilers act as "captains" of their circles, and relay data 
from the count back to Audubon, which analyzes it. 
Birders of all skill levels are welcome. 

23 -- And what they'll do [if you're a novice] is stick you with 
some seasoned vets, and that's really good because you learn a 
lot when you're out in the field with someone whose been doing 
this awhile. So you go out with this team of observers and you 
basically beat the bushes and try to see as much as you can see. 
It's a lot of fun. 






The data volunteers collect help researchers better 
understand trends as they relate to our feathered friends. 

For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti. 

Total sound bite time:		 0:48.0
Maximum Script time:		 0:37.0 Suggested show time: 85.0 = 1:25