COUNT BIRDS THIS CHRISTMAS: The Christmas Bird Count 
and how to get involved… ahead on Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

The annual Christmas Bird Count, sponsored by the 
National Audubon Society, takes place any day between, 
and including, December 14th and January 5th.

11— There are over a hundred count circles in Texas, and they 
have them on different days where people can move around and 
visit multiple Christmas counts during that Christmas count 
season.

Nongame ornithologist, Cliff Shackelford says many of 
the 15-mile diameter count circles are decades old.

20— Teams of birders go in that circle and they repeat that every 
year. And after decades, you have some really neat data to look 
at. You can see trends. You can see which ducks are maybe on 
the increase – or on the decline. You can [even] see certain 
species that we can irruptive species – like red breasted nuthatch 
and purple finch.

A compiler picks a day for participants to count birds 
within a specific circle over a 24-hour period. 

05—We use that information to determine where hot spots are for 
certain species. 

It’s easy to get involved. Just go to audubon.org.

20—Look for a Christmas Bird Count circle near you. And 
associated with that circle will be the compiler. Contact that 
person and say, ‘Hey. I’d like to contribute. I’d like to be 
partnered with a team that maybe has some experts.’ And that to 
me is the best way to learn birds: go out with experienced people. 
You will learn so much more than from a book.

The Wildlife Restoration program supports our series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.




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