The Audubon Christmas Bird Count is an early winter snapshot of bird populations. It is the nation’s longest-running citizen science survey, providing critical data on bird population trends. The count started in 1900 and has grown to include many locations in the Western Hemisphere. Each count is done in a 15-mile diameter circle. There are now over 2,600 count circles! Counts must be scheduled on one day between December 14 and January 5.
Our Hilton Head count day is usually near the beginning of the count time period. We identify and count all birds seen or heard. Our 15-mile diameter circle includes all of Hilton Head, Pinckney and Daufuskie Islands, our waterways and parts of Bluffton out to Palmetto Bluff and Colleton River Club. We have 21 Area Captains who lead the teams. Teams include birders of various levels of experience, photographers and record keepers.
It takes National Audubon almost a year to compile and analyze the results from the annual count. The results are now available for our December 2021 Christmas Bird Count. Our Hilton Head CBC had third highest number of participants of all the 2,621 count circles in the Western Hemisphere! The highest participant count was again in Edmonton, Alberta. (Our total last year was 324: 231 field observers and 93 feeder watchers.) Overall, there were 76,880 observers across the Western Hemisphere, who counted over 42 million birds. This is similar to the past several seasons but, according to the national summary, far more birds were tallied decades ago when the average was 60 to 100 million.
Links to the national report and the South Carolina summary are below.
Our Christmas Bird Count on December 14, 2022
Count day was windy and cool with temperatures in the 50s, then light rain later in the day. We counted 27,609 birds and 135 species, close to our numbers from December 2021. There were 280 field observers on 81 teams and 99 feeder watchers for a record total of 379 participants. We welcomed 32 students to our count: 20 fifth graders from Red Cedar Elementary and 12 science students from Hilton Head High School. There were 86 other participants who were new to our count this year. Our Pinckney Island team was joined by a reporter from the Post and Courier, whose feature article about the joys of the count was published on Christmas Eve.
Some of the rare or unusual birds found included a pair of Painted Buntings, three Roseate Spoonbills, two Purple Finches, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, a female American Redstart, a female Hairy Woodpecker, a female Summer Tanager and a banded Bald Eagle.
Once again we had flocks of American White Pelicans seen by several teams. We totaled 71 after reducing for overlaps. Bald Eagles numbered 44 after subtracting duplicates. Our sightings of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks rose to 164. According to the South Carolina summary from last year’s count, they have been increasing across the state. You can see more data and trends in the 10-Year History with this year’s numbers by species in the link below. Our results are sent to the Regional Editor in early January and are final once approved.
We could not have such a successful count without the enthusiasm and hard work of our participants and leaders. Thanks to all who contributed!
The next Hilton Head count is Friday, December 15, 2023 We welcome birders for field teams as well as feeder watchers who count from their homes. If you participated in the count last year, your Area Captain will be contacting you in the fall. If you are new to our count and interested in being a part of this international effort, please e-mail me and I will have an Area Captain contact you.
Susan Murphy
CBC Coordinator for Hilton Head
Links to the 2021 National and South Carolina Reports by National Audubon:
South Carolina Summary: The 122nd Christmas Bird Count in South Carolina
Geoff LeBaron’s Summary of ALL CBCs: The 122nd Christmas Bird Count Summary