Calling All Birders - it's the Annual Christmas Bird Count!

Cedar Waxwing - public domain image by Ken Thomas

Cedar Waxwing - public domain image by Ken Thomas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's time to commence the annual Christmas Bird Count; it's been 113 years since the first one took place on Christmas Day 1900. That's the year ornithologist Frank Chapman began the count after proposing to conserve birds rather than shoot them. The Audubon Society's website has a wealth of information not only on the Christmas Bird Count, but also the history of bird conservation and science. Anyone can take part in the bird count and it promotes not only conservation, but helps us understand bird behavior and migration patterns, as well as providing bird census data. Birds have tremendous appeal to humans; their ability to fly and devoted nesting behavior have powerfully touched our sensibility ever since we first witnessed them. I've posted images of the Cedar Waxwing here because they're among the sleekest and dare I say coolest looking birds I've ever seen. There are many other beautiful and elegant birds, but the Waxwings have a modern, futuristic look that almost makes them seem space-age! Their dark eye bands, sleek crests, and smooth feathers give them a trendy appearance. And they're known to be very affectionate, often passing a berry down along a row of their compatriots!