What is the importance of bird counting? Counting birds is a helpful way to estimate how a bird species is doing. It is a fact that birds are decreasing globally and it is crucial to understand the rate in which the decline is occurring. By counting birds, this allows for an assessment of which populations are shrinking and how fast.
The Arboretum has made this an annual event, The Christmas Bird Count. During this time we are understanding how birds have changed over time. The data collected is used here for our own research along with data for a wider open-source set for other researchers interested in conservation.
This important study is able to directly support local bird populations and manage our landscape to better support these species that might be now sensitive. This year on December 15th, we will be conducting our 102nd Christmas Bird Count. Our Science and Conservation team will be heading out to different areas of The Arboretum such as the Red Barn Reserve, East Side Woodlands, Dutch Fork Wetlands, Main Grounds, Visitors Center and Discovery Center. Here, they will be in charge of counting and documenting the number of birds that come across in their assigned areas.
We are thrilled to once again organize this event on our grounds.This aid in research for the conservation of different bird species and providing available data for others in the field is important to our overall mission at The Dawes Arboretum!