The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages experienced birders to become citizen scientists by helping with the National Audubon Society’s 120th Annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) – including about 20 counts in Missouri.
MDC says the CBC is an annual winter bird census, during which thousands of volunteers across the U.S., Canada and many other countries in the Western Hemisphere count birds over a 24-hour period between December 14 and January 5. Christmas Bird Counts gather data on winter bird populations to track their longterm trends. Each CBC has a coordinator who assigns portions of a 15-mile diameter count circle to participants to count all birds seen and heard.
A couple of the counting areas are in the KMMO listening area.
Missouri hosts about 20 CBCs. If interested in participating, contact the CBC organizer listed.
· Cole Camp Prairies on December 27 – Contact Ryan Steffens at ryanthenaturelover@gmail.com;
· Columbia on December 14 – Contact Laura Hillman at hillmanl@health.missouri.edu.
MDC State Ornithologist Sarah Kendrick offers these CBC tips:
· If you’ve never participated in a CBC, tell the organizer so they can place you with experienced birders.
· Share your level of birding knowledge when you contact the CBC organizer so they can make sure you’re with a team with the experience to properly identify birds seen or heard.
· Dress warmly. Most CBCs will be held regardless of weather unless inclement weather is dangerous.
· Bring snacks and beverages to stay fueled for a long day.
To learn more, you can go to MDC’s website.

Photo courtesy the Missouri Department of Conservation.