This year will mark the National Audubon Society’s 111th Christmas Bird Count.  Thousands of volunteers will head to the field to participate in the largest example of citizen science on the planet.  The data collected will help scientists track and understand changes in bird populations and help guide future direction of conservation efforts.

Dave Hall, Director of Field Work for Bergen County Audubon Society, has seen many changes over the years. 

“Since our count’s start in 1951, habitat change has been inexorable in our area of New Jersey. Much land has been lost, especially meadows and forest.  Global warming has taken its toll with the winter ranges of many species sliding northward as our winters become more and more mild.  This has meant an increase in Southern species such as Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Carolina Wrens, but it has also meant the complete loss of northern species such as Boreal Chickadee, Northern Three-Toed Woodpecker and Bonaparte’s Gull.”

Dave also points to the increase in green lawns, golf courses and warehouse districts to the increase in Canada Geese numbers.

“Now Canada Geese stay here all winter to feed.  They used to fly south and were absent from our early counts.  The closing of landfills in the New Jersey Meadowlands area has also led to changes.  Several species of gulls have now moved away which has allowed some species of waterfowl to get a better foothold.”

The introduction of avian disease’s, such as West Nile Virus, may have led to changes in Jay and Crow numbers as well, but Dave cautions that the variables in local count data makes it difficult to track.  Thankfully, with counts done across the continent, information can be looked at to better see any population changes on a bigger stage.

 This years’ Christmas Bird Count will take place on specific dates from Tuesday, December 14, 2010 to Wednesday, January 5, 2011.  Specific dates and coordinators can be found below.  Contact your local Audubon Society to check how and when you can get involved.  There is no need to be an expert on bird identification - every extra pair of eyes on the count always helps.   It’s a great idea to make it a family tradition by getting Mom, Dad and the kids outside for the day and helping the birds at the same time.

2010-2011 New Jersey locations:

• Hackensack-Ridgewood: December 18
• Lakehurst: December 18
• Great Swamp / Watchung Ridges: December 18
• Northwestern Gloucester County: December 18
• Oceanville Christmas (a.k.a. Brigantine): December 18
• Ramsey: December 18
• Walnut Valley (Blairstown): December 18
  
• Assunpink: December 19
• Cape May: December 19
• Northwestern Hunterdon County: December 19
• Princeton: December 19
• Sussex County: December 19
• Lower Hudson: December 19
• Pinelands: December 19
• Salem: December 19
  
• Belleplain: December 26
• Boonton: December 26
• Raritan Estuary: December 26
• Moorestown: December 26
  
• Mizpah: December 31
• Long Branch: January 1
  
• Barnegat: January 2
• Cumberland County: January 2
• Marmora: January 2
• Somerset County: January 2
• Warren County-Northampton County: January 2
  

• Click here for contact information 
• Click here for locations in other states
• Click here for more information on the 2010 Audubon Christmas Bird Count

For some other citizen science projects across the nation, Birder's World Magazine has a great listing: http://www.birdersworld.com/~/link.aspx?_id=D8FF57629DC44A8C962C7301DE5B569C

Previous exclusives by Don Torino:

Don's Jersey Birding: The Meadowlands get better with age

WNJ Exclusive: Autumn offers birds a transition period in New Jersey

Don Torino is the Education Chairperson for Bergen County Audubon Society.