It’s Christmas Bird Count Time in The Bitterroot

By John Ormiston, Hamilton CBC Compiler

Christmas time for birders means it’s time to clean the binoculars and spotting scopes, find the warm field clothes and be sure to find the bird guide. It’s Christmas Bird Count time in the Bitterroot and nationwide. For the 124^rd time citizen scientists will go to the field to count as many as possible of the birds occupying a 7.5-mile radius, 177 square mile circle. Compilers will report the results of nearly 2,000 count circles across the U.S. and another 500 in Canada, Mexico and Central America.  Bitterroot Audubon sponsors two annual counts around Hamilton and Stevensville, MT.  The 37^thHamilton CBC occurs on December 16^th and the 59^th Stevensville count on December 30^th. The Stevensville count, started in 1963, is one of the two oldest in Montana. Yellowstone Audubon in Billings initiated their count the same year or in 1964. 

We welcome participation of anyone interested in learning more about winter birds in the Bitterroot. We especially like beginning birders who will always be paired with more experienced folks who know the area and the birds. The groups gather at about 7:30 AM with the intent of getting to the field by daylight at about 8:00. Hamilton counters gather at The Teller Education Barn (for the 37^th time) and honors a 36-year-old tradition by meeting back at The Teller for lunch featuring homemade chili and Oreos, and of course some delectable Christmas goodies. The counts are serious endeavors, but congenial birders interested in sharing their knowledge with beginners make the atmosphere competitive and lots of fun. 

Hamilton counters see an average of 67 species with a high count of 78 in 2013. The Hamilton area averages nearly 7,500 birds seen, many of them 

waterfowl on the Mansion Pond where open water remains available every year. We’ve recorded 133 species in the Hamilton circle. 

Feeder watchers, folks who identify the species and count the birds out their windows or in their yard, annually add around five species not seen in the field at each of the Stevensville and Hamilton counts. If you live within 7.5 miles of either the Hamilton Airport or the Stevensville Ranger Station you could help our citizen science project.  Call John Ormiston, 406-360-9530 (Hamilton); or Dave Lockman (Stevensville), 406-381-7679 to participate as a feeder watcher.  

Please take the opportunity to enjoy a day out with a great group of people and help the effort to enumerate all the birds in two official National Audubon Christmas Bird Count Circles.