Program: Christmas Bird Count History

Presenter: Dahn Windhorn

Zoom only

Zoom Meeting ID: 861 1971 5750 / Passcode: 097193; click HERE to join

Frank Chapman and 26 other conservationists initiated the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) as a way of promoting conservation by counting, rather than hunting, birds on Christmas Day of 1900. Each count takes place in an established 15-mile diameter circle from December 14 through January 5 each year. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this long-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations and to help guide conservation action.

On December 26, 1955, SAAS conducted its first CBC with 22 observers participating. The count was in two areas, one included Woodlawn Lake, Olmos Basin, Brackenridge Park, Fort Sam Houston, and Old Blanco Road. The second area was around Mitchell Lake. Now SAAS is the official CBC organization for San Antonio and the count site is located on the south side of San Antonio and includes the areas of Somerset and Mitchell Lake. This year’s CBC will be on December 15, 2024.