Help Us With the New Bella Vista/Bentonville Christmas Bird Count

The Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) has been taking place for over 100 years now. But it has yet to reach Benton County here in Arkansas. That's about to change.

This year, the inaugural Bella Vista/Bentonville Christmas Bird Count will occur on December 22, and we could use your help. What is a Christmas Bird Count, you ask?

The CBC occurs once per year in December, usually near Christmas Day, and is when volunteers all over the country count every bird they see and hear and report that information to Audubon to be added to their massive database about species' ranges and population numbers. As you can imagine a lot of great information is contained therein, but our area has been lacking in that database since day one.

There are two ways to participate: you can help count from your car by driving around within our designated area, or you can sit in your comfy recliner at home and count the birds in your own back yard. It is this latter group in which we could use the most help.

To participate in the yard count, all you have to do is record the birds you see in your yard, note how many you see of each type, keep track of how long you have watched your feeders, and then report that information back to me at the end of the day.

Simple, eh?

If you are intrigued by the idea of helping with the Bella Vista/Bentonville CBC, in either capacity, send an email to butch@thebluebirdshed.com and I will add your name to the contact list.

Thanks!

Butch