This year marks the 125th annual National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count (CBC) — the longest running citizen science survey in the world. This annual survey provides critical data on bird population trends throughout much of the western hemisphere. Tens of thousands of volunteers from across all 50 states, every Canadian providence, parts of Central and South America, Bermuda, the West Indies, and Pacific Islands, coordinate to systematically count the number of bird species and the individual birds, for one specific day (Count Day) within a standardized 15-mile diameter circle at each location. The center of the Homer CBC count circle is located at the base of the Homer Spit and extends east to Fritz Creek and west to Augustine Drive on the Sterling Highway. The northern boundary extends into the Anchor River drainage. The southern boundary extends out into Kachemak Bay.
Three days before and after the count day (“Count Week”), bird species are also tallied to provide a count of additional species not seen on Count Day. Count Day in Homer is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Masks are optional but encouraged. There will be in-person pre-count meetings at the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center with coffee, tea and goodies available to get you started as you are assigned to a team. It’s an all-day event and volunteers will meet back at the center after 4:30 p.m. to tally the preliminary results and discuss the count.
Count data will be transmitted electronically through the eBird app or by email to the count compiler, Dave Erikson.
People interested in volunteering for this year’s count will need to call Erikson or one of the Field Team Leaders to sign up. A list of Field Team Leaders and maps of the count areas will be posted on the Kachemak Bay Birders website at www.kachemakbaybirders.org. You do not have to be an experienced birder to participate — come join a team. There is no charge.
If you can’t leave your home on Count Day and your home is within the Homer CBC circle, you can still take part in the count by reporting the birds that visit your bird feeders and yard during the day. Simply contact the Feeder Watcher Coordinator, Kathy Eagle, at 907-232-3789 or katheagle@gmail.com to ensure your feeder is within the Homer CBC circle boundary. For more information, please contact Lani Raymond at 907-399-9477 or lanibirder@gmail.com; Dave Erikson at 907-441-7931 or derikson@alaska.net, or check out the Kachemak Bay Birder’s website at kachemakbaybirders.org. The Homer Christmas Bird Count is sponsored by the Kachemak Bay Birders, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Audubon Society.
Dave Erikson is the count compiler for the Kachemak Bay Birders’ 2024 Homer Christmas Bird Count.
