Description: Every year, Four Harbors Audubon Society participates in the Smithtown Christmas Count, which takes place on December 27. We start at 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. to look for owls, and bird until 5:00 p.m. when we compile our sightings and meet up with other teams to compile the results. 

Data collection is the main focus of the count, and has been since the tradition began on Christmas Day in 1900 by ornithologist Frank Chapman. Concerned about declining bird populations, he decided to do a bird census rather than the traditional Christmas "Side Hunt” that was the holiday tradition of the day. He organized 27 dedicated birders, and 25 counts were held that day totaling around 90 species in all. Today there are Christmas Bird Counts. In order to collect consistent data, and to prevent double counting, there are very specific territories assigned by the compiler to each team. Four Harbors Audubon has its own territory.                   

Please contact Luci Betti-Nash at  luci.bettinash@gmail.com if you would like to join us for all or part of the day. We can only count in our designated area, so it is important to contact me if you decide to participate. If you live within the count circle, you can watch for birds at your feeders or anywhere in your own backyard, and send your totals to the above email address before 5:00 p.m. We tally each species of bird as well as the number of individuals. The easiest way to keep a tally is by using eBird, and then send the list to me, but you can also take a photo of a written list with your phone and send it if you prefer, but all data must get to me before 5:00 p.m.

Luci Betti-Nash at luci.bettinash@gmail.com if you would like to participate.