SARASOTA – Snowbirds aren’t the only ones coming down for Christmas, real birds are too. The Sarasota Audubon Society prepares for their annual Christmas Bird Count.
They call themselves “birders.” The Sarasota Audubon Society is counting on their feathered friends to fly in for the holidays. For almost 70 years, they have been counting birds around Christmas time.
It’s a national holiday tradition celebrated during the week of December 14 to January 5. Circles of birders across North America compile their bird-sighting data into a national database.
Bird Count Compiler, Stuart Wilson, says the data help identify how bird populations are faring.
“The data from these circles are used to track long-term trends, species by species,” Stuart Wilson said. “You can see which species are doing well, which species are just hanging on, and which species are perhaps depleting.”
Last year, Stuart says the Sarasota Audubon Society counted 173 species of birds
“We shattered our species record by 12 species, which is rather astounding,” Wilson said.
The Audubon Society believes climate could be a reason for the array of new species in Sarasota County.”
Nature Center Manager, Karen Willey, says nothing is conclusive, but she does question the hotter temperatures.
1:11Sot: Nature Center Manager, Karen Willey
“Are these tropicals that are now staying here instead of moving further south?” Karen Willey said. “Because the weather is now warmer, longer, and they can stay here rather than going south.”
But, it’s not only climate change, but other issues also affect the bird population too. Among them are windows, habitat loss, and cats…
“Keep your cats indoors,” Wilson said.
The Sarasota Audubon Society will conduct their bird count on Saturday, January 4th.
If you’re interested in participating, you can visit their website.
