used to learn about long-term bird trends , such as migration patterns or population declines in particular species .
“ The count doesn ’ t give you bird populations over time , it gives you trends in bird populations over time ,” Covington said . “ And taking part makes you feel like you are making a contribution in following those trends in bird populations and in gathering that data .” Owen agreed . “ It really is a commitment because if you do this then you are making a commitment to do this for years because you are trying to establish data from year to year to year ,” she said .
In Lauderdale County , the count is held within an established 15-mile diameter circle with the Bailey community sitting in the center of the circle . The circle is divided into nine sections . For the volunteers , it is a day-long task , counting and recording as many birds as they can identify in their assigned section before dark . They can only record the number of birds and the species of birds they see on that one day .
In all , Covington said she spent seven hours counting birds and reported 46 different species to the compiler who organizes the county ’ s statistics .
“ I tend to see the birds that are most interesting on days that are not the count day ,” Covington said .
She said a mandarin duck lived on the lake behind her house for three months last year , and she saw a bald eagle two days before this year ’ s count , which could not be added to the official total because it was not on the CBC day .
“ The other day , I had a swan on my lake , which is very rare ,” Covington said . But , again , it was after the census day .
Just like for Covington , CBC day began at first light for Owen with her counting the birds in her backyard , before
Donna Owen counted from her car , as well as hiked , to get an accurate number of birds during the annual Lauderdale County Christmas Bird Count . This year , 89 different species and 3,728 individual birds were reported .
Donna Owen writes down each bird species and the number of birds in those species for her report on the bird count . She carries bird identificaiton books to help identify species .
driving downtown to count pigeons . Those numbers she handed off to that section ’ s team leader .
Then , she and her husband , Ed Owen , jumped in their car and headed out to their mapped out zone in the Bailey area . The day was spent driving through communities and rural areas slowly as they looked for signs of birds , sometimes pulling off on the side of the road to count a flock of 52 black vultures sitting like sentinels on a cell phone tower or a flock of white pelicans flying above or slowly rolling past an entrance to one neighborhood to count cardinals , sparrows and bluebirds fluttering in the woods .
At the minnow ponds , Owen decided to get out and walk the roadways around the ponds so she could get an accurate count , spying great blue herons , great egrets , and turkey vultures . She turned her attention to the woods searching for what she thought she heard was a pileated woodpecker with its loud whinny call . Certain birds have distinctive sounds , and if their sound is clearly recognizable , they are allowed to be counted even if they are not physically identified , she said .
Being able to properly identify the birds is an important requirement for volunteers helping with the count .
“ It ’ s so important to be able to identify them , or you can ’ t put them down ,” said Owen , who ended up recording 59 species for the day . “ You can ’ t say , ‘ Oh , well that ’ s just a blackbird ’ and put it down . Well , which kind of blackbird ? Or that was a crow . Well , American or Fish ? Or that ’ s a hawk . Well , which kind of hawk ? You have to be able to identify them or you can ’ t count them .”
This year ’ s count of 93 species recorded in Lauderdale County was up from the previous year ’ s bird census when 77 species of birds were reported .
The results of this year ’ s Lauderdale County bird count are on page 21 or visit www . audubon . org / conservation / science / christmas-bird-count and click on the CBC Results link . Previous years counts are also available . M
20 • MERIDIAN LIFE