NOTE: FOR SPECIFIC DATES FOR EACH OF THESE BIRD COUNTS, PLEASE VISIT OUR CALENDAR
Christmas Bird Counts
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is a long-standing program of the National Audubon Society, with over 100 years of citizen science involvement. It is an early-winter bird census, where thousands of volunteers across the US, Canada and many countries in the Western Hemisphere, go out over a 24 hour period on one calendar day to count birds. The Christmas Bird Count period runs from December 14 through January 5 each year.
Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society coordinates THREE regions for the annual National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count – Oneonta Region in Otsego County, Fort Plain Region in Montgomery County, and Delaware County Region.
View Data from past Christmas Bird Counts
Find a Bird Count Near You at the Audubon Map
OTSEGO COUNTY
Oneonta Christmas Bird Count (CBC):
We have been participating in the national count for over 50 years!. Everyone, novice or experienced, is welcome to join us on this fun day. Small groups in one or two cars count all the birds they find in their assigned area, within our designated 15-mile radius circle centered around Milford, for whatever hours they choose.
Each group has a leader who will have received appropriate materials beforehand. Alternatively, instead of joining a group, you can count birds at your own feeder off and on throughout the day if you are within our circle. If you are a new counter for either the group counts or the feeder counts, please contact Sandy Bright at brights@hartwick.edu or 607-287-4465. People who have participated before will be contacted.
View Map for the Oneonta Christmas Bird Count
Oneonta Region Data – Compiled – 1969 to 2023
(This is a large data file shared online and may take a minute or so to display at the link.)
Oneonta Region Data – 2022
(Thank you Sandy Bright!)
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Fort Plain Christmas Bird Count (CBC):
All are welcome to participate regardless of birding experience. For information contact Contact Charlie Scheim at scheimc@hartwick.edu or by phone 607-434-4880.
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View Maps for the Fort Plain Christmas Bird Count.
DELAWARE COUNTY
Upper Delaware River Christmas Bird Count (CBC):
The Delaware County CBC (NYDE) was established in 2017 following a test run in 2016. Our 15 mile circle is centered at Bear Spring Mountain in Walton and extends to Hamden, Downsville and Shinhopple. The territory is quite remote and includes steep hollows, forests, river valleys, two villages and sections of the Pepacton and Cannonsville Reservoirs.
All are welcomed to participate by joining a team of counters or reporting from a backyard feeder, if it is within the count circle. We conduct our count the first weekend in January. Contact Pam Peters if you are interested in participating or learning more: ovenb1rdp@gmail.com or (607) 829-6545.
Delaware County Data 2016 to 2023
Waterfowl Count
The NY State Ornithological Association’s annual statewide waterfowl count. DOAS covers Otsego Lake and the Susquehanna River above Unadilla, the Unadilla River, and Cannonsville Reservoir and the W. Branch of the Delaware River. This effort involves surveying waterways where they can be seen, and identifying and counting ducks and geese. The totals are used by the Department of Environmental Conservation in managing these species over the upcoming year.
Anyone interested in helping with the census, please contact Andy Mason, (607) 652-2162, AndyMason@earthling.net.
2017 Waterfowl Count Results
Other Citizen Science Surveys
We also encourage members to participate in other Citizen Science Projects including:
- Project Feederwatch (through Cornell Lab of Ornithology with a small fee),
- The Great Backyard Bird Count (a collaborative project that runs for a weekend each February).
- (Global )May Big Day Bird Count (Cornell Lab of Ornithology and American Bird Association)
- DOAS Big Day Bird Count (This is typically about a week later than the Global Big Day as we tend to find that birds reach us slightly later. Information each year can be found on our calendar pages. To register a team through DOAS, contact DOAS Board Member, Charles Scheim.) Click here to view compiled counts from 2019 & 2020.
