PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — It’s time for the annual Christmastime bird counts.
The Prince William Conservation Alliance will hold their annual count in Nokesville on December 26.
“Last year we counted 89 species and 19,302 individuals in the Nokesville Count Circle,” stated Alliance Director Kim Hosen.
There are multiple bird counts happening over the next month. Everyone needs volunteers to help complete the count, stated Hosen.
From Prince William Conservation Alliance:
“Now in it’s 117th year, the Christmas Bird Count, led by the National Audubon Society, provides scientists with information on the status of bird populations across North America. According to the Audubon Society, when combined with other surveys such as the Breeding Bird Survey, the Christmas Bird Count provides a picture of how the continent’s bird populations have changed in time and space over the past hundred years.
Birding enthusiasts are invited to join the Nokesville Christmas Bird Count (CBC), sponsored by Prince William Conservation Alliance. The Nokesville Count will be held on December 26, beginning at 7 a.m.
All CBC Circles cover a 15-mile diameter circle (113,000 acres).
The Nokesville count circle, centered at Merrimac Farm WMA, covers a diverse landscape at the edge of the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area and captures the transition from coastal plain to piedmont ecosystems. It extends from the Prince William County landfill on Route 234 to Nokesville Proper, and from the Lunga Reservoir near I-95 to Catlett in Fauquier County. The count circle includes portions of Prince William Forest Park, Merrimac Farm WMA, several wetland banks, and large areas within MCB Quantico.
Please join us for a fun, rewarding day and be a part of the oldest and largest citizen science project in the Nation. RSVP required, email [email protected] or call 703-499-4954.”
“Each Count Circle generally cover portions of more than one County. For example, the Nokesville Count covers parts of [Prince William County] and Fauquier, and The Plains Count covers Fauquier and Prince William County]. Click here to view a map of the US Count Circles, scroll in to see our area.
A count to be held by the Audobon Society of Northern Virginia will include the Manassas National Battlefield Park.
From the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia:
Sunday, December 18, 7:00AM
Birders of all skill levels are invited to participate in the 35th Annual Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count, sponsored by the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia (ASNV)
Volunteers are needed in the field and as feeder watchers. The count circle includes Manassas National Battlefield, Bull Run Regional Park, undeveloped areas south of Dulles Airport, and many other locations.
ASNV is proud to continue this tradition that began in 1900 by the National Audubon Society (NAS). Tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas take part by counting bird populations in 15-mile diameter circles at this time of year.
NAS (www.audubon.org) compiles the data collected by volunteers during the CBC to create the largest database of bird information in the northern hemisphere. In addition to supporting many ongoing bird and wildlife studies, this data is available to the public for additional research.
For more information please call: 703-438-6008 or email: [email protected]’
The Prince William Conservation Alliance gave us this list of bird counts happening in the region in December:
Brooke (includes Crow’s Nest in Stafford County) – December 14 2016, contact Odette B. James, [email protected]
The Plains – Dec 18 2016, contact Sue Garvin
Manassas-Bull Run – Dec 18 2016, contact Bob Shipman, [email protected]
Nokesville – Dec 26 2016, contact Kim Hosen, [email protected]
Central Loudoun County – Dec 28 2016, contact Joe Coleman, [email protected]
Fort Belvoir – Jan 2 2017, contact Phil Silas, [email protected]
Lake Anna – no date yet, contact Michael Boatwright
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