Citizen science at its best

By Journal Editorial Board | Friday, December 14, 2007

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For bird lovers, one of the highlights of the holiday season is the annual Christmas Bird Count.

This year’s CBC is the 108th attempt by the National Audubon Society to document early winter birdlife all across America between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5.

In Rapid City, the one-day count has been happening since 1953. This year’s is set for Sunday, Dec. 16, within a 15-mile diameter of Dinosaur Hill.

In the 54 years that Rapid City birders have been counting, they’ve compiled much meaningful data about bird species in the area. They’ve tallied approximately 110 bird species in all, with about 60 found each year.

Birders are a hopeful bunch. Many of them would like nothing better than a sighting of an unusual or rare species as an early Christmas present.

But even if Rapid City’s bird watchers don’t spot a bright red cardinal or an eared grebe on Sunday, they’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that the data they collect will help science better understand changes in bird populations.

Combined with 50,000 other citizen scientists all across the U.S., their efforts will help compile the longest running database in ornithology.

You don’t have to be an ornithologist worried about global warming, or even an accomplished birder, to participate in the Christmas Bird Count.

Anyone with a bird feeder in their backyard who would like to contribute their observations is encouraged to contact Michael Melius at 255-4766 for more information on how to do that.

In the southern Hills, Wind Cave National Park will host its 13th annual Christmas Bird Count on the same day.

 For more information on how to participate, contact Barb Muenchau or Dan Roddy at 745-4600.