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Thanksgiving Bird Counts take place on Thanksgiving Day. The counter chooses the time that best fits his/her holiday schedule. The Count lasts for only ONE HOUR, and is made in a count circle only 15 FEET in diameter. The lo-cation of the circle is determined by the counter. Actually, the circle can be considered a cylinder, since all birds seen on the ground (or water), in vege-tation or flying over or through the circle can be counted. Individual birds are to be counted only once during the hour, even if they continue to pay visits. Flocks should be estimated or counted and just the highest number at any one time used. Count circles are usually located around whatever attracts birds - feeders, baths, cover, etc. Most participants establish a count area visible from a comfortable spot near a window. Some participants select water areas or choose a favorite birding area and make an "outdoor" count. The same count circles should be used each year.
This is one bird count which can be done in comfort (indoors) and won't take much time (one hour). Last year 431 counters in the eleven Western States and Alaska made 440 counts. They tallied 161 species of birds (plus a lot of mammals and other things, too). The top five species counted in these states were }Iouae Sparrow (1), Dark-eyed Junco (2), House Finch (3), Black-capped Chickadee (4) and European Starling (5). As predicted, the Pine Siskin dropped out of the top five last season, but should be more numerous this year. Participants should send in a report even if no birds were seen during the hour.
Thanksgiving Bird Counts were begun in 1966 by Dr. Ernest Edwards and the Lynchburg Bird Club in Virginia. Counts slowly spread to the West. When I was asked to take over coordinating and compiling this count in the Western States only a couple of dozen counters were active here. Now, over 400 count reports are received each year, but we'd like to get over the 500 mark. There are still many areas in the West, Alaska and Hawaii in need of more counters and better distribution of counts.
Procedures for Count: Select a circular area on the ground (may include water area), 15 feet in diameter, to include feeders, bird baths, shrubs, etc., as you wish. Imagine the circle extending upward as a cylinder. Count the numbers of individual birds of each species which come into this circle (or cylinder) during exactly ONE HOUR. Try to judge as best you can the actual number of individuals which are making visits to the circle, or which fly through the imaginary cylinder. Try NOT to count the same individual bird over and over again! Please print clearly the number for each species in the 'In Circle" column. If you wish to report any seen outside the Circle, list them in the "Outside" column. Pick any ONE-HOUR period during the day - and make the count on Thanksgiving Day! Please send your count results (even if you see no birds at all) to:
Dr. John G. Hewston Natural, Resources Building, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95521.
| Species Seen | In Circle | Outside |
| California Quail | _______ | _______ |
| Rock Dove | _______ | _______ |
| Mourning Dove | _______ | _______ |
| Anna's Hummingbird | _______ | _______ |
| Northern Flicker | _______ | _______ |
| Woodpecker, (list _____) | _______ | _______ |
| Steller's Jay | _______ | _______ |
| Scrub Jay | _______ | _______ |
| Yellow-Billed Magpie | _______ | _______ |
| Common Raven | _______ | _______ |
| American Crow | _______ | _______ |
| Chestnut-Backed Chickadee | _______ | _______ |
| Mountain Chickadee | _______ | _______ |
| Red-Breasted Nuthatch | _______ | _______ |
| White-Breasted Nuthatch | _______ | _______ |
| Northern Mockingbird | _______ | _______ |
| American Robin | _______ | _______ |
| Golden-crowned Kinglet | _______ | _______ |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | _______ | _______ |
| European Starling | _______ | _______ |
| Spotted Towhee | _______ | _______ |
| White-Crowned Sparrow | _______ | _______ |
| Golden-Crowned Sparrow | _______ | _______ |
| Fox Sparrow | _______ | _______ |
| Song Sparrow | _______ | _______ |
| Dark-Eyed Junco | _______ | _______ |
| Red-Winged Blackbird | _______ | _______ |
| Purple Finch | _______ | _______ |
| House Finch | _______ | _______ |
| Lesser Goldfinch | _______ | _______ |
| American Goldfinch | _______ | _______ |
| Pine Siskin | _______ | _______ |
| Evening Grosbeak | _______ | _______ |
| House Sparrow | _______ | _______ |
| Cedar Waxwing | _______ | _______ |
| Other: ________________ | _______ | _______ |
| Other: ________________ | _______ | _______ |
| Other: ________________ | _______ | _______ |
| Other: ________________ | _______ | _______ |