Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) volunteers and staff recorded an impressive 6,891 birds belonging to 93 species on Sanibel and Captiva on December 16th as part of a local effort to contribute to the National Audubon Society’s 124th Christmas Bird Count.
A Longstanding Tradition of Citizen Science
The SCCF reported that every year, birders across much of the Western Hemisphere participate in the count, which was started in 1900 when a group of birders proposed to count birds on Christmas Day rather than shoot them, as was past tradition. It is one of the longest-running citizen science efforts in the world and has contributed to substantial data on bird populations in the western hemisphere.
SCCF and Partners Collaborate for Over 60 Years
The SCCF and partners, including the Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society and J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, have collaborated on the Sanibel-Captiva count for over 60 years.
“Last year, many members of the public were unable to participate due to the damage caused by Hurricane Ian, so we’re happy to report that this year we had volunteers from on and off the island come out and participate,” SCCF shorebird technician Aaron White said. “We were worried about what the rainy weather had in store for us, but we were still able to hold a great count event. Our 80 dedicated volunteers covered 150 miles over the islands by foot, car and golf cart.”
Top Five Species Recorded
He noted that this year’s count total was higher than last year, but lower from prior years. Here are the top five species recorded:
- White ibis (Eudocimus albus): 565
- Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis): 515
- Sanderling (Calidris alba): 463
- Royal tern (Thalasseus maximus): 459
- Mourning dove (Zenaida macroura): 364
Challenges and Gratitude
The SCCF reported that the count numbers were likely lower due to the cold and windy weather conditions during the event, and one area was unable to be reached by boat due to the unfavorable marine forecast. Several inland areas were still inaccessible due to damage from Ian.
“We would like to thank all of our wonderful volunteers for their efforts in this year’s count, we couldn’t have done it without you,” White said. “We’d also like to thank San-Cap Audubon and J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling for their continued participation and support.”
The Christmas Bird Count Legacy
The 124th Christmas Bird Count window spanned from December 14th through January 5th. This annual tradition provides valuable data on bird populations and helps us understand how these populations are changing over time. The dedication of volunteers like those on Sanibel and Captiva is essential to the success of this important citizen science project.
