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 U.S., Canada, and many countries in the Western Hemisphere go out over a 24-hour period on one calendar day to count birds.
You can add to the history of citizen science data, that has been accumulating for more than a century, by signing up with one of these Christmas Bird Counts that will be taking place in and around Southeast Texas.
Sea Rim State Park Christmas Bird Count
Thursday 28 December 2017
Please contact John Whittle at johnawhittle@aol.com or 409-722-4193 (H), and let us know you plan to attend so we can make the best possible area assignments. Otherwise, meet in Sabine Pass at 7:00 a.m.at the intersection of Highway 87 and FM3322 in Sabine Pass if not preassigned to an area. This is at the stop sign in Sabine Pass, where Highway 87 turns west. Countdown dinner at 6:00 p.m., location to be confirmed. This count has been sponsored by Golden Triangle Audubon Society since 1995.
Orange County Christmas Bird Count
Monday January 1, 2018
Contact Gary Kelley at garymke@sbcglobal.net or 409-679-1616 or meet in Orange at 7:00 a.m.at the Service Station at the intersection of Highway 105 and FM1442.
Bolivar Peninsula Christmas Bird Count
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Contact Steve Mayes in advance at sgmayes@hotmail.com for assignment, since there is not a central meeting location for this count. The count covers the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge and the High Island area, and has been conducted since December 1962. Dr. William Graber compiled this count for its first 50 years.
Johnson Bayou in SW Louisiana:
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Johnson Bayou CBC has a rich history beginning in 1976 to present. Though the count is located just across the state line in Louisiana, most participants are from Texas and everyone is welcome. While much of the area is private, local land owners have allowed access to their property for this count, areas rarely birded and normally inaccessible to birders at other times offering a good chance for rarities. Areas covered include beach, coastal cheniers, marsh and grasslands. Johnson Bayou is located off Hwy 82 in Louisiana just across from Pleasure Island, TX (east of Sabine Pass). From Port Arthur take Hwy 82 east for about 15 miles into LA. Please contact Gary Kelley (garymke@sbcglobal.net, telephone 409-679-1616) for more information, assignments and directions.
Turkey Creek:
Saturday, December 16, 2017
This count in Hardin County and Tyler Counties includes the Turkey Creek and Hickory Creek Savannah Units of the Big Thicket National Preserve. Meet at the Big Thicket Visitor Center on US69 at FM420, about 7 miles north of Kountze at 6:30 AM. Sponsored by the Big Thicket National Preserve. Contact John Whittle (johnawhittle@aol.com, 409-722-4193) for more information.
Galveston: Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Although this count has very limited land area and a particularly small amount of wooded areas, it still typically is a top 20 or near top twenty U.S. CBCs. This count is open to anyone who would like to participate and all areas need more observers. If you want to see some great birds, join us. This count undoubtedly produces the most species for the available land area (much of the count circle is water) of all U.S. CBCs. To participate please contact Richard Mayfield (rrichardm@verizon.net).
Bolivar Peninsula: Thursday, December 21, 2017
This count circle in Chambers and Galveston Counties includes High Island and Anahuac NWR. Newcomers are welcome to join! Compilers this year are Steve Mayes and David Sarkozi. If you are interested in participating, please contact Steve Mayes at sgmayes@hotmail.com.
Beech Creek: Saturday December 23, 2017
This count takes places in Tyler County and Jasper County and includes Steinhagen Lake, the Beech Creek unit of Big Thicket National Preserve and Martin Dies State Park. Meet at the Corps of Engineers Picnic Area on FM92 immediately north of the intersection with FM1746 in Town Bluff at 6:30 AM. Sponsored by the Big Thicket National Preserve. Contact John Whittle (johnawhittle@aol.com, 409-722-4193) for more information.
Sea Rim State Park: Thursday, December 28, 2017
This count in Jefferson County includes Sea Rim State Park, Texas Point NWR, and parts of J.D. Murphree WMA and McFaddin NWR as well as the Sabine Pass area. Please contact us in advance, as most groups go directly to their assigned areas. Sponsored by Golden Triangle Audubon Society. Contact John Whittle (johnawhittle@aol.com, 409-722-4193) for details.
Trinity River: Thursday, December 28, 2017
Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge will be hosting the 20th Annual Trinity River Christmas Bird Count for northern Liberty County. Areas to be counted include the Trinity River NWR, Tarkington Prairie, and Gaylor Lake. Some folks will bird the “bottoms” so be sure to bring a sack lunch, rubber knee boots and other appropriate outdoor clothing. The wrap-up dinner will be held at the Texas Seafood & Steakhouse restaurant in Cleveland TX. SETX Birdwatchers of all levels are welcome. If you have any questions you can contact the compiler Stuart Marcus at 936-336-9786 or stuart_marcus@fws.gov.
Orange County:
Monday, January 1, 2018
Habitat covers marsh, woodlands, and the Cow Bayou watershed. All are invited, even if you are n only able to bird for part of the day. Feeder watchers are welcome to participate. Let us know in advance and we will find a suitable group for you to join. Contact Gary Kelley (garymke@sbcglobal.net, telephone 409-679-1616), for more information.
Old River:
Tuesday January 2, 2018
The count covers all points within 7.5 miles of Lake Charlotte. This is less than an hour’s drive east of Houston. The count circle for this count centers in Lake Charlotte in Chambers County and takes in almost all of the Wallisville Project, all the way out to the far back in of Trinity Bay and north into the southern part on Liberty County. Please contact count compiler David Hanson (DHanson139@aol.com), if you’d like to participate or have any questions.
Credit : Golden Triangle Audubon Society and Houston Audubon
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