The High Country of NC Christmas Bird Counts

The original purpose of the Christmas Bird Counts was to provide an alternative to the traditional “Side Hunt”, in which teams competed to kill the largest number of animals and birds on Christmas Day. The originators of the CBC, including pioneering ornithologist Frank Chapman, proposed, instead, to identify and count as many birds as possible, offering a wildlife-friendly way to enjoy the outdoors over the holidays. Now over 100 years later, the CBC tradition is going strong, having largely replaced the destructive Side Hunt, and involving over 50,000 people each year in many countries. These counts are free and fun, and the data provide insight into changing populations of wintering birds. All of our local counts welcome more participation from all skill-level birders, so please come out and join us to celebrate wildlife!