FORT HOOD, Texas - Volunteers combed the training areas off west and east range to count as many birds as possible here in a single day.
The annual count focused on a community outreach event on Dec. 15, followed by an official event Dec. 16.
“The Christmas Bird Count has been going on for more than a century and collects valuable data on bird populations and how it fluctuates year to year,” Charlie Plimpton, avian biologist, Fort Hood Adaptive and Integrative Management program, said. “Fort Hood’s count helps contribute to the national Audubon’s database.”
Each count aims to identify and record every individual bird encountered within a defined 15-mile circle. Plimpton, his team and volunteers count birds that can be seen or heard.
During the community outreach event, volunteers from Texas A&M University Central Texas Science Club, Wild Birds Unlimited, the community and DPW staff, observed 60 species and 566 individual birds; and during the official event, Fort Hood biologists and expert birders observed 109 species and 9,889 individual birds.
“Although the weather conditions were not the best, volunteers were engaged and enthusiastic while out in the field,” Plimpton said. “They understood that although the weather might limit what is seen, it was still important to spend time searching for birds and contributing to science.”
Plimpton explained that anyone can participate in the count, since volunteers are teamed with avian experts.
“For less experienced birders, it’s a chance to go out with an expert and practice their identification skills,” he said.
Volunteers and avian experts tracked through grasslands, shrub lands, bodies of water and forested habitats for songbirds, raptors, shorebirds and waterfowl.
“When you go bird watching, you’re also seeing the environment and how everything interacts,” Joey Moore, senior and vice president, TAMUCT Science Club, said. “This is real world experience, and my peers and I gain a lot of value coming onto Fort Hood.”
Part of the circle also encompassed urban areas in Killeen and the cantonment and family housing within Fort Hood. Individuals in the community were also encouraged to participate in the count and submit their information to the AIM team.
“Sometimes people find the strangest bird in their backyard in nothing more than a scrubby bush,” Plimpton said. “It’s important to check those habitats too, even if you don’t think you’ll find very much.”
Plimpton encouraged beginners interested in birding to start small.
“Get a bird feeder to put in your backyard, a good pair of binoculars and a bird guide book to learn the field marks,” he said. “Talk to other bird enthusiasts and explore local parks and trails. It’s a great way to learn about species that occur in your region and practice skills you are learning.”
Volunteers interested in birding and contributing to bird data will have another opportunity next month as part of the Great Backyard Bird Count set for Feb. 18-21. To participate, decide where you will watch birds; watch birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the four days; and count all the birds you see or hear within your planned time/location and use the best tool for sharing your bird sightings, such as Merlin Bird ID app or eBird.org.
For more information about the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count, visit www.audubon.org/join-christmas-bird-count. For more information on the 2022 Great Backyard Bird Count, visit www.birdcount.org.
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