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Prior to the turn of the 20th century, hunters engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas "Side Hunt." They would choose sides and go afield with their guns—whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won.

Conservation was in its beginning stages in that era, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations. Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer in the then-nascent ±¬ÁϹ«Éç Society, —a "Christmas Bird Census" that would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them.

So began the Christmas Bird Count. Thanks to the inspiration of Chapman and the enthusiasm of 27 dedicated birders, 25 Christmas Bird Counts were held that day. The locations ranged from Toronto, Ontario to Pacific Grove, California with most counts in or near the population centers of northeastern North America.  

CBC in the Modern Era

Each November, birders interesting in participating in the CBC can sign up and join in through the ±¬ÁϹ«Éç website. From December 14 through January 5 each year tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas brave snow, wind, or rain, and take part in the effort. ±¬ÁϹ«Éç and other organizations use data collected in this long-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations, and to help guide conservation action.

How the Christmas Bird Count Helps Protect Species and Their Habitat

The data collected by observers over the past century allow ±¬ÁϹ«Éç researchers, conservation biologists, wildlife agencies and other interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. When combined with other surveys such as the Breeding Bird Survey, it provides a picture of how the continent's bird populations have changed in time and space over the past hundred years.

The long term perspective is vital for conservationists. It informs strategies to protect birds and their habitat, and helps identify environmental issues with implications for people as well. 

What conservationists have learned through Christmas Bird Count data

• is a comprehensive, first-of-its kind study that predicts how climate change could affect the ranges of 588 North American birds. Of the 588 North American bird species ±¬ÁϹ«Éç studied, more than half are likely to be in trouble. Our models indicate that 314 species will lose more than 50 percent of their current climatic range by 2080.
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has included ±¬ÁϹ«Éç's climate change work from CBC data as one of 26 indicators of climate change in their .
• In 2009 CBC data were instrumental in the collaborative report by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - . 
• In 2007, CBC data were instrumental in the development of , which revealed that some of America's most beloved and familiar birds have taken a nosedive over the past forty years.