December 2011 - Moab Happenings
December 2011 - Moab Happenings
December 2011 - Moab Happenings
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SHOPPING<br />
DINING<br />
MOAB HAPPENINGS<br />
ENTERTAINMENT<br />
NIGHT LIFE<br />
Volume 23 Number 9 Section B <strong>December</strong> <strong>2011</strong><br />
<strong>Moab</strong>’s Annual Christmas Bird Count<br />
For birdwatchers the Christmas Bird Count, known<br />
as the “CBC,” is a popular wintertime holiday pursuit.<br />
How popular you might ask? During the 2009-2010<br />
count, which was the 110th anniversary of the count,<br />
there were 2160 counts and over 60,000 observers<br />
throughout North America and parts of Latin America.<br />
Antarctica’s Camp Crozier count did not happen that<br />
year; I’m presuming gale force winds and sub-freezing<br />
temperatures had something to do with the birders not<br />
venturing outside that day.<br />
So what is the CBC? Sponsored by the National<br />
Audubon Society, the Christmas Bird Count is the<br />
longest-running citizen science project in North<br />
America. It started<br />
as an alternative to<br />
a holiday hunting<br />
competition where<br />
participants bagged<br />
birds and game<br />
animals. The biggest<br />
pile of fur and<br />
feathers won. The<br />
fledgling Audubon<br />
Society’s Frank<br />
Chapman organized a<br />
by Damian Fagan<br />
new event that focused on counting, not killing<br />
birds. Hatched as the “Christmas Bird Census”<br />
in 1900, 27 birders recorded birds in 25 counts<br />
scattered across the United States that first year.<br />
The census molted into the “Christmas Bird<br />
Count” and now occurs each year during a twoweek<br />
period between mid-<strong>December</strong> and early<br />
January. This year represents the count’s 112th<br />
anniversary. “Everyone who takes part does<br />
it for the love of birds and the excitement of<br />
friendly competition,” said Marcy Hafner, the <strong>Moab</strong> count<br />
coordinator. “Knowing what the CBC has contributed<br />
towards the research of bird populations adds a special<br />
significance to this event.”<br />
So how does it work? There is a pre-determined count<br />
circle with a 15-mile diameter that includes portions of<br />
Castle, Grand and Spanish Valley. The circle includes<br />
residential neighborhoods, the Matheson Wetlands<br />
Preserve, a stretch of the Colorado River, a corner of Arches<br />
National Park, and surrounding canyons and uplands. The<br />
count coordinator organizes teams that include experienced<br />
and novice birdwatchers. Teams venture forth into assigned<br />
areas on count day to record species and numbers of<br />
individual birds observed in their areas.<br />
What does the CBC capture? The Christmas Bird<br />
Count provides a snapshot of winter bird occurrence, and<br />
provides conservationists and researchers with data to<br />
analyze long term health and population status for birds<br />
in North America. Considering the wealth of data, some<br />
national or local trends of bird populations may emerge<br />
that reflect environmental conditions. Birders may also<br />
uncover unusual or rare occurrences of species. “Last<br />
year a ferruginous hawk, a great horned owl, several<br />
merlins and peregrine falcons were added to the species<br />
list for the day,” explained Marcy. “So if you want to add<br />
some extra spice to your holiday season, come on out and<br />
join the fun!”<br />
This year’s <strong>Moab</strong><br />
CBC will be held on<br />
<strong>December</strong> 17. Contact<br />
Marcy Hafner at<br />
marcymoab@yahoo.<br />
com or 259-6197 to<br />
sign up. Remember to<br />
dress for the weather,<br />
which can be balmy or<br />
freezing. The wrap-up<br />
potluck brunch, a true<br />
highlight of the count,<br />
is Sunday, <strong>December</strong> 18 at The Nature Conservancy office,<br />
900 W. Kane Creek Blvd, at 10:00 a.m. Good birding!<br />
You can follow Damian Fagan’s writing and activities at<br />
damianfagan.blogspot.com/<br />
Whether flying for business or pleasure,<br />
Grand Junction Regional Airport has<br />
over 19 daily nonstop flights<br />
year-round to seven major U.S. hubs<br />
and over 500 one-stop connections to<br />
cities around the world.<br />
To find the best available fare or<br />
to book your flight,<br />
visit www.gjairport.com.<br />
gjairport.com 970.244.9100