By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Audobon's Christmas Bird Count is the nation's longest-running community science bird project. The 124th annual bird count runs nationwide from Dec. 14, 2023, to Jan. 5, 2024. Cheyenne Bottoms has held its own event for more than 50 years. Kansas Wetlands Education Center Director Curtis Wolf said local bird watchers can participate on Monday, Dec. 18.
"Bird watchers go out and try to document and count all the bird species they can find within a 24-hour period," Wolf said. "The information is compiled through the National Audobon Society to try to document trends in bird populations across the world."
The Cheyenne Bottoms Christmas Bird Count will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day. Lunch is provided, and KWEC staff asks that counters participate for at least half the day. Pre-registration is required, and KWEC will pair bird watchers of different skill levels to make it an educational and enjoyable event. Bird counters will be assigned to a defined area.
"If people have a pair of binoculars, that's probably the most important tool for any bird watching to be done," Wolf said. "Even if they don't and would like to learn a little bit, we have pairs of binoculars here we can loan out for the day."
Some 40 bird counts will take place around Kansas in the allotted period. Approximately 80 species of birds are typically spotted during the Cheyenne Bottoms count. Last year, the number fell to 61. Call KWEC at (877) 243-9268 to reserve a spot in this year's count.