Christmas Bird Count in Fayette County, WV
Community science and bird watching. Yes, please!
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is a program of the National Audubon Society since 1900, in which thousands of volunteers across the U.S., Canada, and many countries in the Western Hemisphere spend a day counting birds within their local geographical circle. All skill levels are encouraged to participate. CBC history and answers to frequently asked questions can be found at audubon.org.
Participation is Free. Registration is Required.
Send your first and last name and email address to the circle compiler. You'll be contacted to discuss your survey area and route.
Date: Monday, December 26, 2022 Check back in Nov. 2023 for the date for count year 124, between Dec. 14 to Jan. 5!
Count Year: 123 COMPLETED
Circle Name: WVOH (located in Fayette County, WV)
Covering a 7.5 mile radius from the intersection of Lochgelly Rd, Summerlee Rd, and Byrnside St, covering territory between Beckwith to Mount Hope, and Mossy to Cunard.
WVOH Circle Compiler: Rachel Davis, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., since 2022
Following CBC and CDC health safety guidelines, be prepared to mask and practice social distancing if picking up or dropping off your WVOH CBC Data Collection Form at (TBD) on December 26. Completed Data Collection Forms may be scanned or photographed and returned by email or text to Rachel immediately.
How Does Participation Work?
Circle Maps
Register to Participate
Participant Guide to Data Collection
Participant WVOH CBC Data Collection Forms
Rare Bird Report
Print: Car Sign, pdf.
Audubon CBC Live
WV Audubon CBC Archives
How Does Participation Work? (from audubon.org)
There is a specific methodology to the CBC, and all participants must make arrangements to participate in advance with the circle compiler but the CBC is open to all!
Each count takes place in an established 15-mile diameter circle, and is organized by a count compiler. Count volunteers follow specified routes through a designated 15-mile (24-km) diameter circle, counting every bird they see or hear all day. It's not just a species tally—all birds are counted all day, giving an indication of the total number of birds in the circle that day.
Birders of all skill sets are involved in the CBC. If you are a beginning birder, your compiler will pair you with an expert initially.
If your home is within the boundaries of a CBC circle, then you can stay at home and report the birds that visit your feeder on count day as long as you have made prior arrangement with the count compiler.
Find more Answers to your top questions about the Christmas Bird Count, on audubon.org. 
Circle Maps
WVOH Circle Map on audubon.org
The WVOH Circle covers a 15 mile diameter that includes territory between Beckwith to Mount Hope, and Mossy to Cunard.
Register to Participate
Register to Participate. Participation is free, but you must register in advance.
Contact the Circle Compiler with your First Last Name and email address; you will be contacted to discuss survey areas and routes.
Participants’ Guide to Data Collection (from audubon.org)
Talk with your circle compiler in advance of the count day for guidance on survey areas and routes.
1. Record every bird seen or heard in your assigned area, between midnight and 11:59 pm on the count date.
2. Try to cover your assigned route as thoroughly as possible during daylight hours.
3. Nocturnal birding or “owling” is optional.
4. Record all hours spent watching or listening for birds.
5. Record all miles traveled while watching or listening for birds (see guide to CBC party miles/hours for details).
6. Record each mode of transportation (by foot, by car, etc), and match the mode with # hours and miles for each type.
7. Record hours watching at feeders separately from any birding in the field.
8. Record hours and miles “owling” (nocturnal birding) separately from any birding in the field during count day.
9. Give your completed WVOH CBC Data Collection Form to your Circle Compiler within 24 hours of the count day.
Field Observers (excludes Feeder observers and Nocturnal/Owling observers)
Birds tallied by observers in the Field during daylight hours are counted separately from Feeder observers, and separately from Nocturnal/Owling observers. While in the Field, if you happen by a feeder, those birds are counted in the Field.
Round hours to the nearest quarter-hour, and distances to the nearest quarter-mile or quarter-kilometer.
Two (2) or more individuals observing together make a "party."
Distance by Foot is the effort of the party, not a sum of the individuals. For example: 3 individuals walking together 1 mile is 1 mile for the party; if the party splits and 2 individuals walk 1 mile in one direction and 1 individual walks 1 mile in another direction, the party walked 2 miles.
A route re-traced is recorded as the one-way distance. For example: An individual or party walks 1 mile out a path then returns the same way, the distance is recorded as 1 mile.
Hours by Foot records the entire time spent on the path, not just the one-way distance.
If appropriate, enter a 0 for distance. For example: A stationary individual or party observing a roost, lake, or river bank may spend 1/2 hour in one spot resulting in 1/2 hour and 0 miles.
If you don't travel by foot or by car, indicate the mode of transportation on your Report (bicycle, atv, boat, etc.).
Counting when re-tracing your route - If an individual or party needs to retrace their path along their route, birds should not be recounted. However, if other species or new individuals of the same species are encountered, they should be counted. For example: A party walks out a trail and counts 10 robins, later while retracing their steps back they count 15 robins and a crow, they would record 15 robins and 1 crow.
Print a WVOH CBC Field and Nocturnal/Owling Data Collection Form.
Feeder Observers
Round Feeder observation hours to the nearest quarter-hour. Feeder observation hours is the time a feeder was observed, not a sum of time for all individuals watching a feeder at the same time. For example: 2 people watching one feeder, 1 person watches from 8:00 - 9:00 and the other watches from 8:30 - 10:00, the total observation time for that feeder is two hours. If those 2 people watch two separate feeders, the time is added together for a total of two and a half hours.
While in the Field, if you happen by a feeder, those birds are counted in the Field.
Record the maximum number of each species visible or within earshot at one time. Do not continue to add chickadees for the entire watch period.
Print a WVOH CBC Feeder Data Collection Form.
Nocturnal/Owling Observers
Birds tallied by observers during non-daylight hours.
Round hours to the nearest quarter-hour, and distances to the nearest quarter-mile or quarter-kilometer.
Two (2) or more individuals observing together make a "party."
Distance by Foot is the effort of the party, not a sum of the individuals. For example: 3 individuals walking together 1 mile is 1 mile for the party; if the party splits and 2 individuals walk 1 mile in one direction and 1 individual walks 1 mile in another direction, the party walked 2 miles.
A route re-traced on foot is recorded as the one-way distance. For example: An individual or party walks 1 mile out a path then returns the same way, the distance is recorded as 1 mile.
Hours by Foot records the entire time spent on the path, not just the one-way distance.
If appropriate, enter a 0 for distance. For example: A stationary individual or party observing a roost, lake, or river bank may spend 1/2 hour in one spot resulting in 1/2 hour and 0 miles.
If you don't travel by foot or by car, indicate the mode of transportation on your Report (bicycle, atv, boat, etc.).
Print a WVOH CBC Field and Nocturnal/Owling Data Collection Form.
Your WVOH CBC Report Forms - complete and return on December 26, 2022
Following CBC and CDC health safety guidelines, be prepared to mask and practice social distancing if picking up or dropping off your WVOH CBC Data Collection Form at (TBD) on December 26, 2022. Completed printed Data Collection Forms may be scanned or photographed and returned by email or text to Rachel as soon as possible.
Print a WVOH CBC Field and Nocturnal/Owling Data Collection Form.
Print a WVOH CBC Feeder Data Collection Form.
Online WVOH CBC Data Collection Form.
Contact the WVOH Compiler by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WV Audubon CBC Archives, provided by the Brooks Bird Club in Wheeling, WV.
Rare Bird Report
Print, complete and return to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by TBD:
Rare Bird Report form, pdf.
Audubon LIVE
See what other people around the hemisphere are doing/seeing on their Christmas Bird Counts and add your own count day photos on the Audubon's CBC LIVE interactive map.
WV Audubon CBC Archives
WV Audubon CBC Archives provided by the Brooks Bird Club in Wheeling, WV.
