Re: [cobirds] CBC Colorado Christmas wish list

To Brandon's point, it is interesting to consider counts that are under-supported by participating birders and those whose participation has declined. The number of birders has grown greatly, but it seems that the tradition of Christmas count participation has not grown similarly. The CBC culture feels different in some ways. I think some impact occurred in connection with the Covid-19 shutdown when many counts took a hiatus, and substantial growth in birding happened at that same time and in the following years. 

To Diana's idea for consideration, the corners of Colorado all seem depauperate in coverage. One fantasy circle for me would be focused on the canyonlands of Baca and far eastern Las Animas counties -- but no birders live there.  Those reservoirs in Park County she mentions -- all great birding areas -- are completely frozen in the CBC season and one of the state parks is closed for winter.  

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO

On Sun, Dec 21, 2025 at 12:25 PM Brandon <flammowl17@gmail.com> wrote:

Since there are over 50+ Christmas Bird Counts in Colorado, and some counts don't get 10 observers on their counts, which they suppose to be (according to National Audubon, every year), I am not sure about starting new Christmas Bird Counts, that don't have a lot of birders, that live in the circle (the new count this year, Broomfield, probably have lots of people, since it is in northern Colorado).  I know several of our local counts down here, like Lake Isabel, Spanish Peaks, Rocky Ford, Pueblo, and Westcliffe (which we've discontinued since there aren't any birders close by), don't get enough of helpers (nowadays, they use to get more, back when they started), since there's not a lot of birders in these areas.  Please help these rural counts that have few people helping usually, and not try to start new counts in areas that don't have helpers.

Brandon Percival

On Sun, Dec 21, 2025 at 12:15 PM Diana Beatty <otowi33.33@gmail.com> wrote:

Just for fun discussion:  

Linked below is a map of Christmas Bird Count circles.

Is there anywhere in Colorado you think should have one that doesn't?  Volunteer capacity and time are certainly factors, but if those weren't problems, where might we be missing?

Near me, I thought maybe a circle centered on or around Eleven Mile State Park could be cool.  Maybe it would also have Antero and Spinney within it.

Diana Beatty

El Paso County

https://gis.audubon.org/christmasbirdcount/?_gl=1*161wzvj*_gcl_au*MTQzMzU4MzYxMy4xNzY2MzQzODc4*_ga*MjE0MzA1MzQxMy4xNzY2MzQzODc4*_ga_X2XNL2MWTT*czE3NjYzNDM4NzckbzEkZzEkdDE3NjYzNDQyNTIkajYwJGwwJGgw

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