Christmas Bird Count for Kids Planning Package

The Christmas Bird Count for Kids (CBC4Kids) is a fun birdwatching
event that engages youth and their families in real Citizen Science!
The goal is to promote nature appreciation, ecological literacy, and
environmental stewardship in the next generation of naturalists.
CBC4Kids events can be hosted by anyone who enjoys connecting
youth with the natural world. The event is easy to set up and can be
done just about anywhere! Participants in this outdoor community
event gain bird identification skills and learn the importance of
Citizen Science monitoring for bird conservation.
PLANNING PACKAGE
Bird Studies Canada is happy to provide support as you plan
your event. This CBC4Kids Planning Package will help you set up
your own CBC4Kids event, and can be adapted to suit your
event requirements. This resource includes: a welcome and
introduction to the CBC4Kids; event basics and sample itinerary;
instructions for creating your local bird checklist and submitting
data to eBird Canada; and planning resources for setting up
your Christmas Bird Count for Kids event.
Along with this Planning Package, you can also refer to the
Playbook developed by Sonoma Birding:
www.sonomabirding.com/cbc4kids_playbook.html
BIRD STUDIES CANADA
Please share your CBC4Kids date, location, and contact
information with Bird Studies Canada so that we can help
promote your event to our members and friends!
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 519-586-3531 x128
Bird Studies Canada compiles a national CBC4Kids summary.
Please send us a summary of your CBC4Kids event, with event
date and location, number of participants, and bird count
tallies. We also welcome any fun stories, highlights, and photos
you can share. Thank you!
THANK YOU FOR HOSTING A CBC4KIDS EVENT!
HISTORY OF THE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT FOR KIDS
The first Christmas Bird Count for Kids was established in 2007 in Sonoma Valley, California by Tom
Rusert and Darren Peterie of Sonoma Birding (www.sonomabirding.com). The CBC4Kids was
designed to engage a new cohort of young naturalists and birdwatchers. This successful annual
event is now conducted across North America. Bird Studies Canada has been the proud
Canadian partner in this exciting Citizen Science program since 2010.
EVENT BASICS
Like the traditional Christmas Bird Count (www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/cbc), the CBC4Kids
gathers birdwatchers for a day of regional bird counts and provides valuable winter bird
population data for bird conservation. The CBC4Kids also includes some instruction on Bird
Identification, Binocular Basics, and Birdwatching Tips. The pre-count mini-workshops prepare
young and new participants for an enjoyable birding experience. After the introduction and
presentations, experienced birders lead small birding teams (4-6 youth participants and their
parents) on birding excursions for 1-2 hours. Following the count, all teams gather to tally bird
count data and share their groups’ highlights. The results are submitted to eBird Canada at
www.ebird.ca.
ORGANIZE YOUR EVENT IN SIX EASY STEPS!
1. Find a LOCATION
2. Choose a DATE and TIME
3. Recruit VOLUNTEERS to help lead bird hikes
4. ADVERTISE the event
5. HAVE FUN birdwatching!
6. SUBMIT your data to eBird Canada at www.ebird.ca
EXAMPLE ITINERARY
TIME
ACTIVITY
Participants arrive and register (forms; photo permission; liability etc.)
8:30 AM
Birding teams make up a 'bird team name' for their group
Introduction to: CBC, CBC4Kids, and Citizen Science; organizations involved
8:45 AM
(organizing; host; BSC etc.); people; itinerary for day
Mini-Workshops: Bird Identification and common birds of CBC4Kids area;
9:00 AM
Birdwatching tips
Mini-Workshops: Binocular Basics (hand out binoculars); anatomy of binoculars;
9:15 AM
how to use (practice focusing on an object); how to find birds using binoculars
Bird count logistics (Logistics - teams; leaders; adults); Bird Count Checklists;
9:30 AM
Birding routes and carpooling; Prep - washroom break; outdoor gear
10 AM – 12 PM Have Fun Birding!
Teams gather at event site after count; hot beverages, snack or lunch; teams
12:00 PM
tally numbers of species and individuals from their count
Bird Count tally - Group Summaries (tallies; highlights of bird count; stories);
12:30 PM
Master Bird Tally (tally number of each species from groups); Prizes! (team with
most species, etc.; hat draw); Enter data at www.ebird.ca
Special activity (optional)
1:00
Wrap-up and conclude event
CREATING YOUR BIRD CHECKLIST:
1. Visit eBird Canada to select list of species found in your area:
www.ebird.org/ebird/canada/GuideMe?cmd=changeLocation
2. Select your location by province and subregion.
3. Change DATE RANGE by clicking 'Change Date'; select Winter (Dec-Feb).
4. Highlight all species in left column. Copy and paste species to a spreadsheet.
5. Convert your eBird list to a kid-friendly print-out version for the event.
You may want to simplify your list by taking out rarities for your area.
EXAMPLE CHECKLIST
SUBMIT YOUR DATA TO eBIRD CANADA:
eBird is a fun tool for keeping track of your sightings, and allows you to contribute your
bird observations to a national database for scientific monitoring.
1. Once your bird checklists are tallied, go to www.ebird.ca
2. Log in with your eBird account OR make a new account specifically for your
CBC4Kids (e.g., CBC4KLongPt).
3. Enter data for each count site separately (e.g., if you had three groups that each
went to two sites, enter six checklists); or as one regional checklist.
4. Include CBC4Kids count name in the comments section (e.g., 2014 CBC4Kids NL).
5. Share your checklist with the other eBird participants in your CBC4Kids.
6. Share your checklist with the CBC4Kids National Database by entering the username
'CBC4KCanada' in the 'to' box when you share the checklist.
Thank you for contributing your bird count data to Citizen Science!
PLANNING RESOURCES
LOGISTICS
SUGGESTION OR IDEAS
Event Date
Saturday or Sunday; December – mid-January
Event Time
Suggested time between 8:30 am - 2:00 pm
Event Location
ex. Nature centre; community hall; school etc.
FOR: Bird hike leaders; event day logistics
FIND: Naturalist or birding clubs
Volunteers
Snack/Lunch
Bag lunch; potluck; catered hot lunch; Hot Chocolate; Tea; Coffee;
Treats
Special Activity
(post-count; optional)
Guest speaker; special presentation; live birds of prey demonstration
etc.
Vehicles
Arrange drivers (bird leaders; parent volunteers)
PROMOTION
CBC4Kids Flyer
SUGGESTION OR IDEAS
1. Events will be posted to the Google Map Event Listing
2. All CBC4Kids events registered with Bird Studies Canada by
November 15 will be promoted in our national electronic
newsletter Latest News in late November
CBC4Kids Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/CBC4Kids
Follow along using: #CBC4Kids
post around town (libraries; grocers; school etc)
Local
newspapers; radio; postings
Internet
Organization or group website; online local event listing
Community
Scouts; Guides; Young Naturalist Clubs; 4H etc.
Bird Studies Canada
Social Media
SUPPLIES
SUGGESTION OR IDEAS
Binoculars
Participants bring along own binoculars; or borrow from nature centre
Bird Field Guides
Participants bring along own field guides; borrow from nature centre;
school; library
Lunch/Snack (optional)
provide coffee/hot chocolate post-count; cookies; snacks; donuts;
soup; sandwiches
Bird Count
Bird count checklist; clipboards; pencils
Computer and Projector
optional intro presentation; Bird ID workshop
EVENT DAY
SUGGESTION OR IDEAS
Check-in Table
Registration; Name tags; binoculars; field guides
Team Tables
Clipboards; Bird count list; Bird routes
Display Table
Organization info; BSC Citizen Science program info; bird store
demos; sponsor promotion etc.
Prizes/Awards
Bird books; bird seed; feeders; field guides
BIRD COUNT
SUGGESTION OR IDEAS
Bird Hike
1-2 hours (weather, participant, and bird dependent!)
Teams
4-6 birders; parents; bird leader(s)
Bird Checklist
See ‘CREATING YOUR BIRD CHECKLIST’ from www.ebird.ca
Bird Leaders
ideally 1-2 experienced birders guide each bird team on a different
birding route
Birding Routes
Pre-determine diverse and safe birding areas for bird teams
BUDGET
CONSIDERATIONS
Many local organizations are willing to support youth education and
birdwatching, and may donate to assist with any costs/supplies/food
Event Site Rental
Nature Centres; Camps; Schools; Parks
Registration Fee
Free OR small donation to cover costs of event; non-perishable food
item for local food bank
Food/Beverages
Hot chocolate; coffee; treats etc.
Special Presentation
Guest speaker; birds of prey demo; activity
Prizes
books; field guides; bird feeder; BSC or self-organization membership
Promotional material
printing
POST-EVENT
SUGGESTION OR IDEAS
Participant Follow-up
Thank you and event summary email to participants; invite to attend
following year
Data Submission
Submit data online at www.ebird.ca
Share checklist with CBC4KCanada
See ‘SUBMIT YOUR DATA TO eBIRD CANADA’
Report event data for
CBC4Kids collaboration
Email event details, checklist, event highlights, and any photos you’re
able to share to Bird Studies Canada (THANK YOU!)
EMAIL: [email protected]
Happy CBC4Kids!
BIRD STUDIES CANADA
P.O. Box 160, Port Rowan, Ontario, N0E 1M0
WEB: www.birdscanada.org
EMAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: 519-586-3531
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/birdscanada
TWITTER: @BirdStudiesCan