Birds over Bullets: The Christmas Bird Count Story
By Michael Kensinger
Every winter in the weeks around Christmas, thousands of people across the Western Hemisphere arm themselves with binoculars, scopes, and smartphones with a clear sense of purpose. These citizen scientists participate in a tradition over a century old—the Christmas Bird Count (CBC). One of the world’s longest-running and most influential citizen science programs, the CBC began as a small act of conservation-minded defiance. Since its first count on December 25, 1900, it has grown into a global tradition that continues to thrive here in central Pennsylvania.
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| Immature Snow Goose, Blair County 12/25/25 |
To understand the CBC’s origins, we must step back to a time when birds faced extraordinary pressures from market hunting, habitat loss, and the feather trade. Many species were being driven toward extinction. The CBC emerged as a radical alternative to a popular holiday pastime known as the “Christmas Side Hunt,” in which teams competed to kill as many birds and mammals as possible in a single day. Ornithologist Frank Chapman, an early Audubon leader and editor of Bird-Lore, proposed instead that people count birds rather than shoot them.
That first Christmas, 27 observers at 25 locations—from Ontario to California—recorded roughly 90 species and 18,500 individual birds. Modest by today’s standards, the effort marked a turning point: birds were no longer just targets but living indicators of the natural world’s health.
Over the decades, the CBC steadily expanded. It persisted through the Great Depression and both World Wars, gaining momentum as conservation ethics took hold. By mid-century, the CBC had become a cherished winter tradition among birders, naturalists, and families alike. Today, thousands of count circles span the Americas, with volunteers tallying all birds seen or heard during a single day within a 15-mile-diameter circle. Standardized protocols ensure data consistency across generations.
The scientific value of the CBC is immense. With more than a century of continuous data, it provides one of the most robust long-term records for tracking population trends, range shifts, and changes in winter distribution. Scientists use CBC data to study climate change, habitat loss, and conservation success, contributing directly to initiatives such as Audubon’s State of the Birds reports and informing wildlife management decisions across North America. If you go back through the historical data, you will find that some birds now common today in our region did not always exist here. Birds like the Carolina Wren and the Red-bellied Woodpecker are now widespread and are a fine example of how bird ranges have shifted.
The CBC Comes Home: Juniata Valley Audubon’s Role
Here in central Pennsylvania, the Christmas Bird Count is more than a statistic—it is a living tradition. The Juniata Valley Audubon Society has sponsored the Culp Christmas Bird Count since 1969, building a conservation legacy in Sinking Valley, Blair County.
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| White-crowned Sparrow – Sinking Valley, PA 12/20/25 |
The Culp Count began with a small group of local birders led by the late John Orr, recording just over 30 species in its early years. Today, the count has documented over 120 species across count day and count week, reflecting both the richness of local habitats and the dedication of generations of volunteers.
The Culp CBC is also a social tradition. Teams fan out across farmland, wetlands, woodlots, and feeder routes, often braving bitter cold or unseasonably mild weather. At day’s end, participants gather to tally results, share stories, and celebrate the day’s highlights, maintaining a sense of fellowship that has defined the CBC since its earliest days.
In addition to Culp, JVAS members participate in nearby counts in Bedford County, Huntingdon County, and—starting December 28—Cambria County with the Prince Gallitzin CBC, initiated by JVAS member Eric Oliver.
Why It Still Matters
In a world facing accelerating environmental change, the Christmas Bird Count remains as relevant today as it was in 1900. Every chickadee tallied, every raptor spotted, and every owl heard adds to knowledge that protects birds far beyond our backyards.
Equally important, the CBC reminds us that conservation begins with attention. It asks us to slow down during a busy season, step outside, and notice the life that persists through winter’s challenges. Patience is often rewarded with glimpses of birds ordinarily overlooked.
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| Joe Glass (left) and Connor Schmitt (right) scan a field for Harriers and Short-eared Owls. |
When Juniata Valley Audubon volunteers head out each December, they join a story more than a century in the making—a story that began with a simple idea, grew through community effort, and continues with every bird counted today. As long as people are willing to look, listen, and care, the Christmas Bird Count will remain a powerful act of hope for birds and those who love them.
Christmas Bird Count Fast Facts (Suggested sidebar)
· Founded (National CBC): December 25, 1900
· Founder: Frank M. Chapman, early Audubon leader and editor of Bird-Lore
· Purpose: Replace the Christmas “side hunt” with a bird census
· Count Circle Size: 15 miles in diameter
· Count Period: Mid-December through early January
· Data Value: One of the world’s longest-running wildlife datasets
· JVAS Flagship Count: Culp Christmas Bird Count (Sinking Valley, Blair County)
· Culp Count Founded: 1969 by John Hunter Orr
· First Culp Total: 32 species
· Best Culp Total: 2023, 81 species
· Culp 2025 Total: 75 species
· Culp Milestone: Over 120 species documented on count day and count week
· JVAS Region Counts: Culp, Bedford County, Huntingdon County, and Cambria County