Local Audubon Chapter to Lead Christmas Bird Counts

By Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society ONEONTA -  The annual Christmas Bird Count, begun in 1900, is the oldest and one of the largest citizen science projects in the Western Hemisphere. The Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society chapter will be participating for the 57th year, and three areas will be covered on different days during the three-week count period (see below for locations and dates). The Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society invites anyone and everyone in the community to help count our local birds! There are two ways to participate in the Christmas Bird Count, either out in the field (walking and/or driving), or watching feeders at a stationary location (eg. from the comfort of your own home). If you would like to get out in the field, please contact the appropriate coordinator for that count at least a week in advance to see if there is a need for additional counters. People who have participated before will be contacted. If you would like to know if you live in one of the count circles to be a feeder watcher, go to https://arcg.is/1u5K4q0, click on the link, then zoom in to our area. For more information about Christmas Bird Counts, go to www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count. The Oneonta/Otsego County area Bird Count will take place on Sunday, December 14, 2025. Sandy Bright is the coordinator for that region and can be reached at brights@hartwick.edu or 607-287-4465. The Fort Plain/Montgomery County area Bird Count will take place on Saturday, December 27, 2025. Charlie Scheim is the coordinator for that area and can be reached at scheimc@hartwick.edu or 607-434-4880. The Delaware County Bird Count will take place on Sunday, January 4, 2026. Pam Peters is the coordinator for that area and can be reached at ovenb1rdp@gmail.com or 607-829-6545.

About Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society (DOAS) The Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society (DOAS) offers programs year-round that are free and open to the public including member meeting programs, bird-watching field trips and special events. DOAS operates the Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch, hiking trails and a summer day camp program at the Audubon Sanctuary just south of Oneonta, NY. The Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society (DOAS) is a chapter of the National Audubon Society covering the northern Catskill Mountain and upper Susquehanna River regions of New York State.