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Christmas Bird Count 2023
On Saturday, Dec. 16, SCCF will be hosting the Sanibel-Captiva Christmas Bird Count. This count is a part of the 124th Christmas Bird Count, which will take place between Dec. 14, 2023, and Jan. 5, 2024. The Christmas Bird Count was started in 1900, when a group of birders proposed to count birds on Christmas Day, rather than shoot them, as had been past tradition.
SCCF needs your help to make this year’s count a success! You do not need to be an expert to participate in the count — birders of all experience levels are welcome. In addition to identifying and counting birds, we need individuals who can spot birds, record data, and tally up count results. Participants will meet at SCCF’s headquarters at 3333 Sanibel-Captiva Road (refreshments provided) any time beginning at 6:30 a.m. before breaking into routes. Instructions will be provided closer to the event.
There is no designated start time for the count, but the Sanibel Causeway will be operating one lane at a time on the weekends, so those coming to the island should expect travel delays. Teams will reconvene at the headquarters for tallying data throughout the day.
Questions? Email SanCapCBC@gmail.com.
If you are not in this area, but are interested in participating in a count near you, follow the instructions on this page to find out how to sign up.
This year SCCF staff and volunteers will be leading several bird walks leading up the Christmas Bird Count. Come join us to learn some basic birding skills, or brush up on your local bird ID skills. If you do not have binoculars and would like to borrow some, there are birding kits available to Lee County residents for check out at the Sanibel Public Library thanks to our partners at the Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society.
