Green Valley Recreation Event – The Christmas Bird Count: Its History, Purpose, Local Results, and How to Get Involved, with David Griffin

Where: Green Valley Recreation – Canoa Hills Center (3660 S Camino Del Sol, Green Valley)

When: Tuesday, November 11th

Time: 11am – 12pm

Description: In this presentation, David Griffin will be giving an overview of the Christmas Bird Count, or CBC—what it is, how it works, and why it matters. We’ll look at how a simple winter bird survey has grown into a massive citizen science effort that tracks bird populations, guides conservation, and brings people together across the continent. We’ll walk through how a CBC is organized today, from field teams to feeder watchers, and how new tools like eBird and digital mapping have changed the way we collect and share data.

We’ll also take a closer look at CBCs in Arizona, including the Green Valley–Madera Canyon count, which covers an incredible range of habitats and provides valuable insight into local and regional bird trends. We’ll share some of the data we’ve gathered over the years—patterns among residents, winter visitors, and irruptive species—and what those changes might tell us. Finally, we’ll talk about how to get involved, especially as feeder watchers, neighborhood observers, or potential Area Coordinators for future counts.

Have questions or would like more information? Contact Luke Safford (lsafford@tucsonbirds.org)