Hernando Audubon Society organizes two Christmas Bird Counts in Hernando County. These are among the more than sixty Christmas Bird Counts being planned in Florida, and the thousands scheduled throughout the United States and other countries. Christmas Bird Counts have occurred annually for 120 years, and are the longest running citizen-science bird project. Every year volunteers count birds within designated areas, providing important data to assess the health of bird populations and to help guide conservation action.
The Brooksville Christmas Bird Count will occur on Saturday, December 14, and will count the quantity and variety of bird species within a circle with a 7.5 mile radius from Bystre Lake. For more information or to be assigned to a team, contact Linda, 352-428-2629, lindalark85@gmail.com
The Aripeka-Bayport Christmas Bird Count will be on Monday, December 23, and will count all the birds from Pine Island in Hernando County to Crews Lake in Pasco County. For more information or to be assigned to a team, contact Bev at 352-686-0460 or bevalhansen@gmail.com.