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Marshall County will participate in the National Audubon Society's 124th Christmas Bird Count for the second year in a row. In 2022, 50 species of birds were identified.
Nationally, this "bird census" will span Dec. 14 through Jan. 5 with Marshall County data collected on Dec. 19 only. Frank Chapman and 26 other conservationists created the event in 1900 as a way of promoting conservation by counting, rather than hunting, birds on Christmas Day.
"All different organizations participate. Sometimes its county conservation, Audubon clubs and avid birders," Marshall County Conservation Director Emily Herring said. "It's people who are passionate about birds and knowing what's happening with their population."
While there had been previous Marshall County bird counts, Herring said it was started back up last year.
"We want to hold it consistently before Christmas and when it's not so cold, as in January," she added. "We want people to put December 19 on their calendar to participate."
Each count takes place in an established 15-mile diameter circle organized by a count compiler. Participants count every bird they see or hear all day. Locally, this will include Marshalltown, Albion, Green Mountain and Laurel.
Herring said establishing a set area prevents overlap counting from other birding groups.
"What we did is we looked at where we have the most public land to be able to go out and count birds," she said. "So it's not so much the towns themselves, it's the Iowa River Greenbelt that runs through the county and our areas that have habitat for those birds."
She said people will likely encounter raptors such as eagles and hawks, game birds such as pheasants and wild turkeys, songbirds (including blue jays and cardinals), woodpeckers, migratory birds, different species of sparrows and maybe some belted kingfishers.
If you're interested, sign up with Herring by 4 p.m. on Dec. 15. There is no cost to participate.
"I'll send out information to everybody about where their quadrants will be. And so then, they will be responsible for covering that area, either by foot or by vehicle, and then counting and identifying the birds that are in those areas," she said.
Herring added that amateurs and expert birders are welcome to participate. Each quadrant will be assigned some experienced birders to collaborate with and educate beginners.
"If you've ever had the chance to go birding, what you'll find is you may be looking over in one area and your partner in another, and you're able to kind of talk back and forth to each other and point out different birds, identify them as a group and then be able to record their numbers. It really makes it a lot easier in bird counting," she said.
If you're not willing or able to leave your home, you can watch any bird feeders at your residence.
"The actual count will be the entire 24 hour period on December 19," Herring said. "I'm guessing some die-hard birders spend the entire time doing it. Last year, I got up early before the sun rose and did an owl walk out at Grimes Farm."
She noted that there is a bird count going on somewhere in Iowa every day of the event.
"I would encourage you to get on the National Audubon Society page. You can click to see where all the circles are at and you can find a bird count in your area that will work for your schedule," she said.
At the end, Herring adds up the numbers and turns them into the NAS by mid-January.
"But we still only have that 24 hour time period to be able to collect the information. It's just the one day -- Dec. 19," she noted.
Sign up with Herring by contacting her at: 641-752-5490 or eherring@marshallcountyia.gov.
To learn more, visit: www.audubon.org/conservation/join-christmas-bird-count.