San-Cap Audubon conducts Christmas Bird Count
On Dec. 15, the Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society conducted its annual Christmas Bird Count.
One hundred seventeen participants counted a total of 9,582 birds, comprised of 101 different species.
The overall count was down considerably from last year, which was a superior year, officials said. The 8 a.m. high tide was a big factor and the residual effects of the summer’s red tide event may have also played a part.
The results will be reported to the National Audubon Society and will become part of the 119th Audubon Christmas Bird Count, which are conducted throughout much of the Western Hemisphere from mid-December through early January. The CBC is a source of information on the status and distribution of early winter bird populations, and it is studied by both scientists and individuals.
The San-Cap Audubon thanked those who took part in the Christmas Bird Count, along with the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation for its support and the use of facilities and the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge for its count contributions and continued support.