Dr. Elwood Bracey and his team during 2012 CBC
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Freeport, Grand Bahama Island - The annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is conducted
in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and the Bahamas by over
500,000 birding enthusiasts. Birds are counted in the same areas each
year for one day from sunrise to sunset during the months of December
and January. By participating in this count Grand Bahama Birders contribute
valuable information to the longest running database in ornithology.
The primary objective of the annual count is to monitor
the status and distribution of bird populations across the Western Hemisphere.
When counts are entered into a database, we begin to gain a clearer
picture of how bird populations have changed over the years. This information
is also vital for conservation. For example, local trends in bird populations
can signal immediate environmental threats, such as groundwater contamination
from extensive use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
The first “Christmas Bird Count” was held over
100 years ago in the United States. Up until then it had been a tradition
for persons that enjoyed the outdoors to engage in the “Christmas
Bird Hunt”. People would go into the fields and forests in teams and
shoot any bird they came across. At the end of the day, the team that
brought in the biggest pile of dead birds, was the winner! Many people
became concerned about the indiscriminate, senseless slaughter of these
beautiful feathered creatures and also worried about declines in bird
populations. Ornithologist, Frank Chapman, an officer in the growing
Audubon Society, an environmental movement, called for an end to this
barbaric tradition. He suggested that, rather than shooting birds, they
should be counted instead. So began the Christmas Bird Count. Thanks
to the inspiration of Frank Chapman and the enthusiasm of 27 dedicated
birders, on December 25th in the year 1900, twenty-five bird
counts were held throughout the United States.
: There are many Double-crested Cormorants on Grand Bahama, however, this species observed during count day is a rare Neotropic Cormorant
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On January 5th forty Grand Bahama Birders
gathered in five teams that were led by experts from the US, Nassau,
Abaco and Freeport. The teams met for an orientation and social get-to-gether
the night before at Junkanoo Beach Club where manager Mark Neely and
his mother, Monica, hosted the group to a delicious chicken souse.
Team leaders were Dr. Elwood Bracey from Abaco, one
of the outstanding birders in the Bahamas. “Woody” as he is affectionately
called, set the record in 2012 by having observed 243 Bahamian species
in one year. He travelled to many islands across the Bahamas during
2012 and recorded more birds during that period than any other birder
in the Bahamas!
Bruce Hallet from Atlanta, joined the count again
this year as a team leader. He is an expert in Bahamian birds and an
outstanding photographer. Bruce co-authored the American Birding Association’s
Bird Finding Guide to the Bahamas with Anthony White. He also published
the first photographic fieldguide “Birds of the Bahamas and the Turks
and Caicos Islands”. Local birders love to be on Bruce’s team as
he is not only a great teacher and inspiration to beginning birders,
but he also puts his team at ease with his wonderful sense of humor!
Bruce Hallett compiling his list with young birder Dwiesha Swann
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Carolyn Wardle flew in from Nassau to lead as well
and anybody on her team needed to be in good shape as Carolyn never
tires! She only recently retired from leading the Bahamas National Trust
Ornithology Group where she inspired many residents and visitors of
New Providence to become interested in birds. Carolyn is the owner and
operator of Bahamas Outdoors. She organizes birding and biking trips
in Nassau and also leads birding excursions to Abaco and Andros.
Carolyn Wardle (far right) and her team
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Shamie Rolle of Calabash Ecoadventures lend his expertise
to the count once again. His group did not stop until darkness. Shamie
is always a wonderful role model for the young and upcoming birders
on his team. His passion about birds and their habitat are matched by
his knowledge about the environment and the marine life of the Bahamas.
Shamie Rolle during tally rally at Garden of the Groves with team members Katybel Taylor and Geana Knowles
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Bruce Purdy, the count compiler, traveled from Florida
to Grand Bahama again this year to add up the results of the day’s
birding during the “tally rally” and dinner at Garden of the Groves
that all participants look forward to. Bruce not only lead a team as
well but he will also be submitting the count results to the Audubon
Society. Having lived for many years on Grand Bahama, he is not only
an expert birder but also very familiar with birding sites on the island.
"Woody" during tally rally at Garden of the Groves with team members Candice Woon and Barbara Zill
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Erika Gates of Garden of the Groves who has been organizing
this annual birding event over the past 8 years was delighted with this
year’s results: “We recorded 103 bird species on count day and will
be able to add another 7 from count week bringing the total to 110.
I am pleased about the number of participants which seems to increase
each year, and I am especially happy about the growing interest in birding
by several of our staff members at Grand Bahama Nature Tours”.
Would you like to learn more about birds? Garden of
the Groves with support from the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism conducts
an annual Basic Birding Course on four consecutive Saturdays in March.
This is a great opportunity to learn bird identification,
become familiar with their habitat and get to know
Grand Bahama’s ecosystems. For more information call 242-374-7778
or check on the web
www.thegardenofthegroves.com under “Birding”
and “Workshops”
Bird Count organizer, Erika Gates, with several staff members of Grand Bahama Nature Tours who developed a keen interest in birding and participated in the event
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: There are many Double-crested Cormorants on Grand Bahama, however, this species observed during count day is a rare Neotropic Cormorant
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Tony Newbold of Grand Bahama Nature Tours enjoying Junkanoo Beach Club hospitality
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