Mattabeseck Audubon Society

Our Mission: The Mattabeseck Audubon Society, a chapter of the National Audubon Society, is committed to environmental leadership and education for the benefit of the community and the earth's biodiversity.

deKoven House, 27 Washington Street, Middletown, Connecticut 06457

The 2024 marks the 125th year of The National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count and the 50th year for Mattabeseck Audubon Society’s Salmon River Christmas Bird Count. This early winter bird census started in New York City in 1900 with a young ornithologist named Frank Chapman. He advocated for counting birds rather than continuing the disturbing and disruptive tradition of The Christmas Side Hunt (where the winner would be the person who killed the most wildlife in a day).

In the first year, there were 25 count circles and 27 participants from Toronto, Ontario to Pacific Grove, California. In count year 2022/2023. there were 2,625 count circles and 79,000 participants spanning from Canada to South America to the Pacific Islands and the West Indies/Bermuda! Each year this important citizen science project motivates thousands of amateur naturalists out of the comforts of their homes and into the field to count as many different species and as many birds as they can see or identify by ear.

Each count circle has a compiler who gathers information from all the participants and forwards that information to a regional compiler. In Connecticut, the state compiler is Steve Broker. Our state data is then sent to The National Audubon Society who uses this information to gauge how various species are doing year to year. Analysis of this data helps direct future conservation efforts throughout the western hemisphere. The Christmas Bird Count is the longest running citizen science survey in the world! We hope you will participate in the Salmon River Christmas Bird Count which will be held on Sunday, December 15th.

For those of you with children who show an interest in the natural world this would be a great way to open their eyes to a new hobby they can enjoy for the rest of their lives, not to mention allowing them to burn some calories exploring the beauty of nature rather than watching it on their smart phones. We are counting on the next generation to believe in the importance of caring about and preserving nature and there is no better way to do that than making this an annual family fun tradition! We are always looking for new participants, from novice to experts, to join us. All our team captains know their territories well and enjoy sharing their birding knowledge with newcomers.

For those who can’t get out in the field, and whose homes lie within a 7.5-mile radius centered around the Comstock River Covered Bridge in Colchester, we need feeder watchers! Feeder watcher data from backyard birders will count towards our final numbers. There have been times that a feeder watcher was the only person to see a particular species.

So, whether you spot something in the field or from the comfort of your kitchen table, it can make the difference between a good count and a great count!

We will plan to meet at Farrell’s Restaurant in Portland at 4:30 for the post-count tally. If you’re interested in joining us, please send an email to co-compilers Sharon Dellinger at rsdell@comcast.net or Doreen Jezek at dajezek@gmail.com to join a team.

The Salmon River Count territory includes a 15-mile diameter circle centered on the Old Comstock Bridge on the Salmon River in Colchester (see Count Circle map). The circle includes parts of Cobalt, Colchester, East Haddam, East Hampton, Haddam, Marlborough and Moodus. You do not have to be an expert birder to participate. All are welcome!

• Please keep bird lists in taxonomical order.
• Please use lists provided (see links below).
• Please provide details for any rare, strange, or unusual bird—a photo is always good.

If your home is in the count circle and you would like to remain indoors, you are still able to participate! Watch your backyard and count the birds that you see (species and numbers) on December 15th. If you see anything unusual, be sure to write down as many details about the bird as you are able. Use Count Tally form and forward your sheet to one of our compliers. Finally, if you feed the birds in the winter, please be sure to have your feeders filled that day!

DOWNLOADS: various count forms (please ignore any date or year in the forms, they don't change):