The 44th Annual Pokagon Christmas Bird Count will be held on Thursday, December 28, 2023. The Pokagon CBC is a part of the 123rd Annual Christmas Bird Counts sponsored by the National Audubon Society. From December 16, 2023, to January 7, 2024, all throughout North America, birdwatchers contribute to citizen science through the methodical process of counting and recording birds in established, predetermined 15-mile diameter circles.

On Thursday, December 28, birders in predetermined teams will disperse into a 15-mile diameter circle, the center being the center of Steuben County, to count both species and numbers of birds.

Participants will not gather at the Pokagon State Park to divide into teams and head into the field, as done in the past. Teams will be determined in advance and team leaders will be mailed CBC materials ahead of time. It will be up to each team to determine how they wish to bird in their respective areas. Each team will meet at a site determined by the team leader and from there, carpool or car caravan, safely stopping at birding sites they determine.

Birders should bring their own birding optics and dress for a day in the field. Participants should also bring a sack lunch to enjoy in the field, or their team may wish to make other lunch arrangements on their own. All results will be returned to the count compiler and a final report will be sent to the National Audubon Society and to all participants. There is no fee for the event.

Residents within Steuben County, within the count circle, may also participate by recording birds at their feeders and reporting them to the count compiler by January 5.

Prior registration is required. To do so, contact count compiler Fred Wooley at 260-243-0513 (cell) or E-mail fwooley@frontier.com. Registration deadline is December 15, to allow time to form teams, distribute materials, and for teams to be in contact and make their plans. For further information, contact Fred Wooley.