The Thanksgiving Bird Count

Every Thanksgiving Day, volunteers spend an hour identifying and counting every bird that comes into their count circle. If you reside in the US, you can participate.

Have you heard of the Thanksgiving bird count? It’s a similar idea to the Christmas bird count but on a smaller scale. Volunteers choose a circle 15 feet in diameter, and for one hour on Thanksgiving Day they take a careful tally of every bird that flies into or through it. Circles are often chosen with a bird feeder or other bird attraction in the center and the bird counter can stay inside watching from a window if it’s cold outside. Alternatively, you can choose a circle in a wilderness location, at the beach, or anywhere you want. Every bird is counted just once, even if it leaves the circle and returns.

The Thanksgiving bird counting tradition was apparently begun in the 60s, in Virginia, by Dr. Ernest Edwards and the Lynchburg Bird Club. It has remained an annual event and spread throughout the entire United States including Alaska and Hawaii. If you’re interested in participating in the count, download a form , choose your circle and set aside one hour on Thanksgiving day.