CBC 4 Kids! (aka - New Years Bird Count for Kids)

Every year for over a century “Christmas Bird Counts” (CBC's) have been organized across America mainly for adults during mid-December and early January. Young kids with their families are often not included with this important 24 hour rigorous “citizen science” effort...so we created the Audubon CBC for Kids...and families... a stand alone event using some of the important basic ingredients of this grand old tradition. The objective is to have fun and potentially create a “farm team” of birders and conservationists for the future of birding and encourage families to enjoy nature together. Start simple...It only takes 2 teams to get started! Target a holiday date between Friday, December 10th - Sunday, January 16th that works best in your community. It is a wonderfully simple, healthy, holiday celebration for almost any school, youth group, Audubon Chapter or nature center, wildlife refuge and local community...anywhere.

Getting Started!

1. FIND A GOOD HOST - Find a good facility & fun partner to support a simple half day event that could provide a comfortable space, volunteers, snacks, water, bathrooms and basic supplies. Examples that might work - Audubon Chapter, Audubon Sanctuary, Ducks Unlimited, National Park, local community center, park & rec. department, a national wildlife refuge with a visitor center, nature center, civic clubs like Rotary, 4H, Boys & Girls Club, scouting and religious organization that are tuned into the family getting out in nature. 

2. Set Date & Time - The half day event (approx - 8:30AM-2:00PM) can take place on any day you choose from the 2nd weekend in Dec. through the 3rd weekend in January.  Birds are mostly settled into their winter habitats. This is a very busy holiday season for families and the traditional Audubon CBC birders...so schedule around the traditional local Audubon CBC if there is one. 

3. Birding Leaders Are Needed - Connect with local Audubon Chapter, nature organization or individual birders for several experienced adult birding team leaders that enjoy working with kids and families.
 Junior leaders with birding experience can be very helpful.

4. Establish Birding Routes In Advance - Define good safe (90 minute) birding routes in multiple locations in advance with defined "start and finish" points. Use Google Maps. Half mile walking routes work for this age group. Diversifying the habitats to enrich the variety of birds discovered.  Encourage birding leaders to scout out their birding routes before the event day. If you back track on the same route only add new species not already seen.

5. Target Age Group (Ages 8-15 Works)  Middle school or junior high is ideal. Note: Younger family members (very young birders) are invited to the brown bag lunch celebration at noon with adult supervision to enjoy the festivities and kids presentations. Some events choose to offer a "special" program for young birders while the teams of older kids with an adult are actually out birding. The activity works well for bilingual kids and underserved kids. This is not about dropping kids off and babysitting!  A parent or adult family member must attend the event with each child in the field.

6. Birding Team Size - (Ideally, 4-6 kids per team) Observing parents are not considered "birding team members". Parents come along to help with logistics and to be “quiet observers” facilitators and drivers. The birding team need to work together in the field with their birding leaders to get optimum safe and timely results.

7. Press Release & Public Meeting - We suggest writing a press release and offer a helpful public information meeting 3-4 weeks before the actual event date. Get the word out early!

8. Sign Up & Key Elements for Organizers - Advanced sign up helps.  Be prepared in advance with the rules with birding routes, disclaimer forms, safety issues, one common bird check list (25-50 local birds) for each team and begin team sign up asap. Allow for any organizations, classrooms and individuals to have their own small team if they choose to come as a group. Pre-assigning birding teams, routes and leaders before the day of the event helps. There will be new people showing up on the event day.


9. What to Bring & Wear - binoculars, scope, field guide, water, snacks. comfortable shoes, hat, sunscreen, etc.  Always dress for the weather. Local Audubon Chapters, ecology and nature centers and schools often have a supply of binoculars.

10. BROWN BAG LUNCH - Keep cost minimal. Label lunches and provide coolers when kids sign in.  Donations for warm drinks, water & snacks help.

EVENT DAY LOGISTICS:   (Be out birding before 10:00AM)

• Provide  “Check In” table , name tags, group orientation, treats, water, optics, scopes, disclaimer form for safety and pictures, event fee, etc.  Distribute your official bird check list on a clip board with weather protection to each team leader.  Complete team assignment at check in.

• Binocular Boot Camp & Hike Orientation - Set up distant targets for kids to practice basic skills after they sign in. (ex. keep you eyes fixed on the target and lift your optics to your eyes) The host organization might consider using signs posted at a distance that kids can read back to them.  Then have the kids view a live bird.  This can be offered to the entire group at once or by individual team leaders. Adult birding leaders should encourage the kids to discover and identify the birds on their own! Encourage the use of the field guides. Have the kids learn to observe birds in 4 areas - on the ground, mid story, in the upper canopies and the sky. Select a team name before you head out.

 • Plan for Car Pooling -  Parents can help safely shuttle teams of kids (ages 8-15) to and from the event home base to the predetermined start and finish points.

 • Length of Hike - 90 minutes works. Kids will get tired if the hike is to long! There is a lot to do when teams return from the field for the brown bag lunch, tabulation and  the youngsters presentations.


• Return by Noon  - or a pre-determined time to start the Tabulation-BROWN BAG lunch celebration. This is important.

• One Common Bird List - Should have 25-50 local winter species.  Leave some blanks for additions and surprises. Each team should have the identical bird list on a clip board. This helps summarize total results at lunch time.

• A Team Effort - Leaders should assign & rotate kids on the hike to experience recording, spotting and counting the species & total number of each bird type seen. Make note of bird species not on the list. (For unique species - Note the time seen, direction, habitat and helpful details to present at lunch.  Often several groups see the same formation of ducks, etc.

* The Finale - Kids Presentations to Assembled Audience  - One youngster from each team should present the team summary to include: 1) Team Name 2) total individual species, 3) total number of birds counted, 4) habitat information, 4) special team highlights. 

1. Invite a speaker from Audubon or one of the local Bird or Wildlife Rescue organizations to the lunch.

2. Offer displays of birdhouse/book or potentially live rescue birds such as owls and hawks will expand the appeal to all ages during the lunch tabulation celebration for family's and guests.

3. Awards (optional) - The highest team count or most unique species might receive special recognition (ex. The Rotary club offered a calculators for each child. Others donated small backpacks and field guides. Lots of possibilities).  Everyone is a winner.

4. Have the kids write a press release with the results for your local media. Local Radio

5. Use a laptop to project a summary spreadsheet that matches your standardized team bird list. This spreadsheet could have a column for each field team and it should be formatted for totaling the bird species and the total number of birds for each team... plus overall results. Leave spaces for adding new birds to this master list.

6.Bird ID Cards or Pictures of Local Bird

7. Post your results on your website. Send us your results and we will compile a summary report to every group participating.  Email results to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 8. Assign a photographer to travel with teams.

Visit sonomabirding.org. Phone us at 707-939-8007 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Audubon CBC for Kids was established in 2007 in Sonoma Valley, Ca. by Tom Rusert and Darren Peterie, founders of Sonoma Birding. National Audubon and the Wilderness Society covered the event with national articles. Host the Audubon CBC in Sonoma Valley.