One of Brian Cammarano's annual holiday traditions is participating in the Christmas Bird Count. As a senior coordinator of shorebird stewardship on Audubon Florida's coastal team, he spends a lot of time observing birds year-round, but this yearly community science event is special.

The Christmas Bird Count began 125 years ago as an alternative to the traditional "Christmas Side Hunt," in which participants would compete to shoot as many birds as possible. Today, the data collected during the count gives Audubon and other organizations vital clues about the health of bird populations, which is then used to guide conservation action. For participants, it's a fun opportunity to meet up with fellow birders, see lots of birds in a short span of time, and enjoy contributing to the conservation of their local species.

Cammarano led a team of three as part of a count circle organized by Francis M. Weston Audubon, a chapter serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. In a typical Christmas Bird Count, areas are divided up into "count circles" covering dozens of square miles, which are then divided into smaller segments that are assigned to teams. On the day of the count, the teams cover their area meticulously, recording all sightings either on paper or using the eBird app. At the end of the day, the results of the count are compiled and often shared with the whole count circle in a celebratory setting, like at a local restaurant or park.

Cammarano says his team's assigned area has become highly urbanized over the years, compared with the more rural areas within the same count circle. Still, the team managed to produce the highest species count in their circle, with 77 total species recorded.

Some highlights from that total include a variety of waterfowl that Cammarano and his team encountered in a small retention pond in the heart of Pensacola: Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, and American Coot.

Nearly half of the total species were counted at a local park. "The park contained a small strand of pines surrounded by oaks and palms, all bordering a bayou—excellent habitat for a variety of birds," Cammarano said. "We counted a total of 38 different species there, including a Baltimore Oriole, which is rare for this time of year."

Cammarano owes one of the most exciting moments of the day to a very cooperative Clapper Rail foraging on the edge of a small saltwater marsh beside a busy road. "This elusive species is hardly seen and mostly only heard," says Cammarano. "So seeing one out in the open was a real treat."

A day of bird sightings also brought new insights for Cammarano. "This year’s CBC experience put into perspective that even in urban areas, many birds still inhabit the remaining undeveloped spaces," he says. "Highlighting these small pockets of habitat within highly developed communities, where birds and humans can coexist, is crucial to further protecting these essential spaces for birds and other wildlife!"

Interested in joining a Christmas Bird Count in your area? Click here to learn more about the event and find a count happening near you.