Participate
This year’s count will be held Sunday, December 22, 2024.
There is no one meeting place for this event. Regional leaders assign areas to groups or individuals. To participate, contact an area leader in early December. Area leader info will be posted here on the HRAS web site; or send an email to bochnikm@cs.com and asked to be added to the count mailing list. An email will be sent in December with the details.
How the count is organized
The Bronx-Westchester count circle (radius 7.5 miles) is divided into 7 regional areas; East Bronx, West Bronx, Yonkers, Hudson Valley (Dobbs Ferry, Hastings, Ardsley), Rye (Rye and Harrison), Scarsdale (Scarsdale, Pelham, Eastchester, Bronxville, Hartsdale, Mt. Vernon, New Rochelle and Mamaroneck) and Kings Point on Long Island. Each regional area has a leader; who in turn assigns parts of their area to different teams or "parties". See Area Maps. Each party canvases their assigned area. They identify and count every bird they see. They note time spent in field; distance travelled. If they see a rarity, they must supply supporting details.
We also encourage counting at feeders. See Feeder List. You don't count every bird which comes to your feeder - we assume the same individual will return several times. You count the number of birds of each species you see at the same time at your feeder. Example: you see 4 House Sparrows at 12:30 pm; at 1 pm you see 2. Your count is 4 House Sparrows - the highest number seen at once.
Michael Bochnik - Head Compiler
Next Dates for the
Bronx Westchester Christmas
Bird Count
Sunday December 22, 2024
Sunday, December 28, 2025
Forms for Area Leaders
Party Hours
Party Roster Sheet
Tally Sheet for Area Leaders
Supporting Details Rarities