Uncommon Winter Finches and the Christmas Bird Count Are Coming
National Audubon Society
Audubon protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.
Welcome to Audubon’s Wings & Wins Newsletter, here to share with you the very best of Audubon’s work protecting birds and the places they need.
by Darien Fiorino, Senior Social Media Coordinator?
In this newsletter:
Winter Finch Irruption—Will They or Won’t They?
It’s a question I ask myself every year around this time: Will there be an irruption of any rare and special finches this winter? It’s such a thrill to see these tiny perching birds braving the snow and frigid temperatures—not to mention the rush of doing the same to see them. They’re a diverse bunch, with unusual bills, feeding habits, and ecologies, and each sighting is heightened by the fact that you can usually only spot some of these species during an irruption.
But what exactly is an irruption? Good question. Irruptions are sudden increases in populations of certain birds. Most years, the finches we’re talking about remain in their Boreal breeding grounds year-round–the large, intact forest that spans the northern part of the continent from Alaska to Newfoundland. However, in years where food or resources are scarce in those habitats (whether due to drought, agricultural practices, you name it) these birds expand their range southwards. Boom—irruption year. Coincidentally, the lands south of the Boreal (aka most of Canada and the United States) are far more populous. In years like this, sightings of unusual birds like Red Crossbills, or Evening Grosbeaks, or Redpolls spike. Only time will tell if we’ll get lucky this year. Audubon Great Lakes has us covered in any case with a great guide to help us get ready for winter irruptions. Fingers crossed.
Nearly 300,000 Acres of Wetlands and Beaches Protected
This month, Congress—who seems to be especially fond of catchy acronyms—passed the Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm (BEACH) Act. The BEACH Act is a modernization of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (also known as the much less fun acronym CBRA), which established a system of undeveloped coastal lands, beaches, and wetlands. It’s clear why these protections are helpful to birds. Beach-nesting species, like American Oystercatchers and Piping Plovers, are especially susceptible to disturbances caused by development. Undeveloped beaches and wetlands like those protected by the CBRA system help them to successfully nest, rest, and raise their young, safe from human disturbance. But, I’m happy to inform you that these protections are also extremely helpful to humans as well.
We may take them for granted, but natural ecosystems provide us a lot of services. Coastal habitats in particular are great for absorbing water and lessening the impact of major storms. In 2022, the Department of the Interior recommended that swaths of coastal land across nine states that had been heavily impacted by Hurricane Sandy be added to the lands protected by the CBRA. These lands will, in the long run, add to the nearly $10 billion the CRBA has saved taxpayers over the past 25 years. I love a win-win situation.
Bundle Up, Grab Your Binoculars, and Join the 125th Christmas Bird Count?
It’s almost hard to fathom a tradition as long-held as the Christmas Bird Count—until you take one second to look outside of yourself and remember that people and birds have had meaningful connections since time immemorial, and then you’re like, “oh duh.” For 125 years (5 times as long as I’ve been alive, wow) people have come together outside in the cold midwinter to count birds and better understand the biodiversity of the world we live in. Since its founding, the count has spread internationally, so some more tropical locales may not require scarves. Despite any new features or programs, one thing hasn’t changed: All the data from the past 125 years continues to help scientists better understand our avian world and the long-term shifts that impact it.
As a massive proponent of community science, I could not be more excited for this year’s count. I always look forward to opportunities to get out and go birding, but to do that while meeting new people, and making genuine contributions to science is really special. It’s an amazing way to connect with Audubon, your local community of birders, and impactful community science. I hope you’ll join us!
Thanks for reading through another edition of Wings & Wings, we’re happy you’re here. If your ravenous craving for Audubon’s bird conservation stories hasn’t been satisfied, I’d recommend you visit Audubon’s website. Did you learn something new in this newsletter? Do you have anything specific you want to see in a future one? Drop a comment! And, as always, for the best bird-centric science, climate, policy, and culture hand-picked for you every month, subscribe. We’ll be back next month for the final edition of Wings & Wins in 2024. Until December!