1. Team Leaders will receive (1) notification of your team area, (2) team member contact information, (3) a map of your sector, and (4) a narrative/history of your sector including past species seen and best birding locations from the compiler approximately a week or two prior to the count.
2. Contact your team members. Make sure they know when and where to meet you on count day. Refer them to the CBC webpage. On count day, carpooling makes everything easier – teams are often kept at 3 or 4 for this reason.
3. If you have time, do some scouting. Read about past species seen and what species are to be looked for in your sector. Contact individuals who’ve counted the sector before and ask for their input. Gain access to golf courses.
4. Plan Your Team's Route - It’s easy. Just read How To Plan Your Team’s Route. Just a few hours of scouting or map-checking will always provide you with more interesting, curious and promising areas to focus on than you can possibly bird during count day.
5. The week before the count you will receive the following 3 forms via email from the compiler/coordinator:
Area Report Form: When you meet your team in the morning, have them fill it out and collect their $5. Their mailing address is required only if they wish to receive the printed compilation of all the Audubon bird counts around the world (usually received in September or October). When your count is complete, fill in the hours spent, answer questions (1) and (2) and sign the form.
Species Seen List: When your count is complete, list the total number of each species you’ve seen. If a species does not show up on the checklist, or if it is designated (RB), that means it is unusual or not expected. Please have a team member complete an Unusual Bird Report Form.
Encourage your team to join you at Buena Vista Audubon Society Nature Center for lunch and the Sacred Reading of the List. Lunch is at 1:00 p.m. and the list is read at 2:00 p.m.
Read urban birding tips from author and nationally renown leader Paul Lehman.
Oceanside is mostly urban area. Be sure to read the How To Bird In Urban Areas
That’s all there is to it. Have FUN!
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