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Text Box: observations. While Dan Reed, Steve and Regina Garr counted from their homes and store. Their totals are complied into the longest running ornithology database,

Text Box: In December, 15 River Bluffs Audubon Society (RBAS) members were among more than 50,000 people who participated in the 2006 Christmas Bird Count (CBC). This annual all-day census of early winter birds involves participants in central Missouri and across America. RBAS reported seeing 68 different species and counted 24,599 individual birds within a 15-mile diameter area centered on the Capitol building between 5:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 16th. Jim and Julie Lundsted, Barb and Dan Brueggeman, Jeff Briggler, Barb Duncan, Jim and Marsha Wilson, John Ford, Rich George, Anita Randolph, Betty Richey, Rick and Karen Thom, John Howland and Jane Frazier traveled over 300 miles recording their

Text Box: representing over a century of unbroken data on trends of bird populations. The first CBC was held December 25, 1900 when 27 people counted 18,500 individual birds and reported a total of 90 species. Following is the checklist which shows the number seen of each reported species.
Snow Goose ................. 143 Canada Goose ............... 1997 Canada Goose (small races) ................................. 1 Mute Swan ......................... 4 Gadwall .............................. 8 Mallard ............................. 42 miscellaneous ducks ......... 80 Canvasback ........................ 3 Ring-necked Duck .............. 6 Lesser Scaup ...................... 6 Bufflehead .......................... 3

Text Box: Organization is key to an accurate Christmas Bird Count. From left to right: Anita Randolph, Rick Thom, Jim Wilson, Dan Brueggeman, Jeff Briggler, Jim and Julie Lundsted and Betty Richey divide the survey area before counting in the morning.

Text Box: Identifying a bird in the field can be challenging. Barb Duncan, left, unidentified participant and Julie Lundsted use computer pictures to determine they saw an immature red-shouldered hawk.