Our 63rd annual Hackensack-Ridgewood Christmas Bird Count will be held on Saturday, December 17. The official count period extends from December 14 through December 20. Our goal is to count all the birds within a 15 mile diameter circle, centered at the River Edge Railroad Station. We will count the number of species and the number of individuals of each species within this circle. This effort continues to teach us about the status and survival of our native birds, and identifies important bird areas in the county.

We need your help in the field or in your neighborhood on count day. Feeder counts conducted in your yard on Dec. 18th can be very valuable, and we welcome you to call in your results to my home on the day following the count (973-226-7825).

Even if you can only participate for part of the day, every observer is a valuable addition to our group effort. We invite you to come out and have a good time. We have experienced leaders assigned for the territories described below. Please make arrangements for participating with a leader in one of these areas. We will also have signup sheets at BCAS meetings at Flat Rock Brook.

We have observed over 180 species over the past 62 years, including a record 93 species on the 1993 count, and 91 species last year. Every year is different, and with your help we can produce another outstanding result.

At 5:30 PM, there will be a “come as you are” dinner at the Golden Eagle Diner, 243 Broad Avenue in Palisades Park, followed by the “tally up” (to be announced).

If you would rather conduct a count in your local neighborhood or at a local park, please call me in advance, so that we can coordinate your effort with that of our leaders.

–David Hall