The National Audubon Society's annual Christmas Bird Count is at the center in this charming picture book, just right for young citizen scientists, bird watchers, and nature aficionados.
"A wonderful introduction to bird—watching and the concept of observing nature… Parents be warned: this book is so appealing that, come next December, you may find yourself out in the cold, counting birds." ——Booklist Online
A young girl and her mother participate as citizen scientists in the Christmas Bird Count. The girl is excited when Big Al, the leader of their team, asks her to record the tally this year. Using her most important tools——her eyes and ears——she eagerly identifies and counts the birds they observe on their assigned route around the town. She and her team follow the rules, noting the time of day, the habitat, and the birding ID techniques used for each sighting. Finally, they meet up with the other teams in the area to combine their totals for a Christmas Bird Count party and share stories about their observations. Sidebars tally up the birds they see. Back matter provides information about the Christmas Bird Count and each type of bird the team spotted.
Author Susan Edwards Richmond introduces young readers to bird—watching with simple explanations of techniques and clear descriptions of bird habitats. Stephanie Fizer Coleman's charming illustrations add color and context to a joyful story that's sure to inspire the citizen scientist in us all.
Back matter includes more information about all the birds featured in the book and about the Christmas Bird Count, the nation's longest—running community science bird project.