WASHINGTON聽鈥� Some people bundle up to walk the dog or go for a run in freezing weather.
But across the D.C. region, thousands brave frigid temperatures for a chance to tally all the birds they can find during a 24-hour period. The practice is part of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, a tradition that stretches back to 1901.
Janet Millenson of Potomac, tallied the data taken by the Sugarloaf Mountain count. Her team was out on Sunday, the coldest December day since 1989.
In a feat of understatement, Millenson said the day was 鈥渦npleasantly cold鈥� and joked that teams of birdwatchers who spread out over a 15-mile diameter route were still thawing out.
鈥淚 actually feel guilty; I feel as the compiler of the data I ought to arrange nice weather,” she said.
The types of birds spotted can indicate what鈥檚 going on in the environment due to habitat loss, climate change or even outbreaks of things such as West Nile virus, according to Millenson.
鈥淲hen West Nile virus hit some years ago, that made a big impact on crows and smaller birds like chickadees,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a little concerned about such common species as mockingbirds and cardinals 鈥� the numbers aren鈥檛 what they used to be.”
There are positive signs, too.
鈥淏luebirds and eagles have come back remarkably well around here,鈥� MIllenson said.
During Sunday鈥檚 outing, the Sugarloaf count spotted two short eared owls. While just a couple of owls might not seem like big news, MIllenson explained, 鈥淭hat bird was last seen on this count 27 years ago.鈥�
Other birds of note: a pair of brown thrashers. They鈥檙e relatives of the mockingbird.
鈥淲e鈥檝e only had those twice in the last decade,鈥� Millenson said.
During the Audubon Chirstmas Count, which started in mid-December and continues through Jan. 5, more experienced birders are paired with beginners. Millenson said that helps novices and veterans alike.
Millenson was paired with a woman who spotted several 鈥渓ife birds,” birds the woman had never seen before.
鈥淵ou know her joy made seeing some of these birds more special,” Millenson said.
A number of participants hoped to spot Snowy Owls. The birds sometimes drift down to the area during what are called 鈥渋rruptions.”
Millenson said she doesn鈥檛 have any reports of sightings of the distinctive white raptors and joked, 鈥淲e figured that is one species that would have enjoyed the weather we had on Sunday.鈥�
