Editor's note: With Thanksgiving here, for many birders that means the Christmas Bird Count is just around the corner. With that in mind, this week we present some practical tips for Christmas Bird Count participation, compiled by the former president of the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology and a good friend of The Birding Wire, Carl Schwartz. -- JRA

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2242888.jpg> Place a sign on the back of your vehicle identifying you as part of the Christmas Bird Count.

These tips were developed by former WSO President Carl Schwartz based on his personal experience, as well as knowledge gleaned from the late Noel Cutright and current editor of ABA's Birding magazine Ted Floyd. It is adapted from an article in the Badger Birder (November 2014)

- A good count needs a lot of counters.
As Ted notes, a CBC circle is 177 square miles. Even if you had 177 participants, each one of them covering exactly 1 square mile, there is no way you'd have thorough coverage of the count circle. A square mile is huge! Madison annually records the highest species total, logging 77 species and 25,574 individual birds in 2013, thanks in part to a record 118 observers. Yet many counts are done with fewer than a dozen.

- Make the experience fun.
Time having a fun breakfast together takes time out of the field, so maybe listen for owls first, have breakfast and be back in the field by sunup. Potluck suppers (after sunset) to tally the results can build enthusiasm for next year.

- Cover lots of ground.
Maximizing party-hours is the most important thing to do, Ted argues, but maximizing party-miles runs a close second. You're going to see twice as many birds along a four-mile stretch as along a two-mile stretch. Floyd argued that, mile-for-mile, party-miles by foot are incomparably more valuable than party-miles by car. But if you have a count circle split into just six territories, that's going to mean lots of car miles. The key is having at least two observers in the car and stopping periodically at spots that look or sound "birdy" and pishing or playing a screech owl tape (Noel was still using an old cassette recorder but iPhone apps and modern speakers make this even easier).

- Drive every road.
Who knows what you will miss by leaving part of your territory completely uncovered? Sometimes driving the same road twice will yield species missed the first time.

- Scout your territory.
Get out into your assigned area a few days before count day. Figure out which residences have bird feeders. Work the hedgerows and determine where all the sparrows and finches are hanging out. Introduce yourself to key landowners and secure permission to bird their property on count day.

- Have a plan.
Figure out your itinerary in advance. Noel printed out or photocopied a map, planned a route and highlighted each road as it was covered. Leave enough time to get to where you need to go. If you're faced with high winds, know where there are sheltered spots where the birds will take cover.

- Count every bird.
It's in looking through all those Canada Geese that you will find a blue phase Snow Goose, or the Brown-headed Cowbird in a flock of Starlings. Observed Ted: "I find that actually taking the time to count, say, Ring-billed Gulls (954, 955, 956...) is the best way to find a rarity (957... oh, wait, that's a Mew Gull!)".

- Hang out a sign.
Putting a sign on the back of your vehicle identifying you as part of the Christmas Bird Count will save some horn-blaring and answer some potential questions in advance.