Space Coast Audubon Society

Christmas Bird Counts

Space Coast Audubon has led two National Audubon Christmas Bird Counts locally, one since the 1950s. 

The Cocoa Christmas Bird Count (Cocoa CBC) circle is centered at Mila Elementary School on Merritt Island with the diameter of the circle reaching from the Atlantic Ocean near Port Canaveral over the eastern quarter of lake Poinsett. It includes the area from Sharpes down to Duda Ranch in Rockledge.The participation fee is paid by the Space Coast Audubon Society. A pot luck dinner follows the count and all interested persons are invited to attend and bring a dish. 

The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Christmas Bird Count (MINWR CBC) circle center is near the intersection of Palmer Creek Road and Sharkey Road and includes the area from the southern part of the Mosquito Lagoon just south of NASA Causeway (S.R. 405) and west to the railroad tracks beyond U.S. 1. This encompasses Titusville and Atlantic Ocean shorelines in addition to the Indian River Lagoon itself. Volunteers assigned to areas within the Kennedy Space Center are issued temporary badges and are accompanied by Refuge Rangers. The participation fee is paid by the Merritt Island Widlife Association (MIWA).

The South Brevard Christmas Bird Count (SB CBC) is sponsored by the Pelican Island Audubon Society. Many Indian River Audubon Societys participate is this count. The count circle includes the area just north of Grant down to Wabasso and from Sebastan Inlet west to Fellsmere.

Volunteers are needed at all skill levels for all the counts. See “The Limpkin” for the various count dates. The count compilers names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers can be found on the Contacts Us page.