Citizens aren't the only ones who get counted in a census - the Christmas Bird Count is a census of birds in the Western Hemisphere, performed annually around the end of the year by volunteer birdwatchers, and it is administered by the National Audubon Society. The purpose is to provide population data for use in science, especially conservation biology, though many people participate for recreation. The CBC is the longest-running citizen science survey in the world. The Belize City Circle counted numerous species over the holiday. Freelance journalist Jose Sanchez reports.
The areas covered in the Christmas Bird Count include Gardenia, Sandhill and Old Belize Road as well as Captain Hook, Maxboro, Los Lagos, Bacab, Flowers Bank, Hattieville, Burrell Boom, Ladyville and the Belize River in the area of the Belize River Lodge.
