Christmas Bird Count

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. Luke 2:1 (NIV)

The 113th annual Christmas Bird Count will take place from December 14, 2012 through January 5, 2013. Tens of thousands of volunteers throughout this country will take part in this yearly census. For some families, this has become a Christmas tradition throughout each generations.

Families, students, birders and scientists alike arm themselves with binoculars, bird guides and checklists. They go out often before dawn's light to document each bird sighting.

For over one hundred years, the desire to experience nature's beauty has driven dedicated people to leave the comfort of a warm home. They want to take part in the hard work of bird lovers keeping records of the migrating birds throughout the Christmas seasons.

You can say that they are taking a bird census.

Another count/census was decreed in biblical times. While Mary was pregnant with Jesus, Caesar Augustus issued this decree which caused everyone to travel to their own hometown. Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to register.

Every ten years we are counted in the US's census. We don't have to travel to be counted.

Another thing we can count is our blessings. The first day of Christmas began at Jesus' birth. For thousand of years people throughout the world count their blessings of health, love, healing and salvation as they reflect on the birth of Christ.

Each day I count my blessings of family, friends and freedom. This year I hope to be part of the bird count. I always feel closer to God when I am in the presence of His creation.

Thank you, Jesus. As I count the Christmas birds let me also count the many blessings.

© 2012 Dawn M Sexton