Instructions for the Indiana Audubon Society
Big May Day Bird Count (BMDBC)

The objective of the BMDBC is to count the number of birds of each species occurring in your county from midnight to midnight on Saturday May 10, 2008. The count is always held on the second Saturday of May. This data provides a valuable scientific record of the bird populations occurring each year in Indiana. It is therefore important that you do not under any circumstances allow any party or individual to count on any other day other than the second Saturday. Your results as well as all other counties will be compiled, analyzed, and published in the Indiana Audubon Quarterly.

Please compile and send your data to me, Karl Werner, at the address below, by May 31. Please include the following information.

  1. The final bird tally sheet with the sum of individuals of each species, total species, and total individuals.
  2. The field data sheet on the back of the tally sheet with the times, distances, weather, and habitat data.
  3. The unusual or rare bird sighting form with the documentation of sightings of endangered, threatened, or unusual species.
  4. The list of your county count participants and donors with the donation amounts.
  5. A separate set of forms for each county if you compile more than one county.

It might be useful to distribute copies of the BMDBC forms to each of your party leaders prior to the count day. Please request a $1.00 donation from each participant to defray the printing costs in the Quarterly. Please list the names and addresses of each party member on the reverse side of this instruction sheet.

In order to simplify the process, please send your cash or check directly to the treasurer, Elaine Goldsmith, 6130 Wildcat Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46203.

To optimize your count results, here are some tips and suggestions.

  1. Cover as many different habitats as possible.
  2. Keep parties to a maximum size of 2-3 individuals. Large groups disturb birds and bias count results.
  3. Strive for a total of 12 party hours even if only one party is active.
  4. Start your count one half hour before sunrise and try to end one half hour after sunset. Birds are most active during early morning and late afternoon hours.
  5. Try to locate owls, woodcock, and nightjars after sunset or before sunrise.
  6. Plan an evening social on the count day to share experiences, collect the field data, and document rare or unusual species.

You can download the electronic forms of the report here, or let me know and I will e-mail them to you.

Bird Data Form (Excel)
Bird_Data_2008.xls
Field Data Form (Excel)
Field_Data_2008.xls
Rare Bird Report Form (Word doc)
Rare Bird Report
This instruction page (pdf)
May Day Count Instructions

It would also help if you would send the data to me electronically if you can.

Please feel free to contact me with questions. I look forward to your results!

Karl Werner
209 Moccasin Court
Greenwood, IN 46142
Phone number: 317-888-1784, days and evenings
e-mail: karlwerner at sbcglobal dot net