(DURHAM, November 19, 2013) — For people who love to observe birds, the annual Christmas bird count is a time to note their migratory habits and health. More than a century ago, ornithologist Frank Chapman redirected a Christmas-time tradition of revelers shooting birds to a new Yuletide recreation: counting birds.
Download program logo and high resolution photos for promotion >>In COUNTING ON BIRDS, New Hampshire Public Television’s new documentary about the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count which premieres on NHPTV PRIME November 21st at 8 p.m., host Will Lange travels to Cuba, Ecuador, Keene and Errol, NH, and Maine to meet people dedicated to birds and this census. Keene was one of the first locations for the inaugural 1900 count; today, more than 60,000 people participate in the count. Discover how a love of birds has inspired people to research and document common and distinctive species. From chickadees in New England to Ecuador’s musical manakins, to the forests of Cuba, Will Lange visits the habitats and havens of these migratory bird species. The resulting census from these birders’ efforts support science and conservation, and may lead to a healthier bird population.The hour-long film was shown to audiences in Concord, Durham, Keene, Littleton and the Upper Valley in October and November, and were followed by discussions led by Audubon bird experts and Willem Lange.COUNTING ON BIRDS is the fourth in a series of award-winning specials (BIRD TALES, SAVING SONGBIRDS, JOURNEY OF THE BROAD-WINGED HAWK) produced by NHPTV that explore and celebrate New England’s migratory birds. Those documentaries received Telly, Boston/New England Emmy, and NH Association of Broadcasters awards, and have been distributed to PBS stations across the country. The documentaries are funded through grants from the Butler Foundation. nhptv.org/birds After broadcast, COUNTING ON BIRDS will be available for online viewing at video.nhptv.org, along with the other bird documentaries and NHPTV’s locally produced programs.