For many years the Medford Leas Birders have conducted a winter census of birds living on campus in the month of January. Also for many years the National Audubon Society has conducted a winter census in late December, and for the past few years, the Birders have added the Christmas Bird Count to our winter activities. This allows comparing data at two different times during the winter, and it also allows us to contribute to the largest international bird data base in existence. Fortunately, a walk on the trails with our masks and social distance is a way we can participate in the census and remain still follow healthy pandemic guidelines.

Our campuses are both part of a section of the Moorestown Christmas Bird count, usually held the Saturday after Christmas. Groups led by Robert Koch walked the Lumberton campus and woods in the morning and the Medford campus and woods in the afternoon of December 27, 2020. Other observers monitored their bird feeders, and another resident censused the Monarch Lake and Rancocas Creek north of Lumberton campus, by car. We turned our data in to Ark Rd. resident Ward Dasey, who is responsible for all of section 5 (Medford, Lumberton); and he in turn submitted it to Creekview resident Jim Schill, who compiles all the data for the Moorestown count and sends it to National Audubon.