International Migratory Bird Day: 13 May 2000

This years IMBD was the best ever regardless of which indicators are used. From dawn until dusk thirty-eight observers (a record) covered the Owens Valley, White & Inyo mountains, eastern Sierra canyons, Deep Springs and Death Valley (record coverage) looking and listening for all the birds they could find. The goal of the day was to see how many different bird species could be seen in one day as well as how many individual birds. Some interesting statistics from this years count: 196 different species were found (up 14 from last year and a new record) totaling just over 10,000 individuals; of the 196 species 147 were neotropical migrants (up 2 from last year and another new record). Neotropical migrants are birds who spend the winter in Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean and migrate north to breed in North America. This years most numerous species were Mourning Dove (665), Wilsons Warbler (554), and Yellow-headed Blackbird (507) easily beaking out the European Starling the usual winner. Over 331 observer hours were recorded (a record) which is like one observer looking for birds for 331 continuous hours or almost 14 straight days and nights! Fifteen species seen this year were new to the count (a record) bringing the total species seen during IMBDs to 226. An amazing 17 species were seen in larger numbers than ever recorded in the county before: Spotted Sandpiper (165), Mourning Dove (665), Olive-sided Flycatcher (24), Western Wood-Pewee (132), Hammonds Flycatcher (34), Dusky Flycatcher (47), Western Kingbird (169), Warbling Vireo (55), Wilsons Warbler (554), Yellow-breasted Chat (22), Western Tanager (231), Song Sparrow (84), Black-headed Grosbeak (154), Blue Grosbeak (23), Lazuli Bunting (59), Yellow-headed Blackbird (507), and Bullocks Oriole (99),

Rather than having each town competing with each other the coverage was expanded to include the entire county (rather than just the Owens Valley and adjacent mountains as in the past). The observers devoting a day to this count were Bea Cooley, Jack Ferrell, John & Dee Finkbeiner, Noah & Erin Shafto, Debra Hawk & Troy Kelley, Steve Holland, Jim & Debby Parker, and Chuck Washburn doing the Bishop area; Penny Ashworth, Carolyn, Earl, & Eliot Gann, Ellen Harbert, & Jo Heindel in the Big Pine area; Bev Schroeder & Lynna Walker at Deep Springs; Rosie Beach, Chris Howard, Andrew & Leah Kirk, Larry Nahm, and the Pt. Reyes Bird Observatory crew (Chris, Keith, Sue, Vera & Will) covered the Independence area; Mike and Nancy Prather, Bob & Barb Toth and Judy Wickman were near Lone Pine; Tom Heindel & Karen Gilbert covered the southeast area of the county from China Ranch to Keeler; and Bob Mauer, Jr. birded Saline Valley.

This is the 9th year this international count has been conducted, the fourth for Inyo County, and is a cooperative global effort to inventory birds during migration. Many species are in serious trouble because of habitat destruction in both their wintering and summering grounds so counts like this one help scientists determine the severity of the problem and which species are most heavily impacted. Fun was had by all and exhaustion by most but the birds benefited from another year of data collection by a dedicated group of concerned citizens. If you are interested in helping out contact Jim Parker (872-4447) or Jo Heindel (938-2764) as soon as possible as some previous experience is important and there is plenty of time to get ready for the Y2K+1 count where the goal is to break 200 species!