It’s the most wonderful time of the year…it’s time for Christmas Bird Counts!!
Bishop CBC: Saturday, December 19, 2020 – Contact Chris Howard, Email: chris93514@gmail.com
Mammoth Lakes CBC: Sunday, December 20, 2020 – Contact: Nora Livingston, Phone: 415-647-6595
Mono Basin CBC: Tuesday, December 22, 2020 – Contact Nora Livingston, Phone: 415-647-6595
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge CBC: Stay tuned for more information.
Death Valley CBC: Stay tuned for more information.
For more information and to find other CBC areas, see the National Audubon Society Bird Count pages or try Nature Ali’s excellent summary page of California Christmas Bird Counts.
39th Annual Bishop Christmas Bird Count
The 39th annual Bishop Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will take place on Saturday, December 14th, 2019. All skill levels are invited to participate. The CBC is an important citizen-science effort to census all birds in the Bishop area. Results show long term population trends and shifting demographics. Plus, it’s a lot of fun!
The plan for this year is to have a COVID-19 safe and socially distanced CBC following state and local regulations. There will be no post-CBC tally potluck and groups will be smaller. Carpooling and social distancing and/or masking will be required between non-familiar or social “pod” groups. Note: if COVID-19 regulations change between now and December, the Bishop CBC may be canceled.
Here are a few of the highlight birds from last year, 2019:
a BLACK VULTURE returned for its second winter, located in Round Valley
a TRUMPETER SWAN returned for its third winter at Nik and Nik gravel ponds
a PEREGRINE FALCON was in a field west of Meadowcreek
an EASTERN PHOEBE spent its fourth consecutive winter in a west Bishop yard (and returned again last week!)
If you are interested in participating, please RSVP to Chris Howard at chris93514@gmail.com, to join a team and let him know if you prefer a specific area or team-mate. He’d like to assign areas well in advance to give you a chance to scout. If you’d prefer to be a feeder-watcher, as opposed to covering an area, please let him know.
Christmas Bird Counts in Mammoth Lakes and Mono Basin
The Mammoth Lakes CBC will be on Sunday, December 20, 2020 and the Mono Lake CBC will be on Tuesday, December 22, 2020. The plan is to have a COVID-19 safe and socially distanced CBCs following state and local regulations. There will be no post-CBCs tally potluck and groups will be smaller. Caravanning and social distancing and masking will be required between non-familiar or social “pod” groups. PLEASE TAKE GREAT CARE! This is all on the honor system and we would really be saddened to have any potential for transmission through the count.
Please RSVP as soon as possible and indicate which day or days you will be attending, and if you have an area preference. Santiago and I will get going on assigning areas and gathering the information you need to participate in the count once we have more folks on board.
All skill levels are welcome at the Christmas Bird Count. Please forward to birder friends who may be interested.
Thanks for your passion for the birds of the Eastern Sierra!