It’s the most wonderful time of the year…it’s time for Christmas Bird Counts!!

Bishop CBC: Saturday, December 18, 2021 – Contact Chris Howard

Mammoth Lakes CBC: Sunday, December 19, 2021 – Contact: Nora Livingston

Mono Basin CBC: Tuesday, December 21, 2021 –  Contact Nora Livingston

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 18th, 2021.  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 2020 Bishop CBC was cancelled due to Covid stay-at-home-orders and we look forward to resuming this year. Here are a few of the highlights from 2019:

• a BLACK VULTURE returned for its second winter (there have been recent reports it has returned again)
• a TRUMPETER SWAN returned for its third winter (also returned winter 20-21)
• a PEREGRINE FALCON was in a field west of Meadowcreek
• an EASTERN PHOEBE spent its fourth consecutive winter in a west Bishop yard (also returned winter 20-21)

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 19, 2021 and the Mono Lake CBC will be on Tuesday, December 21, 2021.

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!