Successful Christmas Bird Count

by Ken Wilson

MADRONE AUDUBON HELD its thirtieth Christmas Bird Count under spring-like conditions on Sunday, December 28. This was the ninety-eighth year since the creation of the National Audubon Society's count.

This year 132 counters, including a fishing boat and two kayaks, spread out through our West County territory in 21 teams. The results were 191 species of birds seen and a total of 36,471 individuals.

Among the unusual sightings were four species of shearwater, including a Buller's Shearwater seen by Rick LeBaudour and one immature Bald Eagleand one Prairie Falcon seen by David and Kathy Biggs' team. Bill and Paget Lenarz found a Rock Sandpiper which had been seen sporadically for a month prior to count day. Richard Merriss and team, aboard Ray Howard's fishing boat, saw a single Black-legged Kittiwake. Betty Burridge's team located a Nashville Warbler, and Doug Shaw observed a Northern Water Thrush.

Although overall the number of individual birds was low this year, some species showed up in unusually high numbers. These included eight Golden Eagles, five Ferruginous Hawks, five Rough-legged Hawks, 404 Northern Fulmars, 451 Brown Pelicans and 679 Brant.

My co-compiler Russ Agnew and I wish to thank all those who made this count a great success, the team leaders, everyone who counted, and all those who showed up early at the potluck site and prepared the hall, kitchen and hot coffee. As per usual our potluck dinner was a great occasion. Special thanks to those who ventured into the night to boost the number of owl species seen, and to Ray Howard for putting himself and his boat at our disposal.

Click here for complete results.