What is the Christmas Bird Count?  An annual hemispheric early-winter bird census. Volunteers count every individual bird and bird species over one calendar day (from midnight to midnight), within well-defined geographic areas.

When did it all begin?  In 1900, ornithologist Frank Chapman was disturbed, as were many conservationists, at the slaughter of birds in the annual holiday event called the "side hunt." The team that shot the most birds and other small animals was the winner. As a protest, Chapman organized 27 friends in 25 locations on Christmas Day, 1900. Instead of shooting birds, they counted them.

Why?  Birds are indicators of the overall health of our environment. Christmas Bird Count data over time in any given area can provide valuable insights into the long-term health of bird populations and the environment.

Count rules are simple: Each bird count is a circle 15 miles in diameter -- approximately 177 square miles. Bird counters try to cover as much of the circle area as possible within a 24-hour calendar day, counting each individual bird and species they see or hear in their designated sector of the circle. Representatives from each counting group meet at the end of the day to compile the master list and eliminate double-counting of birds. Bird feeders within the circle are also censused.

Today:  Over 45,000 people from all 50 states, every Canadian province, the Caribbean, Central and South America and the Pacific Islands (all areas where the breeding birds of North America spend their winter) participate in about 1700 counts held during a two and one-half week period.

The Christmas Bird Count itself has evolved into the largest and longest-running wildlife survey ever undertaken.
 

This will be the 98th annual Christmas count so please do at least one. You do not have to be a red-hot birder to do a count. Those less accomplished birders will be placed with a better birder. I Guarantee those who are less advanced will see a lot of birds they may have never seen or seen well. This is an all day event, although half-day birders are welcome. Dress warmly, bring lunch and good birding!
 
 
 

12/19/97 Lake Almanor 8 AM behind the Fire Station in Chester Steve Laymon, 619-378-3445 12/20/97 Fall River Mills 7 AM at Jerry's Restaurant in Burney Bill Von der Medhen, 916-275-3315 12/21/97 Modoc 6:45 AM at the Modoc Refuge Ron Ryno, 916-233-3876 12/21/97 Red Bluff  7 AM in the Holiday Market on Antelope Blvd in Red Bluff 12/27/97 Redding 7 AM at the Civic Auditorium under the portico Bill Oliver, 530-241-2187 12/30/97  Peace Valley Pete Sands, 846-5142 1/2/98 Honey Lake 6 AM at Denney’s in Susanville Bob Johnson in Susanville 1/3/98 Oroville 7 AM at the Ag. Commissioners bldg. on Nelson Ave. Richard Redmond, 893-5382 1/4/98 Chico 7 AM at the Chico Creek Nature Center Richard Redmond, 893-5382

 Updates on most of these counts (and other Northern California CBCs) are available at http://www.audubon.org/chapter/ca/goldengate/ggasCBC.htm.

Nov. 29,1997 - Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge: Upon arriving in the Refuge parking lot we were treated to Snow and Ross's Geese flying overhead as well as Double-crested Cormorants, Mallards, Long-billed Curlews and Snipe. We decided to take the walking trail to start out with. The first birds were coots scooting around in the pond, We then got a Red-tailed Hawk and a Red -shouldered Hawk in close proximity. There were Song sparrows in the gully along the trail along with Dark-eyed Juncos. The riparian area produced a Marsh Wren, a Turkey Vulture and a Nuttall's Woodpecker. The other birds on the walking trail were White-crowned Sparrows, Hermit Thrush and Cooper's Hawk.
We then took the auto tour route and immediately saw a White-tailed Kite hovering. At the dry creek we encountered some white-crowned Sparrows and some Savannah Sparrows. One of the Savannahs had two long white streaks down its back and had us scratching our heads for awhile. The first pond provided us with Shovelers, Gadwalls, Mallards, American and European Wigeons; also in and around the pond were Black-necked Stilts, Great Egrets and White-faced Ibis. The next pond added American White Pelican, a Harrier flying over, Ruddy Ducks, a Canvas Back, Green-winged and Cinnamon Teal and Black-crowned Night Herons. Just before the last pond in a scraggily Cottonwood a Great-horned owl was trying to make himself invisible without much success. The last pond before the Viewing Platform had many of the same birds already mentioned, but also had Herring Gulls, Long-billed Dowitchers, Buffleheads, Ring-necked Ducks, and a common Moorhen. Other birds seen on the trip were Bushtits, American Goldfinch, Golden Eagle and Peregrine Falcon, – Richard Redmond
 

Some of you have doubtless heard about the benefits of shade-grown coffee. For those of you who haven’t heard (and who drink coffee!), there are 2 types of coffee agriculture: Sun- and Shade-grown. Sun-grown coffee is grown on plantations where the trees have been removed to reduce yield (thus degrading songbird habitat); shade-grown coffee is grown in habitat which is far more conducive to migrants/songbirds. I asked the different health food shops (and some of the coffee stores) around town if they carried shade-grown coffees; the only one which has a certified shade-grown brand is S & S produce, which carries a brand marketed through the Thanksgiving Coffee Company. A portion of each purchase goes to the American Bird Association to help fund conservation projects. It’s an easy way to feel better about one of our not-so-healthy habits! Salespeople at a few stores did confuse “Organic” with “Shade-grown”, but take care – they don’t necessarily mean the same thing!

Saturday, December 6, 11:30 AM-1:00 PM – Holiday Bird Feeders.  Kimberly Carrow, local artist and craft instructor, will lead children in building beautiful bird seed feeders with a festive shapre of either a heart, star, or tree. A wonderful project for the entire family to participate in! Please call 891-4671 to register for this free event.

Saturday, December 13, 11:30 AM-12:30 PM – Bird Bionics. Head Naturalist Stefanie Aarons will present an overview of the physical adaptations of a variety of birds. Live birds from our Living History Museum and taxidermy specimens will be on hand for participants to view and study. This free event will take place at the Chico Creek Nature Center; please call 891-4671 to register.

2nd Pacific Flyway Wood Duck Symposium – February 6-7, 1988, at U.C. Davis

We’re still looking for some folks to fill a few positions on the board! A few of us are doing double-duty, and we have quite a number of empty slots to fill. Feel free to help out anytime, we won’t bite! (And we could use the help). We’re currently seeking volunteers for the Conservation, Education, and Recruitment positions, and we’re always glad to have members- and directors-at-large to help out also.

We would like to welcome the following new members and transfers into Altacal – we hope to meet you soon!
 

Chico	Roxanne Baxter, Scheryl Parker, Jeffrey Weinrich, Craig Westland, Nancy Poirier, Marguerite Wright
Oroville	Oroville Internal ME
Paradise	Emily Chase, Peggy Frey, Terri E. Crum
Red Bluff	Jane Gayle Loomis
Corning	Ester Serv, Cinnamon Kitchel
Los Molinos	Dorothy Pete

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION: Email WBA@ACM.ORG