Stuck at Home

So today is the Heber Valley Christmas Bird Count. I've been in charge of this count for the past two years. This year I was excited because I have great birders helping out who don't usually come up for this count.

So this morning rolls around and  what do you know? I can't make the hour drive to work where the bird count is being held because the mountain passes are so snowy and unsafe that all vehicles are required to have 4x4 or chains. I have neither. Generally the only restriction is to semis.

Pshh. I could drive that.

I just really want them to lift the restrictions so I can go and try to count birds in the snow. Seven brave souls showed up to face the weather and survey the Heber Valley. I would love to be with them.

A Birdy Morning

I arrived a little early to work this morning. So I paused and looked around at the beautiful day. The birds seemed to be more active than usual. At least I saw more out and about than I generally do.

Playful Magpies

Handsom Brewer's Blackbirds

Hungry Robins

Speaking of birds, it's just about time for me to start planning for the Heber Valley Christmas Bird Count. As a fledgling organizer, I get a little anxious thinking about it. Last year went pretty well, I thought. I just hope those who participated felt the same, cause I'd sure like to have most of them come back.

I am debating on the date for the count. I want to maintain some consistency. And last year, and in years past (before my time), the count has been held the Saturday after, or closest to, Christmas. This year that would be December 26. Do you think that's a problem? Personally I don't. So I hope others don't either. Glad we agree. :)

Christmas Bird Count

I was in charge of the Heber Valley CBC this year. It's been years since one has been held in the Heber Valley. I was happy to organize it, and it was a great day. I only have a few picutes, but they are all at work, and I'm at home. So it's just a day of words.

Because the Heber Valley is a mountain valley, when the weather is stormy, it makes it hard to get to. And we had been having storms the week prior to the count on Saturday. But the day of, the weather was beautiful; cold but beautiful. One of the counters started his day at 6 am to look for owls. He said it was -2 F. Brrr.

We didn't have huge numbers of people show to count, but those that did were excited and enthusiastic. Most were new to the CBC. Everyone seemed to have a good time, which is important when outside all day in below freezing temps. One team found three uncommon species for this area. Very cool.

I didn't assign myself to an area with another group, but decided to fill in a few areas that might not get covered. While on my way to pick up the park truck I stopped to look at a bird perched at the very tippy top of a bare branch. Holy cow, it looked like a shrike. We do have them in the area, but I've never seen one up there. When I put my scope on him, I found it was a Northern Shrike. Even cooler! They are even less common than the loggerhead!

I am still working on tallying the numbers and species seen, but so far it looks pretty respectable. Not huge numbers like from some of our bird refuges, but not bad. And this being essentially the first year, it was good to just get out there and see what we could find.

Lots of good birds, beautiful weather, and great people. Not a bad day.

Christmas Bird Count

I've been interested in nature my entire life. However, my interest never really made it to the level of research and record what I learn. That didn't really begin until I was hired on, nine years ago, as a Park Naturalist for Utah State Parks.

Even then, I wasn't really a list keeper, or as detailed observer as some. I just observe, learn, enjoy and as often as I can, share that enjoyment.

However, early this year, I decided I'd like to keep track, at least of the birds I've seen. This put me on the path of developing an updated, and more accurate bird checklist for the park in which I currently work. This process put me in contact with Keith Evans, from Wasatch Audubon. What an amazing man, and terrific birder. One day while we were talking about possibilities with the checklist, and the help Wasatch Audubon could give, he mentioned the Christmas Bird Count. While I had never participated in one before, I was familiar with it.

He mentioned that at one time there was a circle set up in the Heber Valley (where I currently work), and that if I was interested, it would be great to reactivate that circle. I was interested. So after much guidance from Keith and John Bellmon (another Wasatch Audubon member extraordinaire) I was able to get in touch with the National office and get the circle activated once again.

I am looking forward to this whole process...my small dilemma is that I've not only never run a CBC before, but I've never participated in one. I like to see how someone else does something so I have a base line to start from. If not that, then I love lots of suggestions, and information on how things should/will look. I am going to participate in an upcoming CBC in another area, and look forward to that for many reasons. However, until then, I would be very grateful for any other information...

If any of you have participated in a CBC, or run one, would you be so kind as to send some thoughts and suggestions on how to make it successful? How long do groups usually spend in the field? How big is their chunk of the circle? Is it generally customary to hold a count/list tally later in the evening? And any other information you can share on your experiences with a Christmas Bird Count.

Oh, by the way. The Heber Valley count is Saturday, December 27. If you are free, come on over and help out.