Birders Out for the Count
Two of the biggest annual events for local bird-watchers are almost here.
Orange County’s Christmas Bird Counts, one inland, on Sunday, and one coastal, on Jan. 3, are exactly what you would expect from the name: Everyone gets out and counts birds, both species and individuals.
The count, sponsored by the Sea & Sage Chapter of the National Audubon Society, last year drew 81 participants for the inland--or northeastern--count and 63 for the coastal. Overall, 155 species were spotted on the inland count (a healthy number, judged by past counts) and 171 on the coastal, lower than usual because of a stiff wind.
The all-volunteer effort takes everyone from beginning birders to experts, and membership in the Audubon Society is not a prerequisite. “It’s anyone who wants to participate,” said Jerry Tolman, organizer of the Orange County count.
“The better you are, the more useful you are,” he added, but novices can make a contribution, even if they are just along as talliers who write down the species as they’re spotted. It is not a field trip, Tolman emphasizes, and at least some birding experience is helpful: “We’re not out there telling people what to look at.”
For each count, the county is divided into sections, and each counter stays in one section all day. The counting starts at dawn and continues all day. “We get out early in the morning so we can spot some of the night birds,” Tolman said. “Then we spend the whole day, until it gets dark.”
Such counts happen all over the country--more than 1,500 in the 48 contiguous states. The results of all the counts are published in a special edition of American Birds, a publication of the National Audubon Society. The results have scientific value, Tolman said, giving clues on such subjects as winter distribution of species, population trends and the effects of low rainfall and encroaching development.
However, “most of us just do it because it’s a competition, and it’s fun,” Tolman said. The count started as a contest between two Massachusetts groups way back in 1900, and some of that competitive aspect has remained. In Orange County, Audubon members match themselves up against other areas of the country, as well as against past local count totals.
Nationally, “we’ve gotten up as high as tying for the top spot,” Tolman said. “Again, a lot of this depends on the weather. . . . We go rain or shine.”
Bad weather not only affects visibility but can hold down the number of participants. Last year’s winds kept boats out of the water during the coastal count, hurting the chance to spot offshore bird species.
The counts always turn up at least a few rare or unusual species. Some of last year’s vagrant sightings included the prairie falcon, thick-billed kingbird, Townsend’s solitaire, vermilion flycatcher and others.
Every year, there is a specialties field trip in which count participants go back to the sites of some of the more unusual sightings in an attempt to give everyone a chance to see the birds. This year’s field trip will be Jan. 4.
For the bird counts, participants can state a preferred area or ask to be assigned to whatever area needs help. The fee ($5) goes to American Bird to help pay for publication of the results.
What: Christmas Bird Counts.
When: Sunday, Dec. 20, and Jan. 3, beginning at dawn.
Where: Depends on assigned area.
Whereabouts: Get directions from area leader.
Wherewithal: $5 per count.
Where to call: Jerry Tolman, (714) 539-8040.
