Notes about your surroundingsBird Count Results--The tallies...

Notes about your surroundings

Bird Count Results--The tallies are in from the Christmas Bird Count that took place in the northeastern area of the county on Dec. 20. The local effort was sponsored by the Sea & Sage chapter of the National Audubon Society.

In all, 159 species and 34,956 individual birds were counted by the 80 observers who participated in the count.

The following were the 10 most common birds spotted during the count and the area in which they were most frequently seen, according to the Sea & Sage chapter tallies:

* Yellow-rumped warblers (3,473 individuals counted). The Rattlesnake and Siphon reservoirs area was where they were most seen.

* American coots (2,733). The Mission Viejo and Lake Forest area had the largest number of these birds.

* House finches (2,604). They were spotted in every northeastern count area except Upper Black Star Canyon.

* White-crowned sparrows (2,202). These were also seen most in the Rattlesnake and Siphon reservoirs area.

* European starlings (2,012). The Mission Viejo and Lake Forest area and the Rattlesnake and Siphon reservoirs area were where these were spotted the most.

* Bushtits (1,486). No one place had the majority; these birds were spotted in every area of the count.

* California quails (1,075). The majority of these were spotted in the Rattlesnake and Siphon reservoirs area.

* Mourning doves (987). These were spotted in every area of the count except Upper Black Star, Black Star and Baker canyons.

* Ruddy ducks (956). Again, these were seen the most in the Rattlesnake and Siphon reservoirs area.

The results from the Christmas Bird Count conducted Jan. 3 in the coastal areas of the county will be available in the next few weeks.

Eradication Effort--A winter pampas grass eradication party will be held Saturday at Upper Newport Bay. The workday is sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Game, the Orange County Department of Harbors, Beaches and Parks and REI.

For more information, call (714) 640-6746.