Notes about your surroundings

Christmas Bird Counts--The Sea & Sage and South Coast chapters of the National Audubon Society will participate in the Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 19 as part of a North American bird census.

It will be South Coast Audubon’s first year of participation in the count, which started in 1900.

Participants go to a specific area and record the birds sighted by species and number. The count helps researchers determine the overall health of the North American bird population. The results are summarized in a special issue of American Birds magazine in the spring.

The local efforts by the two local Audubon Society chapters will begin at dawn and continue into the evening hours.

Counts are open to everyone, from beginning to experienced bird watchers. American Birds magazine charges each participant $5 to help cover the costs of compiling the statistics.

The chapters have determined specific study areas.

South Coast Audubon’s study areas are: Saddleback College; Laguna Niguel Regional Park; Dana Point headlands; the Shorecliffs area in San Clemente; San Mateo Campground in Camp Pendleton; Rancho Mission Viejo Conservancy; Ronald W. Caspers Regional Park; Wheeler Ranch area and Capistrano Bay (by boat).

The Sea & Sage chapter’s study areas are: Irvine Park; Silverado Canyon; Black Star Canyon; mountain areas and Upper Black Star Canyon; Modjeska and Harding canyons; O’Neill Regional Park and Plano Trabuco; the old Lion Country Safari area and surrounding areas; Mission Viejo, Lake Forest and the surrounding foothills; the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station and surrounding foothills; Rattlesnake and Siphon reservoirs; Peters Canyon and Lemon Heights.

The Sea & Sage chapter will also conduct a Christmas Bird Count of coastal areas Jan. 2.

For more information, call the Sea & Sage chapter office at (714) 261-7963.