Date: December 8, 2010
Joining tens of thousands of volunteers from across the country, Yosemite National Park is participating in the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) to be held on Thursday, December 16, 2010.* This is the 79th year that Yosemite is participating in the CBC and the park has contributed over 90,000 observations to this fun and important conservation event.
Volunteers will be assigned to different areas throughout the park to observe and count a wide variety of bird species. This important event helps Yosemite National Park Biologists, and biologists throughout the country to assess the varieties and quantities of birds observed. Results of the bird count will be published in the National Audubon Society Field Note.
Visitors planning to participate in this event are asked to bring binoculars, field guide, lunch, plenty of warm clothes, sturdy shoes, and a $5 registration fee (money used to support the publication of the count results). This all day event culminates in a potluck dinner in Yosemite Valley at the Girl’s Club (County Library) where the group will share their observations from the day.
Last year’s event had 47 participants who counted and identified 1,771 birds of 59 species in the park. Highlights included Williamson's sapsucker along the Old Big Oak Flat Road Trail; an orange-crowned warbler in East Yosemite Valley; three Cassin's finches on Turtleback Dome; and four wren species (canyon, Bewick's, house and winter), all in El Portal except for the winter wren observed on the Old Big Oak Flat Road Trail. Participants saw species missed the previous year, such as a great blue heron, northern pygmy-owl, white-headed woodpecker, and cedar waxwing, but missed the huge flocks of American robins and band-tailed pigeons typical of other years.
People interested in attending the event are asked to contact CBC organizer, Sarah Stock at 209-379-1435 or by email.
*Updated 12/15 to reflect change in date from 12/19 to 12/16 due to weather.
