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Calling all birders! This year the annual Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) for Death Valley NP, Ash Meadows NWR, and the town of Shoshone will take place on three consecutive days in December.By coordinating the counts on consecutive days, people can participate in multiple counts and experience the diversity of habitats and birds in the Amargosa/Death Valley region. The public is invited to participate in any or all of these counts.All skill levels are welcome.For beginners, this is a great opportunity to learn about birds in the area, get identification tips and meet others interested in desert environments. There is a $5 fee for participants aged 19 or older in each count.These fees fund the CBC program and help to fund costs of generating materials, producing an annual CBC summary issue, and maintaining the CBC website and database. For all trips: Dress in layers, bring hat and sunscreen, water and snacks/lunch, and binoculars if you have them. Ash Meadows NWR- December 16: Meet at the Refuge office by 6:30am to be out and counting by 7am.There will be an optional pot-luck afterwards starting around 5pm.Food can be stored at the office during the day.Contact Sam Skalak 775-372-5435 or e-mail us. Death Valley NP - December 17: Meet at 7 am at the Furnace Creek Golf Course Parking Lot.Participants don't need to commit to entire day, but must be there at 7 am.All skill levels are welcome.Contact Linda Manning 760-786-3252 or e-mail us. Shoshone - December 18: Shoshone Village will host the first ever Christmas Bird Count to include Shoshone, China Ranch, Tecopa, and Amargosa Canyon.It will begin at 8am at Shoshone Village Ecotours, near the Crowbar Restaurant.Beginners are welcome.We'll have hot food at the Crowbar afterwards! Contact Len Warren 760-852-1001. Food and lodging are available in Death Valley, Shoshone, Stateline (Longstreet), Death Valley Junction and Pahrump. The data collected by CBC participants over the past century allows researchers, conservation biologists, and other interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. When combined with other surveys such as the Breeding Bird Survey, it provides a picture of how the continent's bird populations have changed in time and space over the past hundred years. The long term perspective made possible by the Christmas Bird Count is vital for conservationists. It informs strategies to protect birds and their habitat - and helps identify environmental issues with implications for people as well. It's a fun day to be outdoors, learn about local and migratory bird species, and meet new people. |
Last updated: February 28, 2015