CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT (CBC)
What is the CBC? An annual census of wintering bird populations that began in 1900. The results of the surveys are used to estimate the distribution and abundance of wintering birds in North America. Each count circle covers an area of 15 miles in diameter. Birders of all skill levels gather in teams, and identify and count all birds observed throughout the day. The results of the nation-wide census are compiled in the journal North American Birds.
When and where are the local Christmas Bird Counts? Five CBCs are conducted locally and include Carson City, Fallon, Pyramid Lake, South Lake Tahoe, and Truckee Meadows. Details on when and where these counts occur are provided below.
How do I participate? Contact the count leader, or show up the morning of the count at the appointed location as directed in the count descriptions. Be sure to dress appropriately and bring food and drink for the day. Of course, don't forget other such necessary items as binoculars, field guides and scopes. There is a $5.00 fee for each participant to cover compiling and publishing costs of the North American Birds journal that reports all count results. Ask your count leader for details on how to receive the journal.
Local CBCs:
Fallon
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Contact: Dan Rabbers at 775.423.4980 or by email: dan_rabbers@fws.gov. Meet at 7:00 AM at the USFWS Stillwater Refuge Office located at 1000
Auction Road, off Hwy 50. Areas to survey include Carson Lakes, Carson
River, and adjacent agricultural lands. An after count compilation party
will be held.
Truckee Meadows
Probably Saturday, December 15, 2007
Contact: Dave McNinch at 775.747.7545. Please do not call after 9:00 pm in the evenings. Meet at the McDonald's on the corner of Oddie and Silverada (2 blocks east of 395) in Sparks at 7:00 am. All count areas will be coordinated and teams dispersed from this location. A potluck is planned for the evening compiling session; time and place to be determined. Call Dave for all the exciting details.
Carson City
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Contact: Greg Scyphers at 775.745.3156 or scyph@sbcglobal.net.
We are meeting at 7:00AM at the McDonald's located at 3344N Carson Street at the North end of Carson. This is the one by the Bully's Sports Bar and the closed down (K-Mart?). The after count wrap-up spot is still to be determined. Changes and updates will be posted to the list serve. I hope everyone can join us and I look forward to setting new records this year.
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Date: Friday December 14, 2007
This survey circle lies within Nevada and California. Please sign up as soon as possible to help the compiler/coordinator plot assignments and to receive more details prior to the count. Contact: Will Richardson trichard@unr.nevada.edu / 530-412-2792
Pyramid Lake
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Contact: Dennis or Becca Serdehely at 775.575.0319, or birders@gbis.com. Please do not call after 10:00 pm. Meet at 7:00 AM at Crosby's Lodge in Suttcliff. Bring warm clothes, water, and lunch.
Out of Area CBC's:
Elko, NV
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Contact: Lois Ports at 775.738.4270, or ports@elko-nv.com, or Jo Dean at 775.753.6657.
Snake Valley (Great Basin National Park and vicinity), NV
Friday, December 14, 2007
Contact: Melissa Renfro at melsyurt@wirelessbeehive.com, or 775.234.7154, or leave a message at Great Basin National Park at 775.234.7331. See the LAS website for more information and directions
The count circle is in White Pine County, in eastern Nevada, and Millard County, western Utah. It includes some of the east side of Great Basin National Park, a fish rearing station, the towns of Baker, NV and Garrison, UT, some stock ponds and Pruess Reservoir in Utah. Habitat ranges from ponderosa/aspen streamsides, to pinyon juniper to sagebrush. If there is snow by then we could use some folks who like to ski or snowshoe and bird, for the higher elevations. Most of the dirt roads into the Park, such as Big Wash, Gray Cliffs, Baker Creek and Snake Creek areas usually have some snow. We will be meeting at the new Great Basin Visitor Center, Resource Center (on the north end of Baker, on Highway 287) at 7:00 am. At dusk we will meet at T & Ds in 'downtown Baker' to compile the data, have a hot meal and share tales.
There are three restaurants and two motels open that time of the year in the Baker area. The local businesses have a web page at http://greatbasinpark.com
Lehman Cave tours are not as crowded this time of year, for those who would like to stay and visit the Park while they are here. For more information about Great Basin National Park, go to; http://www.nps.gov/grba/.
Honey Lake, CA
Date: December, 27 (Alternate if bad weather January 3rd)
Contact: Tim Manolis at 916.485.9009, or ylightfoot@aol.com
Sierra Valley, CA,
Date: December 29, 2007
Contact: Collin Dillingham at 530-283-1133 / cdillingham@fs.fed.us
Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, OR
Date: January 5, 2007
Contact: Marla Bennett at 541. 947.2731, or marla_bennett@fws.gov
Southern Nevada CBC 2007
Go to www.redrockaudubon.org, or the Information line 702.390.9890