Christmas Bird Count (CBC) 2008

This is a late post but I wanted to write about the CBC  so I could review my notes before planning next year. Blogging it seems the best way to presserve my thoughts, since I tend to loose any notes I write. Last years notes are yet to be found. :)

The CBC  is an essential part of conservative efforts; providing scientists with 109 years of data regarding bird population fluctuations, migration, northward range extensions, and declining species. The state of Utah currently has 21 count circles and observes between 181-189 species of birds. The SLC circle. the one I count for, usually counts about 100 species with a high of 106 species in 2007. I started the CBC last year. I froze my tooter off. I was unprepared and shivered for 9 straight hours, yet I have looked forward to going again all year. Even when the weather was predicted this year at 18 F as a high and 4 F as the low. Brr! That is cold. Luckily, that is not how it turned out.

Nate went with me this year. I asked him if he would go and take notes and drive me around. I wanted to concentrate on counting the birds. He gracefully obliged. My friend Erin also joined our group. It was nice to have them both there and I hope I have converted them. Nate to work with me in my circle and Erin to join a circle in California, where they not only enjoy higher numbers of birds but warmer weather too.

We started out our day (12/20/2008) at 8:00 a.m. at Decker Lake. A small natural lake next to I-215, in the middle of  a large group of businesses. The lake has been "beatified" with the addition of grass and a few pine trees. A paved sidewalk  surrounds the lake; giving access to all sides. Today the temperature was 23 F, the sky cloudy, and the lake  surrounded with snow.  We saw 15 species of birds, including: Yellow-headed Black birds, Greater Yellowlegs, and 3 female Hooded Mergansers. 

We then went to the largest lake at Stonebrook golf course. Here I was hoping to see a Merlin that was observed a week earlier. It is also a great place to see a large number of gulls: California and ring-billed. Most memorable, however, was a large flock of Northern Pintails that flew high overhead. Next was Salt Lake community College. Last year, this location, has a hot spot and gave us quite a few species. This year it was a bust with only 11 species; all of which were pretty common. This could be in part to the Coopers Hawk we witnessed being harassed by 5 Magpies.  For next year, I don't think I will plan these last two stops till the end of the day and only if we have time. 

By now it is about 11:00 am and we are ahead of schedule. We decide to stop at Germainia park. One of the many parks along the Jordan River. Here we saw 21 species, including a Great Blue Heron, numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers, 2 White-crowned Sparrows, and 2 Hermit Thrush. It is noon and we stopped for lunch. 

We started birding again at 1:00 p.m. after filling ourselves with coffee and food.  We spent the rest of the day along the Jordan River. Visiting  Holm, Workman, and the Jordan River Park at 4700 S.  Observing 12, 17, and 13 species respectively, including: American Pipet, Bufflehead, 1 Lincoln's Sparrow, and an amazing number of Borrow's Goldeneye. We reached the high temperature for the day; 28 F, and the sun sort of peaked out for a few minutes. 

We counted a total of 43 species. A low number compared with the 48 species our section saw last year.   I was a bit bumbed about this till I read the literature surrounding last years count. It was noted that the Midwestern states recorded unusually high numbers of species in 2007. A lot of circles, including the SLC, broke previous records. I can't wait to review the data for 2008. I am curious to see if the large number of Barrows Goldeneyes and Pintails we saw were seen in other areas. Perhaps indicating a trend regarding these species of bird.  

Update: There was a report of a possible Willet at Decker Lake so I went back (12/23/2008). I spent 2 hours there. Walking. Sitting in the snow. No Willet was seen.