Portland Christmas Bird Count 2011
| When: Dec 31, 2011 from 06:00 am to 06:00 pm |
| Contact: |
Wink Gross
|
Oregon Christmas Bird Count Calendar
By Wink Gross, compiler, Portland Christmas Bird Count
- Birders - Morgan Dean
What’s the oldest and grandest tradition in birding? Christmas Bird Counts, of course! Begun in 1900 as an alternative to the traditional wanton slaughter of anything that flew during Christmas Day “side hunts”, hundreds of Christmas Bird Counts are now conducted throughout the Western Hemisphere and continue to contribute valuable scientific data to the longest existing record of bird population trends. Naturally, everyone likes the idea of contributing to science, but the real reason they’ve exploded in popularity? They’re so much fun!
All over the Americas, birders will be participating in one-day counts between Dec 14, 2011 and Jan 5, 2012. The Audubon Society of Portland conducted its first Christmas count in 1926. According to the official 111th Christmas Bird Count issue of "American Birds", Portland is the 3rd largest count (in number of participants) of all. Last year, for our 85th count, 267 participants, in the field and watching feeders, set an all-time record for Portland: 124 species! This year our 86th count is on Saturday, December 31. Will you help us try to break that record?
The Christmas Bird Count is a great way for birders of all levels to enjoy a day in the field and sharpen their birding skills. You will also have the opportunity to meet others who share your interest in birds and to discover some good local spots to find birds. And you will contribute to scientific knowledge. In fact, the Christmas Bird Count is one of the best ways for the amateur birder to advance ornithology: the data are sent to the Laboratory of Ornithology at Cornell University, where over the years Christmas Bird Count records have been used to study changes in bird populations and wintering ranges. A quite amazing bibliography of Christmas Bird Count research and the entire historical record of all Christmas Bird Counts may be found here.
Each Christmas Bird Count attempts to count all the birds in a 15 mile diameter circle on one given day. In addition to the Portland Count, roughly 50 other Counts will be conducted in Oregon and SW Washington this year during the 3 weeks surrounding the holidays. Some of the counts in NW Oregon are listed below.
Want to participate in the Portland Christmas Bird Count? Look at the map of the Portland CBC circle and pick an area you would like to help cover. (It need not be where you reside.) Contact the area leader, who will tell you where and what time to meet on December 31. The area leaders will put together teams to balance birding skills and cover as much of their area as possible. Most teams go out for the whole day, 7AM until 4PM, but you can usually make arrangements if you need to stop earlier. Can’t decide which area? Contact me, Wink Gross, at winkg@hevanet.com or 503-226-3842.
Can’t do the Portland Count on Dec 31? Check out the other Counts around the state. Pick one that suits your schedule, and contact the compiler directly.
What to bring: binoculars, of course! Be prepared for a day outdoors in Oregon in the winter. That means warm clothes, rainwear, and waterproof shoes. The counts are generally held as scheduled, rain or shine. Bring a bag lunch and snacks. Each participant over 18 years of age is asked to contribute $5 to defray the expense of compiling and publishing the results and sending you a summary. And, last but not least, bring an enthusiastic attitude and a willingness to search quietly and patiently for birds.
Almost every Christmas count turns up an unusual bird. Last year’s Portland count had several, including Black Scoter and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Often the “best bird” of the day is first spotted by a beginner. Perhaps you will be the person that finds the bird that makes everyone say, “Wow! We never expected that!”
Feeder watchers needed, too!
A day tramping around in the cold and wet doesn’t appeal to you? You may still be able to participate. The Portland Christmas Count welcomes reports from “Feeder Watchers”. Feeder Watcher observations are very important for certain species, such as Anna’s Hummingbirds and goldfinches. If you happen to live within the Count Circle (see Google map) and maintain a birdfeeder, we’ll want to know what you saw on Count Day. You need count birds for only an hour to make a significant contribution. Remember, only birds seen on the actual day of the Christmas Bird Count “count”. Download the Portland CBC Feederwatch Checklist (pdf) or contact Wink Gross, 503 226 3842.
Portland CBC Circle displayed on Google Maps
Oregon CBC Circle (for use with Google Earth) Washington CBC Circle
Area Leaders for Portland CBC
Area 1 (Columbia Riparian)Tony DeFalco
503-224-2064
tonydefalco@yahoo.com
Dan Strong
503-742-9093
jodanstrong@comcast.net
John Hammerstad
503 635 2903
jhammersta@aol.com
Lori Hennings
503-797-1940 or 503-329-5003
lori.hennings@oregonmetro.gov
Sam Pointer
503-655-9107
OCMossBack@aol.com
Major counts in NW Oregon and SW Washington:
Sauvie Island CBC: December 18
Oregon side contact:
Karen Bachman
pppahooie@comcast.net or
(503) 289-3605 or (503) 802-2057
Washington side contact:
Tammy Bjorkman
bjorkman@columbialandtrust.org
Contact the compilers.
Forest Grove CBC:
Mary Anne Sohlstrom
masohlstrom@msn.com
(503) 463-9540
Greg Gillson
Meet 7:00 a.m. (earlier if eating breakfast), Elmer's Pancake House, 390 SW Adams, Hillsboro.
Salem CBC:
Tim Johnson
(503) 363-8435
tim.the.fisherman@gmail.com
Contact the compiler; teams arranged in advance.
Dec 17 Tillamook Bay CBC:
Owen Schmidt
oschmidt@att.net
(503) 789-4854
Meet at 6:30 am, Denny's Restaurant, 2230 Main Avenue N (Hwy 101), Tillamook.
Columbia Estuary CBC:
Mike Patterson
celata@pacifier.com
(503) 325-1365
Meet 7:00 a.m. at Pig-n-Pancake Restaurant in Astoria.
Lyle WA CBC:
(includes The Dalles, Rowena, and Mosier, OR)
Bob Hansen
bobhansen@gorge.net
(509) 637-2736
Contact the compiler.
Corvallis CBC:
Marcia F. Cutler
marciafcutler@comcast.net
(541) 752-4313
Contact the compiler after December 1.
Post-count gathering at community room in Fire Station #5 (Walnut Blvd. just
south of ML King Park off Fair Oaks Dr.).
Hood River CBC:
Catherine Flick
stewart@gorge.net
(509) 493-1195
Meet 6:30 a.m. at the Best Western in Hood River (exit 64 off Interstate 84).
winkg@hevanet.com
(503) 226-3842
Contact one of the area leaders or the compiler.
oregoncoastbirding@gmail.com
(541) 961-1307
Contact the compiler.
Post-count gathering at USFWS Office, 2127 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport.
