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The event was a great success, with more than 50 people participating in the count, according to Darlene Hecomovich, the Christmas Bird Count coordinator for Lake County.
The count was held on Dec. 17, and was part of a nationwide effort to tally birds, an event that is held every year from December to early January by Audubon societies all over the country.
Hecomovich thanked everyone who participated in the count.
“It was your work and dedication that made it all possible,” she said.
A total of 143 species were seen, she reported, down somewhat from the 153 species seen in 2007.
“Fifty-five matches our all-time highest number of participants of two years ago and this year included four birders from St. Helena, one from Santa Rosa, and three Lower Lake High School students plus all the good dedicated birders of Lake County,” Hecomovich said.
Some species of particular interest include several Barrows’ Goldeneye, both bald and golden eagles, Canyon Wren, Townsend’s Solitaire, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Black-throated Gray Warbler and Lawrence’s Goldfinch, which made its sixth appearance on the Christmas Bird Count with an all-time high of 47 birds.
The Ruddy Duck garnered the highest number of individuals with an all-time high count of 14,823.
“One of the species we were sorry to miss was the Yellow-billed Magpie. The numbers of magpies on the count have been declining for the past half-dozen years, and this year’s miss is the second year in a row that we’ve had no magpie,” Hecomovich reported.
The Redbud Audubon Society is a local conservation organization affiliated with the National Audubon Society. The group holds monthly educational programs and hosts field trips. It also sponsors the annual Heron Festival which will be held this year at Redbud Park in Clearlake on May 5. Visitors will have a chance to go into Anderson Marsh by pontoon boat to view the Heron Rookery there on Slater Island.
For more information, go to www.redbudaudubon.org.
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