Bird Count Categories:

Each December the MDAS participates in the Annual Christmas Bird Count. All members and guests are invited to participate. Every pair of eyes is helpful in seeing birds. You do not need to be an expert birder to participate, but you do need binoculars. Check the Calendar for this year's dates.

The first Christmas Bird Count took place on Christmas Day, 1900, to protest the traditional bird shoot that killed every bird in sight. Today, there are counts in every state, every Canadian province, parts of Central and South America, and many Pacific islands. The count has resulted with the longest running ornithological database ever, providing valuable data on resident and migratory bird populations.

The CBC is an important event but also a great social event and lots of fun. Following the Central County Count, MDAS hosts a potluck dinner for all participants. Information on when, where, and how to participate will be posted on MDAS Home Page in November.

Christmas Bird Count Results 2005:

Central Contra Costa County - December 17th
The central Contra Costa Christmas Bird count was held on Sat., Dec.17. It was a fairly rainy day and our number of species and overall number of birds were low. We had about 60 observers in the field that day.The total species seen was 145. Our average is around 150. Highlights were a Tufted Duck seen at the Bollman water treatment facility in Concord by Steve Glover,a Canyon Wren at Black Diamond by Jill Hedgecock's team. A Ross' goose seen with Canada geese by Bill Chilson's group was only our 2nd in 25 years

East Contra Costa County - December 21st
The East Contra Costa count was on Dec. 21. It was a calm, overcast day with no rain until the afternoon. We had almost 30 participants on 7 teams that day. Perhaps because of so many storms the week before and finally a clear day, we saw almost all we could expect and seven new species for the count ,now in its 5th year. 153 species were seen on the day. New were Eurasian Wigeon, White-throated Sparrow, Black-bellied Plover, Townsend's Warbler, Vesper Sparrow, Great-tailed Grackle. Other good birds were Winter Wren, Caspian Tern, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Phainopepla and Varied Thrush. This many species for an inland count is most unusual and just shows what a rich area the eastern part of Contra Costa County is for all of us.

Jimm Edgar & Maury Stern

To read the list of the birds observed by MDAS counters as well as the nationwide results, go to www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/.

To read prior Christmas Bird Count results, go to http://www.diabloaudubon.com/birds/bird_counts_archive.php.

Great Backyard Bird Count:

What Is the GBBC?
Many bird species are showing population declines due to habitat loss or other human impacts. Now, people of all ages and backgrounds can help monitor bird populations, including several that are showing declines, by participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count.

A project of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society with funding provided in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) combines high-tech web tools with "citizen-science" observation of birds.

The GBBC asks families, individuals, classrooms, and community groups to count the numbers and kinds of birds that visit their feeder, local parks, schoolyards, and other areas during any or all of the four count days. Participants enter their observations at BirdSource, a user-friendly, state-of-the-art-website.

How the GBBC Began
Begun in 1998, the GBBC has engaged more than 100,000 people of all ages and skill levels in the effort to keep common birds common. "We're asking everyone, everywhere in North America to take a few minutes to tell us what birds they see on any or all of the count days," says John Fitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "By tracking changes in bird distribution and abundance over time, such a vast database can serve as the S.O.S signal for species that may be in trouble."

This is especially important for species already showing population declines such as quail, familiar in California and other parts of North America. "While most people recognize quail when they see them, few people are aware that some species are experiencing severe population declines." Says Frank Gill, NAS's senior vice president for science.

Quail are flagship representatives of brush land/shrub habitat. Habitat loss and the results of some land management practices are the primary reasons for quail declines. In suburbia, cat perdition of these ground-dwelling birds is also a serious concern. Visitors to the GBBC website and learn about all six North American quail species.

One of the BirdSource's ultimate goal is hemisphere-wide monitoring of bird populations and the educational opportunities that go with these projects. Charts findings in real time, scientists have already made connections between weather patterns and bird movements. For the last few years, American Robins have appeared farther north than typically expected, in areas where snow cover was scant or nonexistent. Such a correlation may be suggestive of global warming or other broad-scale weather changes.

How to Participate
To Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, count the highest number of each bird species seen at one time (to ensure the birds are not counted more than once) and keep track of the amount of time spent counting. Log on to BirdSource and click on California for a checklist of the most frequently reported birds in our state. Instructions for participating can be found at the website. There's no registration fee.

The BirdSource website also includes useful information to make participation easy and enjoyable. There's a vocabulary section, bird watching and bird-feeding tips, bird vocalizations, and more. Educators will find the bibliography and geography sections as well as suggestions for conducting the count with groups of kids. Those who would like to participate, but are not online, can submit their reports through the Wild Birds Unlimited, 692 Contra Costa Blvd., in Pleasant Hill.

Results are updated hourly in the form of animated maps and colorful graphs for all to view. Participants will be able to see almost immediately how their observations fit into the continent-wide perspective.