Great Backyard Bird Count, Los Angeles

I was out bird watching this morning in the heart of Los Angeles. The rain was fairly steady, not pouring, but soaking. The humans were few but the birds were many.


Birds enjoy a gentle rain and actually so do I.


Why would seven adults tromp through puddles to count birds?


I can give you several reasons:

• There is always the thrill of the unexpected, like the great blue heron we spotted flying low through the mist,
• The opportunity for discovery, we watched a pair of red-shouldered hawks putting the finishing touches on a new nest,
• Moments of peace and beauty like the female Allen's hummingbird taking a bath in the rain and the elegant nest she has built edged in bright green moss,
• There is always something new to learn, today I learned how to identify a male acorn woodpecker from a female,
• There are smiles and laughter, and real human friendship
• And the 35 bird species we counted will be reported to Cornell University through ebird.org so scientists can track changes in bird populations

Friday Feb. 18 - Monday Feb. 21 is the Great Backyard Bird Count an opportunity for you too to go out and count birds for science. You can count in your yard, walking to school, in a park or a parking lot. For four days people across North America will be taking a snapshot of the birds across the continent. Everyone is invited to participate. Click the button to go to the Great Backyard Bird Count website for more information and to enter your data.

Me, I'll be counting again on Saturday Feb. 19 at the Los Angeles Zoo.  Zoo members are invited to join in on a bird walk before the Zoo opens. We will meet at the glass doors north of the main entrance between 7:45 and 8 AM. To make reservations please phone 323/622-8114 or e-mail docents@lazoo.org (including “Bird Walk” in the subject line) with the following information: your name, membership number, members in your party, age of attending children, and your phone number.

Discovering Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Refuge

great egret and coot by Michael Lawshe

Take a mini-bird walk through Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Refuge.
Click on the link below for a 4 minute video that was shot for "One Day On Earth" 10/10/10. Video courtesy of Michael Lawshe and  Eclipse-1 Media.

Mini-Bird Walk

Turkey Vultures at Sepulveda Basin

International Migratory Bird Day Events In Los Angeles 2010

May is bird conservation month for me. In an effort to become more aware and involved with local conservation related to birds here are the events I have put on my calendar:

International Migratory Bird Day
Saturday, May 8
8:00 - 10:00 AM
Bird Walk at the Los Angeles Zoo (free to zoo members)
I will be one of the walk leaders.
for reservations and info www.lazoo.org

It's Our Nature: Birds Can Save The World with John Fitzpatrick
Tuesday, May 18
6:00 PM
Lecture at the Los Angeles Zoo ($8 for zoo members, $10 non-members)
An opportunity to hear the Director of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University discuss the vital roles that birds play in fostering conservation of worldwide biological diversity.
For more info and tickets www.lazoo.org

What Bird is That?
Saturday, May 29
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Woodland Hills Public Library
I will be giving a FREE presentation on identifying local birds and nests. Beginners and children are encouraged to attend. There will be activities and fun.

Great Backyard Bird Count 2007

The 10th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count is just around the corner.

Over four days, February 16-19 2007, people across North America will count birds in parks, refuges, city streets and backyards to create a snapshot of avian populations and biodiversity.

Typically, 75 % of all North American bird species migrate. But last year, warm weather caused some birds to skip their normal winter travel. Still other species were recorded further north than usual. Species like the California towhee, pictured, are found only in regional locations. If volunteers don't count in southern California, there is no record of these birds. While some birds like the American goldfinch showed increases across the country, others like the American crow recorded another year of decline. All of this information was captured by Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) observers.

The Cornell University Lab of Ornithology and Audubon host this annual event to collect important scientific data. Birds are travelers and their movement can tell us a great deal about the effects of climate change, urbanization and conservation efforts. GBBC is the perfect family outing, scout or youth project or a way to enjoy your backyard and contribute to important biological science.

Counting birds for GBBC is fun and easy.

To Count on Your Own:
Visit the Great Backyard Bird Count website for simple instructions and information. (www.birdsource.org/gbbc)

To Count with a Group:

• The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens will be hosting two Bird Walks in conjunction with GBBC. Wed. Feb. 14 and Sat. Feb. 17, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Both Bird Walks are open to Zoo members free of charge. The Wed. Bird Walk will teach you how to count so you can count on your own over the weekend. While on the Saturday Bird Walk you will be helping Zoo Docents complete a count of wild birds on Zoo grounds. Reservations are required for both walks. To make reservations send an e-mail to sanderson@lazoo.org; put “Bird Walk” in the subject line and include in your e-mail: the number of people in your party, your phone number and your Zoo membership number.
• 
  
• AnimalBytes also invites you to come out and count with us at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Refuge. Sunday, Feb. 18 at 8:00 AM. Last year we counted 29 species, including 122 double-crested cormorants, 47 red-winged blackbirds and a merlin. We will meet at the cement sign at the north entrance to the wildlife area. To access the parking area, enter the park from Woodley at the same driveway as the Japanese Gardens. Stay to the right and follow the road east along the wall. The road ends at a parking area with a public restroom. The cement sign and the entrance path are just before you come to the public restroom. Well-behaved children are always welcome, they have the best eyes and are our next generation of conservationists.

Whether you are an experienced birder or casual observer, science needs your help. Even if you only count the five mourning doves on your lawn, EVERY BIRD COUNTS.

Every bird is important.
You can make a difference.
Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count.