Participate in the Third Annual Woodland/Davis Christmas Bird Count!
On Friday, December 27, interested birdwatchers are invited to participate in the Woodland/Davis Christmas Bird Count, sponsored by the National Audubon Society and Cache Creek Conservancy. All levels of birdwatchers are welcome!
If you would like to participate, contact Bruce Christensen (theriodvm@gmail.com).
The count circle encompasses Woodland, much of Davis, and includes important habitats such as Cache Creek Nature Preserve and riparian corridor, Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant, North Davis Pond, West Davis Pond, UC Davis Arboretum, Conaway Ranch, Putah Creek Riparian Reserve, and Woodland Regional Park, as well as all the agricultural lands surrounding our communities.
Volunteers will be assigned to a team covering a section within the count circle. Each team will begin birding in the morning and continue into the afternoon, tallying all the different bird species (types and numbers) they see or hear. These numbers are reported to a central database which tracks changes over time, year to year, and help us to understand population trends. In our area, this helps us understand better how birds which share our immediate environment are faring. Our area hosts large numbers of owls, raptors, gulls, wintering waterfowl, and open-country birds, including the yellow-billed magpie, a species endemic to the California Central Valley.
Perhaps you want to participate, but have limited time or desire to be outside for long periods? Do you have a bird feeder in your yard? We would LOVE to have you participate by counting birds that visit your yard, neighborhood, or local city park on December 27. We also have options within some of our green spaces for those with limited mobility who would like to stay in a small-but-important area and count visiting birds. These include West Pond, North Pond, Farmer’s Pond, Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant, and parts of the UC Davis Arboretum.
All levels of birders, from novice to experienced, are enthusiastically welcomed and encouraged to participate. The count will happen regardless of weather. You should bring appropriate clothing, snacks, and a pair of binoculars. Whether you want to spend the day walking, birding by car, sitting in a park, or counting birds in your yard or neighborhood, interested birders should contact Bruce Christensen (theriodvm@gmail.com) for more information. You can also visit our website.
Black Phoebe, Image by Mary Forrestal
For information on other area CBCs visit sacramentoaudubon.org/news/sacramento-area-cbcs-for-2024-2025.