Winter is here, and we finally have rain! Many of us have been out birding and enjoying the green hills, as well as the flooded rice fields (see the related Conservation article by Michael Perrone). One of my favorite birds seen and photographed this season is the Short-eared Owl, which can be found at dusk hunting over fields and along the weedy edges.
Yolo Audubon wants to say a big thank you to Bart Wickel for organizing the 51st Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count (CBC) for the first time this year. Be sure to read his write-up on the website and learn about species seen and multi-year trends. Seventy-three participants saw 137 species on a brisk day.
Speaking of counting birds, a group of birders is exploring a possible Yolo CBC that includes Woodland, Davis, and surrounding areas. They will be conducting a Big Day in the proposed count circle on Saturday, January 8th. If you’re interested in participating, contact Bruce Christensen at theriodvm@gmail.com.
I know most of you receive lots of updates from National Audubon Society, but in case you missed it, I’ve been saving this article from a while back–this year, for the first time, Audubon had a special category in their annual photography competition for female bird images, and they’re lovely. Enjoy!
All the best for a happy and healthy 2022.
–Ann Brice, President