It’s Christmas Bird Count Season
Phainopepla ©Zane Pickus
We’re preparing for the 55th CBC with our Bird I.D. Workshop hosted by board members Bart Wickel and Zane Pickus on December 10th. They’ll give some CBC history, try to confound us with tricky I.D. problems, and present a brief eBird primer. In addition, they’ll talk about the 10 areas of the Putah Creek Count, which may help you decide which one to sign up for. Finally, they’ll answer any questions you may have. It’s a fun, information-packed evening. Even if you don’t plan to join the actual count on December 21st, you may want to tune in on Zoom or join the meeting in person on the 10th. See the article below for more details.
Next comes the CBC itself on the 21st. Our compiler Bart Wickel has laid out all the information from the 2024 count here to give you an idea of how it went and what to plan for this year. He’s also included a map of the count circle with its 10 areas. If you know what area you’re interested in, please sign up now before the spaces are filled.
Whether or not you participate in the bird count on December 21st, all are warmly invited to attend YBA’s end of the year potluck and holiday/winter solstice get together that evening at the Davis Senior Center. Doors will be open at 5:30pm when we’ll have some hot apple cider to ward off the winter chill, with our shared dinner starting at 6pm.
December 21st is the winter solstice this year. Although it’s the official first day of winter, it also marks the turning point of the seasons, when the hours of sunlight start gradually increasing each day going forward.
Please join us for some good food and fellowship while we reminisce about 2025, look forward with hope to the New Year, and hear some of the highlights from the Christmas Bird Count. Everyone who attends will receive raffle tickets for some nice prizes, and we’re also planning a few birdie games! We hope to see you there.
Fear not, we haven’t forgotten our core group of birders and Area Leaders! Bart is planning to have a special Zoom meeting in the weeks after the count to go over all of this year’s findings. Stay tuned!
One last thought…’Tis the season for giving. If you haven’t had time to renew your membership with the Yolo Bird Alliance, please consider making an end-of-year donation here.
All the best for a wonderful December!
–Genevieve Colborn and Ann Brice