*Christmas Bird Count Ithaca Update-January 1 Count Date*
Great Chickadee Challenge *Black-capped chickadees!!* We are looking for as many as we can find. Our tally last year of 3,334 was good enough to place us first in the US, but Edmonton, AB beat us with 4,683. Our high tally was 3,962 recorded on 1Jan2007. *Let’s see if we can repeat our US high and go for the North American record this year.* Let’s get as many people as possible out this year counting. Find Chickadees and the other species will follow!! For people that are comfortable with playback, several of our area’s most excellent birders recommend this as a technique that will bring chickadees (and associates) in from everywhere. We are providing an iTunes audio file that can be downloaded and then played back from your iPod, iPhone or iTouch. Playing this 5-minute recording of chickadees mobbing an Eastern Screech-owl is guaranteed to increase your counts of chickadees and many other species and help to get a more accurate count of what is really out there. Just email me with a request for the file. It will be sent back to you as an attachment and plays on Quicktime and if you download, opens in iTunes. All we ask is that you use this tool judiciously and ask for instruction if you need to. This is being offered with the realization that many people may have some hesitation or distaste for this method of birding. In the context of a count such as this, it can be very useful. *If you have been unsure about volunteering, now is the time. *Just get in touch as per the information below. You will be starting your New Year off with a new commitment to the birds and the totality of the wonderful natural world that surrounds us and is ours to protect and cherish. Thanks in advance, Linda Information follows: A reminder, we need all hands on deck for our annual Christmas Bird Count held, as has become traditional, on Jan.1. *Please consider becoming a part of this. * Here is the link to the information included last week http://www.birds.cornell.edu/cayugabirdclub/christmasbirdcount.htm We need you and we want you. If you are intimidated by any aspect of this count, please get in touch with me, Linda, so I can reassure you. You do not need to count all night, or all day. You can cover any assigned territory in a way that is convenient and fun for you You do not need to be an expert, although some familiarity with resident winter birds may make you feel more confident. I am currently trying to line up experienced counters who may be willing to have you along so that you are primed and ready to do this on your own next year. Let me hear from you. Here is a link to our Ithaca count from last year. http://audubon2.org/cbchist/count_table.html Can we do better? More people? More birds? More areas covered? Join in!!! Link to full text of article: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/cayugabirdclub/christmasbirdcount.htm Here is a brief description of the areas. If you live in or near any of them, or if you have some special fondness for the place, take some part of it on. Make it your own. All of the areas can use counters. Some areas are more in need than others. But no one will be turned away. Let me know where you want to go, I'll get you in touch with the area leader. It's easy!!! Area I West Dryden, Hile School Road area. Open fields, secondary growth fields, and woodlots. Possible Merlin, White-winged Crossbills, blackbirds, and sparrows. Area II Fall Creek area, Mount Pleasant. Woodlands and fields. Good for turkeys, hawks, and herons. Area III The linear park in Dryden, Beam Hill, and Yellow Barn Road. Pine and spruce forests, good for winter finches. Area IV Ellis Hollow area, Snyder Hill, Ringwood. Woodlands and fields. Good for hawks, turkeys, bluebirds, sparrows, owls, and finches. Area V Six Mile Creek gorge, Brooktondale area. Our largest area, good birding and hiking. Possible turkey and grouse. Area VI Danby area, Finger Lakes Trail, and Buttermilk Falls. Noted for wintering bluebirds and robins. Area VII West side of Cayuga Lake, Bostwick Road, Mecklenberg Road. Good for waterfowl, including all three species of merganser. Area VIII Cornell campus, Cayuga Heights, and Stewart Park. Good for rare birds, Fish Crows, and gulls. Area IX East side of Cayuga Lake, Lansing area. Fields, woodlots. Waterfowl and field birds, including Northern Shrike and Short-eared Owl. Call me, 279-4253, email me, wingmagi...@gmail.com. I am waiting to hear from you and the area leaders are looking forward to your wonderful help. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
