Santa Maria/Guadalupe
Christmas Bird Count

 

        On December 28 of last year, 18 birders fanned out across a count circle that includes all of Guadalupe and part of Santa Maria, aiming to tally every bird they could find in a 24‑hour window. This effort is part of the Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count, a continent‑wide survey that runs for three weeks from mid‑December through early January. Our own Santa Maria/Guadalupe count has been running for 45 years, while the broader Audubon tradition dates back about 120 years. In its earliest days, participants shot as many species as they could find—an approach that was quickly abandoned in favor of simply identifying and counting birds in the wild.

           Many people don’t realize just how rich our local bird life is. This year’s count produced 145 species, placing us comfortably within the top 10–15% of all counts in the United States and Canada. And while we’re required to tally everything we see—including the species that show up by the thousands, we also turn up our share of surprises. This year’s highlights included a Vermilion Flycatcher wintering at Jack O’Connell Park, a sparrow‑sized bird so brilliantly red it looks like a tiny cardinal with black wings and no crest. We also found a Eurasian Wigeon, a close relative of our familiar American Wigeon but with a warmer golden tone and a brown crown instead of the American bird’s white forehead patch.

Most of our birds are found in parks, on county or city land, or simply along roadsides. But many key species turn up on private property, where landowners generously grant us access and are often delighted to learn what’s living on their land. These permissions are essential to the success of the count.

           If you’d like to join us next year, just let me know.