For those who need to taper off the celebrating, the Los Angeles Christmas Bird Count is just in time! Coming on Sunday January 4th to our own backyard in Santa Monica, the count is in its 110th year give or take a few historical skips. Our chapter is only nearing its 50th year, so we didn’t get 1st dibs on defining a circle of our own in the area. Los Angeles Audubon Society established the circle centered near Hauser and Pico Blvd well before I was born. It includes most of the public parks of Santa Monica a bit of the beach north of the pier and goes all the way east to Griffith Park. So we help our fellow-birders in L.A. every year with our section of their count.
I usually start at the Woodlawn Cemetery, and depending on how many helpers I have, I rush from site to site almost all day counting as many of the feathered as I can. Of course, it is much more effective and fun to count with others, so please feel free to include yourself in the count with me or on your own. Let me know if you wish to join me starting at 7AM or later, or if you have your favorite spot and time for the highest count. All levels of birding expertise welcome! Call me or text me 310/779.0966….and btw, Happy New Year!