Bird count takes off Jan. 2

Birding Under Nevada Skies owner Jim Woods will be leading his second Audubon Christmas Bird Count in Carson Valley on Jan. 2.

The owner of the birding tour business will be participating with The Lahontan Audubon Society in what's billed as the longest running citizen scientist survey in the world.

The bird count uses thousands of volunteers located across the United States and Canada to determine bird species and populations for inclusion in the Audubon scientific data base. This year is the celebration of the 111th anniversary of the count.

Woods said the area covered in Carson Valley is a 15-mile diameter circle that is essentially bounded by Foothill Road on the west, Hot Springs Mountain on the north, the old Sierra Spirit Ranch on the east and Bodie Flats on the south.

This effort is totally operated by volunteers from the bird watching groups and individuals from around the area.

Woods is coordinating the effort and is recruiting volunteers for the survey. Birders of all levels of knowledge, from expert to beginners, are asked to help, identify and count as many birds as possible in the Carson Valley. The survey will start at 7 a.m. and end in a pot luck dinner to compile the final counts.

Contact Woods at Jim.woods@charter.net or 720-7009 for information and to sign up for the field census.

In addition to the field census there will be a feeder watch for those not able to hike or wanting to travel, in which folks will identify and count birds that come to bird feeders at their homes. Bird feeder counters will be provided a check list, and the lists will be picked up at the end of the count.

The feeder watch effort is led by Mary Ellen Conaway. Contact Conaway at meconaway@charter.net or 265-7651 to sign up.

Volunteers should have transportation, binoculars, food and water for the day, some knowledge of the local birds. There is a $5 fee to defray the costs of the national survey.

Additional information is also available at www.audubon.org/bird/cbc.