THE FORT BRAGG CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT WAS A BLUSTERING AFFAIR
FORT BRAGG, CA >> On Monday, December 27, 2021, volunteers spread out before dawn from Cleone to Big River to count birds. It’s an annual nationwide tradition run by the Audubon Society that dates back to 1900. The birders encountered rough weather this year. “It was the worst weather in bird count history,” said Tim Bray, the Fort Bragg count coordinator. His compatriots were quick to point out they had endured worse weather in locations like Cincinnati. Regardless of other experiences, it was not a pleasant day to be out on the headlands. Winds around 20 mph, cold rain, and several hail storms impeded the count in more ways than one. It was difficult to get scopes to stay upright and the rough seas didn’t help as shorebirds were few and far between. The windblown hale felt like hundreds of pinpricks on your cheeks and staying dry was in itself a challenge. Still, the bird counters soldiered on and as the weather fluctuated, they met with some success throughout the day and into the evening hours.
Together they were able to identify 132 species on Monday. The lowest species count for Fort Bragg is 128 and the highest is 140. There were several anomalies, however. Owls were in very short supply. Typically, they are able to identify multiple owl species during the bird count. This year a single burrowing owl was spotted near Glass Beach. Other typical avian residents that were unseen were American Gold Finches, Kildeers, Snowy Egrets, and Wilson Snipes. The birders also expressed concerns about what appears to be a shortage of Robins, Common Murres, Coots, and Barn Swallows.
On the positive side, Bald Eagles were seen in multiple locations by at least four different count parties. David Jensen reported seeing a young Bald Eagle pull a bird right out of the water at Point Cabrillo and take it to shore. The Bald Eagle has not been a regular part of the Fort Bragg count, but several years of sightings have earned it a spot on the list. There were several other birds that were spotted here for the first time including a Ruddy Turnstone, Blue Winged, and Cinnamon Teals, a female Long-tailed Duck, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and a Palm Warbler.
A common sighting was Fulmars. Jensen reported a flock of 300 near the lighthouse. Fulmars have been washing up on Sonoma and Mendocino County shores
in recent weeks in what appears to be an ongoing wreck. According to Sarah Grimes from the Noyo Center, the birds are perishing in pulses. Most of them are scavenged by the ravens and turkey vultures when they hit the beach. A group of volunteers from the Noyo Center, Sonoma Bird Rescue, and the Marine Mammal Center have rescued about thirty of the birds and they are currently rehabilitating at the International Bird Rescue Center in Suisun City. Multiple dead birds have also been collected by California Fish and Wildlife. They are conducting necropsies to determine the cause of the wreck.
The bird counts have been impacted by the pandemic. While the outdoor setting makes birding a fairly safe activity, the 2020 count was limited to team leaders. The birders were all vaccinated this year and field teams were set up that included approximately thirty local volunteers and traveling birders from San Francisco and Missouri. The yard feeder bird count has taken on a larger role in the past two years because it’s safest to count from home. The traditional post-event dinner has also been canceled until it’s safe to gather indoors. The 47th annual Manchester Bird Count was scheduled for January 2, 2022. The Manchester count covers the coast from Elk to Point Arena. The count numbers were not available at the deadline.
Bird counts have been impacted by the pandemic.