Clear Lake famous for abundance of wild bird life

Clear Lake is known for its abundance of wild bird life. That is one reason the lake and surrounding communities are so popular among tourists. The Redbud Audubon Society does an annual Christmas bird count and this year the results were as expected. Birds were everywhere and the total count showed 41,951 birds, down from 135,312 from the 2014 count. Thirty-four people (11 groups) participated in the count and they were assigned different areas.

The most numerous bird was the Western/ Clark grebes with a total of 11,754 counted. The Ruddy duck came in second with 4,880 birds and the double-breasted cormorant was third with 4,510. In fourth place was the American white pelican with 3,455. Of course, there are a lot more of these four birds because only a portion of the lake was counted.

One of the bird counting groups counted two snow geese, one golden eagle, six band-tailed pigeons and a list of other birds. Other birds included red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures and a screech owl.

What was impressing were the number of Western/Clark grebes counted. The more than 11 thousand birds represents only a portion of the total grebes on the lake. That means there should be an excellent hatch this spring. The reason the large number of grebes are here is because of the massive bait fish numbers. Threadfin shad are in the lake by the billions and there are dozens of other species of minnows.

What was really impressive were the number of double- crested cormorants. The number counted was 4,510. They are commonly seen sitting in the tall trees at Lakeside County Park and Clear Lake State Park. They are fish eaters and are expert swimmers. Another bird seen in a large number was the ruddy duck. They are a small duck that often stays out in the middle of the lake in flocks. When disturbed by a boat they skitter across the water while taking flight. They are unusual in that during the cold winter months they flock tightly together for warmth.

The count for the American White Pelican was 3,455 and that is just a portion of these birds that are on the lake. I was surprised that no bald eagles were seen. The lake is home to a good number of bald eagles and two areas where they are common are Lakeside County Park and California State Park. They are a territorial bird and typically there are fewer that 20 that stay here.

The Audubon count just goes to show that the lake’s environment is healthy and there are not only thousands of birds, but a healthy fish population to support the birds.

Clear Lake is a bird watchers dream and it is a perfect place for tourists to not only enjoy the oldest lake in North America, but one of the most fertile lakes in the country. We all complain about the algae and weeds in the lake but they are part of the lake’s history and have been here for thousands of years.

What is needed is more positive publicity about the lake and the county. Every tourist I have met raves about the beauty of the lake and its abundant bird life. The Redbud Audubon is an excellent organization to become involved with. You can learn all about the local birds and other wildlife. Call 263-8030 or send an email to redbud.audubon@gmail.com.