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SUNDAY,
December 31, 2006
Kern River Valley:
130 species (128 count day + 2 count week): Highlights: American Avocet, 8
species of owls; Barn, Spotted, Western Screech, Northern Pygmy, Northern
Saw-whet, Great Horned, Long-eared, and Burrowing, Eurasian Collared Dove (new),
White-throated Sparrow (new). 22 participants
in 12 parties plus 5 feeder watchers.
In terms of serious birding, the highlight bird was the first
record of White-throated Sparrow for the Kern River Valley Christmas Count reported by
John Schmitt. He reports this bird has been frequenting his feeder for the last
few weeks, of note is another White-throated Sparrow found on the South Fork CBC.
New the count and many other counts across the state is the Eurasian Collared
Dove. Introduced to the Bahamas in the mid-seventies, this bird arrived in
Florida in 1980 and has spread westward similar to the European Starling.
Finally, teams of raven roost counters went out and surveyed 5 potential roost
areas around the valley finding four active, an impressive 2376 Common Ravens
were found in total, with a huge roost of 1500 ravens found up Bodfish Canyon.
Thanks to the twenty-two
field
participants and the 5 feeder watchers for their efforts on this season's KRV CBC:
field crew: Bob Barnes, Darrell Barnes, David Chilton, Chana Cortez, Gary File,
Scott & Trude Frazer, Bruce Garlinger, Frank Gibson, Denise LaBerteaux, Michael McQuerrey, Marya
Miller, Susan Moore, John
Schmitt, Alison Sheehey, Bob Steele, Susan Steele, Don Storm, Reed Tollefson, Sandra Wieser,
Peter Woodman, and Sam Woodman. And feeder watchers: Birdie Foster, Jennie Cox,
Denis Dunning, Diana McCrorey, and Martine Metzenheim.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS: Wood Duck; Hooded Merganser; Mountain Quail; Common Loon; Eared Grebe; Osprey, Bald Eagle, Virginia Rail; American Avocet; Herring Gull; Great Horned Owl;
Burrowing Owl; Red-breasted
Sapsucker; Common Raven 2376; Marsh Wren;
Orange-crowned Warbler; Great-tailed
Grackle, and Dark-eyed Junco (including Oregon, Gray-headed,
Pink-sided, and Slate-colored).
Compiler:
Alison Sheehey, Phone: (760) 378-2029, E-mail
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