An American robin forages in the sagebrush north of Genoa.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
The numbers of both the birds and birders were a little lighter at this year’s Minden Audubon Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 29.
Coordinator Ben Sonnenberg said the roughly 19 counters spotted 8,000 individual birds, down from last year’s 14,000.
Those other 6,000 birds were probably taking cover from the wind and the rain in Carson Valley that day.
Sonneberg said the count spotted 97 different species, which tied last year’s diversity.
“Some of the harder to find songbirds were sleuthed out, including pinyon jay, juniper titmouse, and hermit thrush despite the weather,” he said on Jan. 11.
Reno resident Joe Tuvell spotted a surf scoter near the Minden Gardnerville Sanitation District.
Sonnenberg said counters spotted a pelican in Jake’s Wetlands and 10 Barrow’s goldeneye in the Minden sections.
By far the largest number of birds spotted were the 2,469 European starlings and 1,206 Canada geese.
There were also 476 Brewer’s black birds and 422 white crowned sparrows. From looking around, you’d think there would have been more than 180 magpies and 174 quail.
With Eagles and Agriculture coming up Feb. 6-9, it’s good news that birders spotted two golden eagles and three bald eagles.
The four-days of tours and events surrounding the Valley’s raptors and ranches is the continuation of the annual event that first started in 2003.
In addition to bus tours featuring talks with Valley ranchers, there’s an opening reception featuring live birds of prey, photographers and artists on Feb. 6. On Feb. 7 there is a Wetland Tour and Falconer’s Dinner. A photo workshop is Feb. 8 and 9.
Visit carsonvalleynv.org or call 775-782-8144 to sign up or find out more information.
Ducks Unlimited is hosting its annual dinner 5:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Carson Valley Inn.
