CBC volunteers - Photo by Judith White
Like everything else, Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs) this year will not be the same. National Audubon Society has announced that we can run our CBCs as long as we follow local COVID-19 guidelines. For local CBCs this means wearing masks, no carpooling, smaller counting groups, and no compilation get-together at the end of the day. Before the count we must watch closely for possible COVID-19 surges that might trigger greater county restrictions.
CBC Volunteers
Photo: Judith White
This year, the Sequim-Dungeness Christmas Bird Count (SDCBC) occurs on Monday, December 14. The SDCBC covers a 15-mile diameter circle centered just NNE of downtown Sequim, so its area includes the "towns" of Sequim, Gardiner, Blyn, Diamond Point, Dungeness, and Carlsborg, along with all the habitats from nearshore Strait of Juan de Fuca to the Olympic foothills.
We usually have 30 or so "Field Parties" that cover specific regions of the count circle, but these parties will likely be smaller this year. If you live within the circle and know birds, you can also become a "Feeder Watcher" by tallying up the birds you see in your yards and neighborhoods during count day. No matter where you count, we ask that you keep close track of your times and distances, to allow us to make comparisons with other counts and years.
If you wish to participate in the SDCBC, please contact Bob Boekelheide at bboek@olympus.net or call 360-808-0196. Bob will provide you with information about the count, along with tally sheets to record the birds. If you see any unusual birds in the days before the CBC, please let Bob know.