Christmas Bird Count: A Once in a Lifetime Experience

For the last 30 years, Hernando Audubon has participated in the Christmas Bird Count. The event is designed for those with knowledge and expertise in avian identification and a love for data! These birders must have a thorough understanding of the habitats and migratory patterns of birds and the ability to identify a bird simply by its shape or call.

Although I may not possess the expertise of these avian enthusiasts, I still have my moments of triumph where I can confidently identify a bird or two!

It was a chilly morning on Dec. 22, and I met up with my group as early as 5:45 a.m. Bonnie Morgan and Cecile Yarrow caught up with birding stories while Dave Goodwin shared his birding memories with us while devouring a scrumptious breakfast of blueberry and banana pancakes.

Bev Hansen, the unstoppable President of the Hernando Audubon chapter, was radiating a contagious energy as she approached our table. With more than four decades of birding and organizing Christmas Bird Counts, she can spot a bird from a mile away and identify it with just two chirps. Her company is a delight to be in – she’s a true bird-watching legend here in Hernando County.

The air was crisp and the sky was still dark as we eagerly set out for our early morning bird count. Our first stop was a scenic marsh inlet, where we patiently waited for the sun to rise. Suddenly, Bonnie’s sharp eye caught sight of a group of magnificent Wood Storks! It was an exhilarating start to our day of birdwatching. As the sun started to peek over the horizon, the birds began to stir and we couldn’t wait to see what other feathered friends we would encounter on our adventure. With a sense of excitement, we packed up and headed to our next destination.

As we set off to our next destination, we were greeted by a flurry of feathered friends. However, the grackles and gulls were dominating the scene, thanks to people feeding them chips. But did you know that feeding these birds can lead to serious public health concerns? Too many animals in one place could increase the risk of disease transmission to humans and other wildlife. Plus, human food is not as nutritious as their natural diet, making them more susceptible to health issues. So, let’s be mindful of our feathered friends and keep them healthy and safe!

One of the highlights of this spot was witnessing the spectacular sight of Brown Pelicans, Great Egrets, and more gathered on the edge of a mangrove forest. It was a reminder of the incredible gatherings and flights that birders can witness when they are in the right place at the right time.

I decided to catch up with Don Fraser, who was counting the northern areas of Shoal Line Boulevard as Bill Pranty’s group bravely waded into the marsh, trekking through some seriously muddy areas looking for particular birds. Noting later, the mud line on Bill’s pants showed us it was one heck of a hiking challenge and a reminder to always have a sturdy stick and an extra pair of shoes and socks.

Don added more birds to his list, including a sought-after Hermit Thrush.

As I was driving to catch up with Dave, Bonnie, and Cecile, I couldn’t resist the urge to pull over at Linda Pederson and take in the breathtaking view of the salt marsh. To my pleasant surprise, I was greeted by a cluster of elegant Snowy Egrets. The sight of these magnificent birds left me in awe and filled me with a sense of calm and wonder. This is exactly why I love birding – the opportunity to witness the beauty of nature firsthand is truly priceless.

While drawn into the moment, I realized that time had flown by and I needed to hurry to catch up with the group at the next stop.

Our group was absolutely ecstatic as we set out on our pontoon boat trip to the Hernando Beach Flats with the hopes of catching a glimpse of the bird of the month – an American Flamingo! The thrill and excitement filled us as we prepared ourselves with our trusty cameras and phones, eager to capture every possible detail of this rare sighting. With several theories circulating about how this tropical bird ended up in Hernando County, we were determined to document every angle and feature of this magnificent creature.

As we made our way along the coast, the sight of Brown and White Pelicans, Anhingas, Double-crested Cormorants, Ruddy Turnstones, gulls, and a couple of Oyster Catchers provided us with great entertainment. But suddenly, someone yelled, “I see something pink in the distance.” Our eyes eagerly scanned the horizon, and there it was – an American Flamingo in the wild! It was the first time ever in Hernando County.

Captain Sara Tunder, the Community Investment Coordinator of the Freedom Boat Club, skillfully navigated the boat, allowing us to marvel at the breathtaking beauty of the majestic bird. As cheerful holiday tunes played in the background, we were all transported to a magical Florida Christmas wonderland.

The sight of this majestic bird was truly breathtaking, and we felt incredibly lucky to have witnessed such a stunning display of nature’s beauty. The memory of that moment will stay with us forever, and we are grateful for the opportunity to witness such a rare and unforgettable moment.

The Importance of Bird Counts

“It’s important because they have been doing some of these counts, like the St. Petersburg count, in the same circle for 89 years. So they have data for 89 years of the same 15-mile diameter circle of what birds have been in that circle,” explained Dave. “That data is very important. You get a lot of ideas about how bird populations are going up and down.”

“When I first moved to Florida back in the 80s… started birding here. We had burrowing owls and scrub jays within a mile of this spot right here, and now I can’t find them anywhere in the county,” Clay Black said.

For over three decades, Hernando Audubon has been meticulously collecting and analyzing data that sheds light on various critical aspects of bird populations and their habitats. This invaluable data enables researchers and environmentalists to track the rise and fall of bird populations, monitor their migration patterns, and identify the impact of natural disasters and human activities on their habitats. Additionally, this work helps us understand the locations and behaviors of common bird species during different seasons, and it plays a crucial role in conserving and protecting these beautiful creatures for generations to come.

Christmas Bird Count Results

The 33rd Aripeka-Bayport Christmas Bird Count was a great success, with a total of thirty participants who observed and documented over 130 species of birds. In total, they tallied 10,305 individual birds, which is an impressive number! Among the species, the Tree Swallows were particularly abundant, with a total of 2,000 individuals spotted.

Becoming a Birder

“I have always been a compulsive count, and I thought any large bird was an eagle,” Bonnie Morgan said. “I found my people.”

“We became real birders when we finally got two pairs of binoculars,” Cecile Yarrow said.

Learning to become a birder can be quite challenging at first. I still remember my first birding trip, where I was surrounded by experienced birders who seemed to effortlessly identify birds by their names. While I was struggling to keep up, they were calling out bird names left and right, leaving me confused and overwhelmed. And then there were those moments when someone pointed out a bird perched on a tree limb, and I found myself struggling to spot it among the many branches and leaves. While it’s enjoyable to explore and be outdoors in nature, it can be overwhelming at first. But that should not stop you from getting outside into nature.

Bird-watching can be a fulfilling experience that anyone can start, even from the solace of their own backyard. My husband’s passion for backyard birding always touches my heart when he shares stories about the drama between the mourning doves and the heartfelt conversations between the Carolina Chickadees and the Tufted Titmice. It’s amazing how much joy and comfort these little creatures can bring to our lives.

Joining a Christmas Bird Count is an unforgettable experience filled with excitement and wonder. It’s a chance to witness the beauty of different bird species and learn more about their habitats and migratory patterns.

The event brings together bird enthusiasts with a passion for data collection, making it a great opportunity to contribute to the scientific understanding of avian populations. By participating in bird counts, we can help protect our feathered friends and their environments for generations to come.

Are you interested in birding? If so, check out Hernando Audubon. They are a great organization that focuses on bird conservation and education. You can join them by visiting their website at https://www.hernandoaudubon.org/. Additionally, you can participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count in February 2024 by visiting https://www.birdcount.org/ to begin your birding adventure!

Photos from the Christmas bird count

1 of 5