 |
 |
 |
|
| Birders flock to count feathered friends at Bear Creek Regional Park | |||
| Saturday, December 17, 2011 15:51 |
|
Starlings, junkos, American robins, a brown creeper, American goldfinches, northern flickers, woodpeckers and a red crossbill were among those chilling in the park. Even a flock of apparent Canada geese were checked, since other kinds of geese sometimes join the groups. Peering through binoculars and carrying bird identification books, nearly two dozen volunteers split into small groups and spent hours Saturday counting everything with feathers in the massive park. At times they emulated bird calls, or made another bird-friendly noise to tease them into the open. “It gets you outside, that’s the best part,” said Steve Getty, 49. “There’s always an identification challenge or a bird surprise around the bend.” The event was part of the annual Christmas Bird Count organized by the National Audubon Society, which started Wednesday and ends Jan. 5. This is the 112th year for the count. Audubon and other organizations use the census to assess the health of bird populations and guide conservation efforts. Most wildland areas in the region hold several bird counts each year, including Fountain Creek Regional Park. Getty said counting in the same areas year to year and season to season allows communities to track changes. Bear Creek Regional Park is within the Colorado Springs count region, about 177 square miles, said Ken Pals of El Paso County Parks, who led the count on Saturday. Many birds in the Pikes Peak region tolerate the cold, he said. Others migrate to better feeding grounds. The American robins seen year-round aren’t necessarily the same birds, Pals said. The robins here now might be birds from farther north, he said, while some robins here during warmer months might have gone south. It’s not just seeing something feathered, he said. Veteran birders also rely on songs and other noise to identify birds. The way they fly offers additional clues, he said. Of course, bird counts aren’t an exact science. “Usually we underestimate the number of birds,” said Pals, 57. Sightings of rare birds, either in the wrong season or in the wrong habitat need to be documented with photos or recorded calls. “There’s a lot more diversity to these things than I thought,” said Bob Goycoolea, 57. He said he got into birding after spotting a red house finch at a feeder. He said that after the first year or so of bird watching he tossed out all his identifications because he realized that half of what he thought he saw, he really didn’t spot. Technology may simplify the hobby for some. Pals’ had a program on his iPod Touch that includes photos, details and recordings of bird songs. He’s seen 83 species of birds in his backyard near Rock Ledge Ranch, he said. That tally includes a northern cardinal whose habitat is generally farther north. A wide range of ages volunteered for the Christmas count, and several birders said it’s a hobby that can be done year-round and anywhere. “I lack talent but I have enthusiasm in spades,” said Linda Hodges, 58, adding that she learns more every year.
A class for beginning birders will be held at Bear Creek in the spring. Contact Ken Pals for more information at the nature center, 520-6387. A winter count is scheduled at Fountain Creek Regional Park on Jan. 14. Spring and fall counts are also planned, as are other bird-related events. For more information, visit www.elpasocountyparks.com and click on Fountain Creek Nature Center or call 520-6745.
— |
