Bird Walks

The 2020 Eugene Christmas Bird Count (ECBC) will happen, but it will be different! Our 79^th Count will occur on Sunday, January 3, 2021.

Because of COVID-19, only experienced bird enthusiasts are invited to take part in the Cottage Grove CBC on Saturday, January 2, 2021. Social distancing and masking are required

Unlike many traditional activities this year, the 2020 Eugene Christmas Bird Count (ECBC) will happen! It is set for Sunday, January 3, 2021, our normal date during the three-week Count Period. National Audubon Society (NAS) issued guidelines during the last week of September for conducting this year’s unusual Christmas Bird Count, and we will abide by them.

Although the regular walks are on a COVID-19 hiatus, we continue to lead small walks with some restrictions in place in order to adhere to local safety guidelines. Attendance is capped at 10 birders. Folks wishing to join a walk can email Bex at rebecca.waterman@gmail.com. All participants must wear a mask for the entirety of the walk and maintain the recommended 6-foot distance from each other.

Lane County Audubon Society will host two of its annual fall swift events outside Agate Hall at sunset on consecutive Fridays, September 4th and 11th.

We will spread out to maintain social-distancing, so please be careful of your and other’s safety! Vaux’s Swifts use the chimney to roost for the night as they gather prior to migration. We may see thousands of birds entering the chimney, but there is no guarantee!

It is fun to observe the swifts before they fly off to Central and South America for the winter. Look for the LCAS banner at the south parking lot of Agate Hall near 18th and Agate Street. Stop by and enjoy this annual natural phenomenon.

Saturday July 18 Canoe/kayak birding trip to Fern Ridge Lake is canceled due to LOW water levels at Fern Ridge Reservoir.

In May, a small group of birders met for a Saturday Bird Walk, the first since February. We will continue to hold small walks, with some restrictions in place in order to adhere to local guidelines. (At this writing, the June walk had not yet taken place.) We will keep attendance very small—no more than 10 birders, and will not be announcing the location publicly.

Birding in the Time of Corona

Many of us look forward to our monthly walks for a multitude of reasons. Personally, I enjoy the social aspect of gathering with other birders. I do quite a bit of solo birding, but I always look forward to every 3rd Saturday of the month, knowing I will be with like-minded folks for a few hours, finding mutual enjoyment in the natural world around us. Unfortunately, the March and April walks have been canceled, with only uncertainty as to when we will be able to safely congregate around our scopes and field guides again. 

I have kept a yard list for years, but I had never done a Big Day from home. For those unfamiliar with the concept of a Big Day, the goal is simply to identify as many species as possible. Folks who are able and willing spend a whole day, beginning before dawn in hopes of finding owls, to well after dusk, traveling from hotspot to hotspot keeping a list along the way. In the past, LCAS birders have recorded over 150 species on Global Big Day! 

An Instagram friend of mine suggested folks participate in a Backyard Big Day on April 1st. Photos can be seen by searching #BACKYARDBIGDAY.  With little else to occupy my time, I happily joined in. With typical April Oregon weather­—chilly and rainy—my count did not reach above 20. But limiting my attention to just the birds in my yard gave me the opportunity to really focus on behavior, plumage, and different calls. My feeder (see page 7) was full of finches all day, with the House and American Goldfinches seeming to take turns. A pair of Scrub-Jays spent most of the day sorting through sticks and flying off with their preferred branches, presumably for a nest nearby. It was a lovely day spent with no TV or podcasts to distract me. I just may make this the start of a Big Quarantine list.

Gerry Meenaghn will lead the April walk, exploring the LCC campus and adjacent areas. Details will be posted on the LCAS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LaneAudubon/, and on the website: laneaudubon.org.

All ages and skill levels are welcome. Bring binoculars, if you have them. To carpool, meet at 8 a.m. at the South Eugene High School parking lot, corner of 19th and Patterson. We plan to return by noon. Remember that it’s not a good idea to leave valuables or your vehicle registration in your car if you leave it at the lot. A $3 donation is appreciated to help support Lane County Audubon’s activities.

FMI: Rebecca Waterman at fieldtrips@laneaudubon.org.com, or 541.653.3354