Christmas Bird Count Day Dawns Bright and Cold

Plumbeous Vireo Copyright 2000 Scott StreitFourteen people showed up at Hansen Dam in clear, 35-degree weather, separated into 4 counting teams and went out to count species and individuals in the 2.5-3.0 square mile area in and around the dam. 92 species were recorded in the area, somewhat less than the expected number, but more than recorded there last year. Highlights included a Plumbeous Vireo, four Red-breasted Sapsuckers, 4 Rock Wrens, 21 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, one Osprey and one Merlin.

For more about the count and photographs, see the Daily News article that appeared in the Sunday, December 28, 2008 edition.