Christmas Bird Count report 

George Walter

Jill Severn | For The JOLT News

THURSTON'S BIRDS

Christmas (bird count) is coming

Several readers have asked about what the participants in the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) do. They want more specifics beyond the obvious — counting birds. 

The best way for me to respond to this inquiry is to describe how I spent the day. I count a portion of the Johnson Point area of northern Thurston County, between the Nisqually Reach and Henderson Inlet. Covering that area thoroughly would require many more counting teams and individuals than are available. So, to be practical, I cover as many representative areas as I can in one day (and in mid-December there’s not much daylight). 

The first is my neighborhood, an area of scattered large lot homes. All fall I’ve been walking around the neighborhood, so I have a good idea of what birds are nearby, and who might have an active bird feeder. Towhees and golden-crowned sparrows frequent one roadside hedgerow, and I’ve been scattering birdseeds here to encourage them to stay around for count day. My morning walk and the feeder count from one neighbor provided a good start to my day. 

A mature forest near Puget Sound.

George Walter | The JOLT News

On the Nisqually side of the Johnson Point peninsula are several inlets, fed by small streams, and some of these have retained their forest cover. In fact, they may be the closest thing to “old growth” forest that we have remaining in Thurston County. These forests remain in private ownership and are generally off-limits. But for this one-day bird count, I have permission to visit. 

A large evergreen huckleberry bush with abundant berries.

George Walter | The JOLT News

It’s an amazing habitat, with huge, towering firs and a healthy understory of bigleaf maple and evergreen huckleberries. My photos really do not do the area justice. The huckleberry bushes deserve special mention as they are kind of “old growth” as well. These bushes produce an abundance of small berries that last well into the winter, providing ongoing food for forest birds. Fox sparrows seem especially partial to wintering near these bushes. 

A fox sparrow.

Liam Hutcheson | For The JOLT News

The rest of my CBC day follows a similar pattern, wandering along forest paths and dropping by areas where in previous years I have found birds to be active. It’s surprising how much changes from one year to another. Many years I encounter flocks of pine siskins patrolling the alders and hazelnuts, but not this year. I usually find a few varied thrushes, but there were none on this count day. I wonder if the warmer-than-usual weather has delayed the migration of these species to their winter territories in the Puget Sound lowlands   

Of course, I was not the only person out counting birds; there were nearly 100 bird-watching volunteers outside in Thurston County this past Sunday.  

Not surprisingly, with all this seeking, several unexpected species were found. These included one turkey vulture (usually gone from our county be December), gray jays, swamp sparrows and a single Wilson’s warbler (a common summer breeding species but hardly ever seen in winter). The Capitol Lake whooper swan, a rare visitor seen on Capitol Lake for many days in early  
December, was not seen and had apparently left during the stormy week that preceded the CBC. 

A black phoebe with prey.

Liam Hutcheson | For The JOLT News

One unusual species on the count that caught my attention was the black phoebe. This is a fly-catching bird, common in California, that seems to be establishing a presence here in Thurston County. At least two were found on count day. This is a small black and white bird (see Liam’s photo) that likes to sit on a prominent perch, waiting for a passing insect to nab.   

Count information is still coming in to the count compiler, but so far it seems the total number of species will exceed the usual number of about 124. That is what I find most delightful about each year’s Christmas Bird Count — reaffirming that there are 125+ bird species spending the winter right here in Thurston County.  

Although they share our long, dark nights and cold, rainy, days they never complain — they’re too seeking their “daily bread” while constantly watching to avoid predators who are also on that same daily mission.      

How many species have you seen or heard this winter? Making such a list for yourself might be a way to help get through the winter doldrums. If you observed that rare-to-us whooper swan, you already have a good start in developing that list. 

George Walter is environmental program manager at the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s natural resources department; he also has a 45+ year interest in bird watching. He may be reached at george@theJOLTnews.com 

Photos for this column are provided by Liam Hutcheson, an 18-year-old Olympia area birder and avid photographer.