Volunteers document 174 bird species in Richmond’s Christmas Bird Count
More than 150 volunteers braved early rain on December 29, 2024, to record 174 bird species during the 4th annual Golden Gate Bird Alliance Richmond Christmas Bird Count.
The Christmas Bird Count is an annual winter census of birds conducted by volunteer birdwatchers and administered by the National Audubon Society. It provides population data for use in science and conservation biology. The count, part of a national effort that has been ongoing for over a century, aims to develop long-term datasets on winter bird populations and bolster local birding activity.
The Richmond count ranks in the nation’s top 25 of 2,000 CBCs, with 159 field observers and seven feeder watchers. The 18 areas were covered by teams using foot, boat, bike, car, and golf cart. Volunteer birdwatchers counted 70,546 birds during December’s count.
Alan Krakauer photographed many species and helped lead the count in Alvarado Park and Wildcat Canyon Park. Photos/Alan Krakauer
Despite a wet start, the weather cleared by noon, allowing participants to survey the 15-mile diameter count circle, which extends from Point Isabel to Mare Island and includes a variety of habitats such as wetlands, urban parks, and reservoirs.
Local birder and photographer Alan Krakauer shared his enthusiasm for the event. Having participated in CBCs since childhood, he jumped at the chance to participate when a bird count was launched in Richmond.
“They are a tradition I look forward to every year. I’m particularly excited about the Richmond CBC. I’ve been doing other nearby Christmas counts for a number of years, but I was always a little sad that my favorite local open spaces around Richmond weren’t included in a count circle,” Krakauer said.
Krakauer helped lead the count in a territory including Alvarado Park and Wildcat Canyon Park's northwest end.
“Beyond the fun day of birding, I greatly appreciate the benefits of the CBC, from helping grow powerful decades-long datasets on winter bird populations to supporting a gateway for new birders to get interested in local birds and become connected with the local birding community.”
Krakauer said many waterfowl were higher than last year, but some woodland birds, like Band-tailed Pigeons and American Robins, were much lower. Mute Swan, Pacific Loon, Black Skimmers, and Short-eared Owls were new additions to the Richmond count.
“This section of the count circle tallied an impressive 64 species given the weather and habitat. Although we didn’t have any unique species for the day, several birds, including Rufous-crowned Sparrows, Varied Thrushes, Barn Owl and seasonally unusual Barn Swallows, were seen only in one or two other locations that day,” Krakauer said.
After the count, participants gathered at the Richmond Elks Lodge for dinner, which included a species countdown and recaps by area leaders.
Full results, including eBird checklists from the 18 survey areas, are available online: eBird Trip Report.
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