This year’s Great Backyard Bird Count 4 Kids was a great success, with 38 species counted by 28 young birders (mostly between the ages of 7-12) across this two-day event. To be counted, a bird had to be seen by two kids and confirmed by one adult bird leader. We started each day with a presentation on the importance of and reasons for counting birds and explored animated bird abundance maps that can be found on eBird under the Science tab. After counting, everyone returned to the starting location to eat lunch, report their findings, and listen to kid-led presentations from each team about what they saw. We are happy to report that the weather was beautiful both days, birds were very active, and overall it was a fun Valentine’s Day weekend (complete with pink sprinkled heart shaped cookies to mark the occasion).
On Saturday (February 14th), the count kicked off at Effie Yeaw Nature Center, with 21 total participants (kids and their parents) and 12 volunteers and staff. Everyone was split into four teams, and each group came up with their own team name. Saturday’s teams included The Scrub Jays, Love Birds, Eagle Eyes, and The 4 Birdateers. Highlights for the day included many deer seen by all groups, a high-flying osprey, a low swooping Red-shouldered Hawk, and a shouting match between an Acorn Woodpecker and a Bewick’s Wren. After the presentations, Palomacy gave a presentation about pigeons, and everyone had the opportunity to pet a pigeon and see one of their live birds up close.
The count moved to the Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park on Sunday (February 15th), where 28 participants (kids and their parents) and 9 volunteers and staff counted every bird that could be found by the kids. The four teams were named Super Great Blue Herons, Red-tailed Seekers, The Bird Seers, and the Red-tailed Hawks. Highlights recorded by the teams included a Rufous-crowned Sparrow, a pair of bushtits building a nest, 10 old nests found by one team, and a guided tour of the Powerhouse at the end of the day.
This event is a joint effort between State Parks, Effie Yeaw Nature Center, and Sacramento Audubon. Thank you Sacramento Audubon for providing the food and hospitality each day, also Effie Yeaw Nature Center and Folsom Powerhouse SHP for providing the meeting and birding spaces, and last but not least thank you to all the volunteers who make this event possible.
Great Backyard Kids Count at Folsom Powerhouse SHP, photo by Nicole Barden