Christmas Bird Count

The 2011 Morro Bay Christmas Bird Count will be on Saturday, December 17, dawn to dusk, rain or shine!

The 2011 Carrizo Plain Christmas Bird Count will be Saturday, December 31, 2011. For more information, click HERE.

The Morro Bay Christmas Bird Count area is a circle 15 miles in diameter, centered at Turri Road and Los Osos Valley Road. Only species and numbers of birds seen within this area may be counted. The results of over 1000 counts in North America are compiled by the National Audubon Society and used to ascertain the annual distribution and fluctuation in numbers of North American birds. Our success in the national ranking has been the result of having many people in the field sighting birds.

Directions:

Step 1-Access the main map area by clicking here. This will take you to an image map where you can click on any section in the count circle to view a description and a small map of that section.

Dec 4, 2011 . Unfilled Sections--26, 43

New! Try the Google Earth count circle map HERE

Step 2 - While on the section page, you may click on the link available to view that section's map fullscreen. You can use your mouse or the map features to scroll the map larger and smaller, and to reposition the map.

Step 3 - Register either online or by mail

Click here to register online.

To register by mail, download a form in either:
     PDF format or   Word format
and mail to the address on the form.

Step 4 -If registering online, download and print the following documents to take with you on count day

2011 Target Birds Species to watch for on count day. Updated 14 Dec

Christmas Count Bird Checklist
Suggestion: Print page one of checklist, turn the paper over and print page 2 for the trifold checklist.

Rare Bird Report Form This form is needed for any bird not on the checklist, and birds marked on the checklist with an asterisk.

YOUR REGISTRATION IS REQUESTED BY NOVEMBER 27th to properly organize Sector groups for thorough coverage of the entire area. In early December you will receive a Bird Count packet and your Sector Leader will contact you.

Compiler: Tom Edell (805) 995-1691
Count Coordinators: Bert and Elaine Townsend 543-1373 ( Please call before 8 p.m. if possible.)
E-mail: Bert Townsend

Compilation Dinner: 6:00 PM, San Luis Obispo Botanic Garden Community Center.

DIRECTIONS: Enter El Chorro Regional Park off Highway 1, across from Cuesta College, drive past the entrance kiosk, the softball fields, the Botanic Garden and look for the building on the right. Parking is to the left of the road.

Thank you, Audubon members everywhere. Please realize that you are part of a team. We seek specific data on the diversity and population of the birds in our count area. Your efforts are being directed by a group that is responsible for the consistency and quality of the data produced. If there is an area that you would like to explore and have not been assigned it for the CBC, please plan on birding there after the survey is finished. We count on your utmost attention on all you hear and see during the survey in the area you have been assigned.

Again, thank you. We have had a tremendous response this year. Good luck, team!

Results of the Morro Bay and Carrizo Plain Christmas Bird Counts HERE.