Christmas is for the birds

For 113 years, birders head out into the field from December 14 to January 5 in a specific 14-mile circle and count birds.

It's called the Christmas Bird Count (CBC).

Last Sunday, 25 hardy souls in Sisters Country rolled out of bed at the crack of dawn (many earlier than that) to participate in the annual East Cascades Audubon Society Sisters Christmas Bird Count.

According to long-time Sisters birder and CBC participant John Gerke, 81 species were counted, with a total of 4,528 individuals, and four new species: redhead duck; Sora rail; barred owl; house wren (usually here in summer)

Participants don't have to be experts to take part.

Judy Meredith from Bend, a long-time birder, was teamed up with a novice.

"I love CBCs, for me they are at the heart of winter," she said. "It brings friends together for the mutual love of the outdoors - and of course mostly birds - and also helps us to gain new friendships.

"This year, my good friend Cynthia and a new birder, Mary, were with me on the count. A new birder! To some of us older folks, that itself brings a special excitement. We may re-visit our early days of birding when things were all new and each outing was loaded with discovery and wonder. We are asked questions that cause us to think more and discuss more about birds and behaviors and so we learn more ourselves."

The event can bring real excitement.

"Of course, we had several jubilant high fives with the joy of seeing a new species with Mary, or as we birders call it, celebrating her, 'lifers,'" Meredith said.

The count reaffirms important connections with the natural world.

"While we are out there gathering information for the good of science, we were also so very aware that many birds are struggling in this world, and each new birder will consider conservation and habitat and think much more about how we are all interconnected," Meredith said.

"Finding the barred owl brought up a bittersweet note for all the birders. It was new for the Sisters CBC and that is usually something very exciting, but this one bodes more difficult times ahead in our area for our native spotted owls."

Barred owls are an aggressive competitor that drive spotted owls from their habitat.

The CBC also gives birders an opportunity to reflect on friendships and those who have gone before.

"At the compilation - the grand finale of a CBC - we gathered with a potluck," Meredith said. "This year, we all raised a toast to a birder noticeably absent from our group; our late good friend Dean Hale. Dean, a friend to all of us, was the life of the party when out birding and we miss his enthusiasm and friendship. He would want us to keep birding, especially at the CBC season. So here is to birding, friends new and old, and especially to Dean Hale and all those who are quick to help."