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Calling all birders: Time for Christmas Bird Count

Sacramento Digs Gardening
BY Debbie Arrington PUBLISHED DEC 24, 2019


This Anna's hummingbird was photographed around Clear Lake by Vicki Miller during the 117th Annual Christmas Bird Count. (Photo courtesy audubon.org)

Tally feathered friends during 120th annual winter census

Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge … where? In Sacramento, it's more likely four mallard ducks, three Canadian geese, two American crows and a Steller's jay in an oak tree.

Carolers aren’t the only ones who count birds on Christmas Day.

It’s time for the Christmas Bird Count, an annual census of our feathered friends.

This is the 120th annual Christmas Bird Count, hosted by the Audubon Society. Fudging around the holidays, the Christmas count actually can be completed any time between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5, but each site is wrapped up in one day.

Counting is a group effort, with coordinators assigned to specific areas known to attract a lot of migrating birds. Each compiler is responsible for coordinating the count in a 15-mile circle, staffed by volunteers.

In an all-day effort, the volunteers count every bird they see along an established route in the designated circle.

California hosts 120 Christmas Bird Count locations. Anyone who would like to participate is asked to contact the coordinator directly via email. For a map with links, click here: https://gis.audubon.org/CBCExplorer/

Beginning birdwatchers are welcome. First-timers will be paired with more experienced birders.

Details and more links: https://www.audubon.org/conservation/join-christmas-bird-count#

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gardening Sacramento birds native plants holiday events Audubon Christmas bird count California natives wildlife

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Garden Checklist for week of May 5

Survey your garden after the May 4 rainstorm. Heavy rain and gusty winds can break the neck of large flowers such as roses. Also:

* Keep an eye on new transplants or seedlings; they could take a pounding from the rain.

* Watch out for powdery mildew. Warmth following moist conditions can cause this fungal disease to “bloom,” too. If you see a leaf that looks like it’s dusted with powdered sugar, snip it off.

* After the storm, start setting out tomato transplants, but wait on the peppers and eggplants (they want warmer nights). Pinch off any flowers on new transplants to make them concentrate on establishing roots instead of setting premature fruit.

* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.

* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.

* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.

* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, radishes and squash.

* Plant onion sets.

* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias. Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.

* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.

* Don’t wait; plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.

* Harvest cabbage, lettuce, peas and green onions.

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