Sunday, December 15, 7:45am-12:30pm
Meet Instituto Allende
free as part of Christmas Bird Count
Signe Hammer, (044) 415-111-7638

Audubon Birdwalk at Peña Blanca

by Signe Hammer

This month's Audubon birdwalk—on the 15th, the day after tomorrow—is a special one. Peña Blanca, a few miles past the Presa Allende dam, is one of Audubon de México's three Christmas Bird Count sites, and Sunday is our count day.

Every winter, between mid-December and early January, birders throughout the Western Hemisphere team up to count birds. This massive citizen-science project is helping scientists protect birds and the environment we share with them. So on Sunday we'll keep track, not just of what birds we find but of how many of each species.

At Peña Blanca, open farmland and a tree-lined stream provide habitat for a wide range of raptors and songbirds, from the soaring White-tailed Kite, Cooper's Hawk or Crested Caracara to tiny snowbirds like the Yellow-rumped Warbler, Lark Sparrow or Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. We'll look for a Black Phoebe foraging for insects along the stream, and colorful Blue Grosbeaks foraging for seeds in the tall grass. We're very likely to hear, before we see, some striking Golden-fronted Woodpeckers drilling tree trunks or fussing as they hustle up a branch.

The walk is open to all birders, beginning and experienced alike. Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes and bring water and a hat. We'll have our Audubon de México bird guide, Birds of San Miguel—with 81 species commonly found in the San Miguel area—for sale. Our guides carry telescopes so that everyone can see distant birds clearly, and we'll also have a few pairs of binoculars to lend.

Carpooling is essential, so if you have a car, please bring it. Plan to arrive at 7:45, as we will be forming teams to go to all three Christmas Bird Count sites (the other two are our beautiful botanical garden, El Charco del Ingenio, and a richly varied site along the Rio Laja, near the bridge at Cieneguita). We'll leave as soon after 8 as possible. You'll be back by 12:30, with new entries for your life list and new birding friends. Steady rain cancels.

For more information, visit our website.