2024 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

By Dave Erikson – Kachemak Bay Birders

Once again, it’s time to start planning for the annual Homer Christmas Bird Count (CBC), which will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024. December 21st

Count Circle: The area used for the Homer CBC is a 15-mile diameter circle centered at the base of the Homer Spit. The eastern boundary is near Fritz Creek on East End Road and the western boundary is near Virginia Avenue on the Sterling. Southern boundary is in offshore Kachemak Bay. The northern boundary is in the roadless area of Anchor River Drainage.

Count Day: Count Day will start with a pre-count meeting at 8:30 AM at the USFWS Maritime National Wildlife Headquarters (formerly Islands and Ocean (I&O) Visitor Center). Hot drinks, such as coffee, tea and hot chocolate will be available along with and breakfast snacks. Following a short meeting, count area teams will head out to the respective count areas at about 9:00 AM. Teams will methodically survey their areas and count all bird species seen or heard and numbers of individuals until 4:30 PM. Owling can also occur during the hours of darkness on count day. Following the cutoff period for daylight counting, all volunteers will meet back at the Headquarters to discuss the results of the count and tally the number of species observed.

Count Week: Three days before and three days after the count day (December 11-13 and 15 -17) is referred to as Count Week. Any bird species (no numbers) seen or heard by count participants within the Count Circle area during these time periods needs to be recorded and reported to the compiler as count week species.

Count Area Teams: Prior to the count, a list of field team leaders for each area will be posted on the KBB website with contact information so interested team members can contact them directly. Count Area maps, Homer CBC checklists field form and the CBC Rare Bird Form will also be posted on the KBB website. If counters observe a species that is not on the Homer CBC Checklist, a Rare Bird Form should fill out. Rare Bird Forms and the 2024 Homer CBC Checklist Field Forms are available on the KBB website.

Count Data: All count data should be recorded either on an eBird Checklist and shared with the compiler, Dave Erikson (eBird user ID: Derikson48a) or by hand on our regular Homer CBC checklist field form, scanned and emailed to the compiler, Dave Er ikson (derikson@alaska.net; 907 441-7931).

Feeder Watchers: On Count Day, feeder watchers should record the species of bird, maximum numbers of each species at the feeder at a specific time, and the amount of time spent observing the feeder. Results should be submitted to the Feeder Watcher Coordinator, (Kathy Eagle; katheagle@gmail.com; 907 232-3789).

Winter Bird ID Class: A Winter Bird ID class will be given on Thursday, December 12, 2024 from 5:30 to 7:00 at the Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters. The class will go over field marks and basic plumages of common birds which can be found in the Homer area in winter. There is no charge for the class.

We have been very fortunate to have many dedicated birders in Homer who have repeatedly volunteered their time and resources to make the Homer CBC a success over the past 50 years and I’m confident, with everyone’s help, we can get a good count again this year.

Thank you for your continuing support.

Dave Erikson, Homer CBC Compiler

• Steller’s Jay
• Black-capped Chickadee
• American Robin
• Northern Shrike
• Black-billed Magpie
• Red-breasted Nuthatch.