BVAS Special Events & Projects

December, 2024 Oceanside Christmas Bird Count results and highlights are below:

The 2024 Oceanside Christmas Bird Count, held on December 29, was a success this year thanks to the 140 participants who generously volunteered their time. Early on, birders were hindered in their efforts to find birds by thick morning fog. Despite the challenges, this year’s CBC species total reached 186 species, which included some rare bird sightings. A Dusky-capped Flycatcher was discovered in a business park in Carlsbad. This was the only record for this species in San Diego County in 2024. Other rarities included an American Redstart found at Buccaneer Park in Oceanside, a Vaux’s Swift spotted in Camp Pendleton, and a returning Solitary Sandpiper at Whelan Lake for its second year. In Carlsbad, CBC teams found a Palm Warbler, a Hermit Warbler, and a Yellow-headed Blackbird.

Other interesting finds were Cackling Geese at Guajome Lake and Libby Lake, a Ruddy Turnstone in Camp Pendleton, Greater Scaup and Yellow-crowned Night Heron at Batiquitos Lagoon, and a Western Flycatcher in Vista. At Camp Pendleton, teams found several rarities, including Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cactus Wren, and Purple Finch. White-throated Sparrows were reported in both Carlsbad and Oceanside. In South Carlsbad, one birder found a Hooded Oriole, which may have decided that North County was a preferable wintering spot.

Warbler sightings included Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, and Wilson’s Warbler in several locations around Oceanside and Carlsbad. At Buddy Todd Park, participants located a Summer Tanager and a Western Tanager.

Buena Vista Audubon Society hosted the event once again, with Nature Center Manager Annette Schneider and team serving up a delicious lunch for the participants. Paul Lehman skillfully ran the compilation of species seen that day and shared his expertise of the status and distribution of notable species. Joni Ciarletta and Jane Mygatt meticulously reviewed and entered data for the CBC website. A team effort to be sure!

Sincere thanks also to Paul Lehman for conducting the compilation meeting and for Patti Langen for leading the Oceanside Christmas Bird Count.

The CBC takes place during the winter holiday season every year.  An annual even organized by the National Audubon Society (NAS), Buena Vista Audubon (BVAS) has been sponsoring the local CBC since the 1950s.

The Christmas Bird Count began in 1900 as an alternative to a holiday hunting contest.  Conservation was in its beginning stages, and there was concern about declining bird populations.  Members of the Audubon Society began a new holiday tradition, a "Christmas Bird Census," that would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them.  Currently, there are over 2,500 individual CBCs conducted worldwide.

This "Community Science" has been vital over the years, with the data collected by observers allowing researchers, biologists, and wildlife agencies to study the long-term health of bird populations across North America. This helps create strategies to protect birds and their habitats, and helps identify key environmental issues and impacts, such as climate change.