Looking for birds in all the wrong places?*
Would you go if I invited you on an all-day birding trip on an industrial waterfront in a major city at one of the darkest, rainiest times of year? Would we see any birds?
On December 31, 2011, five intrepid birders joined me for this very trip. It was Seattle Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count. Our route took us on a two-mile stretch of Seattle’s heavily-developed Shilshole Bay, from Golden Gardens Park to the Ballard Locks and Fisherman’s Wharf. We tallied 67 species of birds; 18 California Sea Lions and one River Otter. Among our less common findings were: Orange-crowned and Townsend’s Warbler; Thayer’s and Herring Gull; Common Murre, Harlequin Duck and a Pacific Loon.
In fairness, there were extenuating circumstances that led to this relatively high count. First, I was accompanied by five competent birders, two of them armed with spotting scopes. Secondly, since this was the Christmas Bird count, we worked hard to count every species and bird. Third, we had incredibly good weather for this time of year: clear, calm, dry, sunny and up to 50 degrees.
Another factor was at play too: habitat. Although most of our route consisted of marinas, shipyards, restaurants, railroads and condos, the majority of birds and wildlife were seen at Golden Gardens Park. This park features native vegetation planting strips and two shallow ponds lined by riparian (waterside) vegetation that are packed with wintering waterfowl, especially Mallards, Wigeons, Buffleheads and Northern Shovelers. The upper portion of the park is a wooded hillside with tall evergreens and snags that provide habitat for Bald Eagles, other raptors and woodpeckers.
As I’ve noticed before on Christmas counts in Seattle, Tacoma, Walla Walla, Marysville and other urban locations, habitat is absolutely the key to bird abundance and diversity. There is a stark contrast between park and green space areas with high bird activity, and less-vegetated neighborhoods nearby that host a handful of species, like American Crows, House Sparrows, House Finches and European Starling.
Fortunately, many cities have been improving their urban landscapes of late to become greener and more diverse. Seattle is among them, with its Green Seattle Partnership program, and numerous other public and private restoration efforts. Since most of us live in cities, green spaces are absolutely vital. They literally help us breathe easier by providing oxygen, and as many studies have shown, they relieve stress. And they provide homes for birds and wildlife, which in turn enrich our lives. If you would like to go on an urban or rural birding adventure, contact me via my website at http://www.conservationcatalyst.com and we can arrange a custom tour.
book recommendation: City Birding, True Tales of Birds and Birdwatching in Unexpected Places – edited by Mark Allison.
* Even here we found Double-crested Cormorants, Buffleheads, Barrow’s and Common Goldeneyes, & Kingfishers.
