124th Annual SB Audubon Christmas Bird Count Dedicated to Joan Lentz

The annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC), an event beloved by birders – and a crucially needed data set needed to assess our environmental status – is done here in Santa Barbara County by an all-volunteer team consisting of SBC Audubon Society members, and many who come to volunteer just for this important event. The 2024 count marks the 124th data collection by this team. All the data they amass is part of the national data base for the Christmas Bird Count, and the data is shared globally with universities and research organizations.

As many may recall, Montecito’s beloved birder Joan Lentz helmed the annual bird count for years, authoring many books and giving many lectures to help people interested in California birds. Lentz passed away last summer. 

The co-head of the CBC, Libby Patten, shares, “We dedicate the 124th Christmas Bird Count in Santa Barbara to Joan Lentz, who passed away last summer. She was a lifelong birder, beloved birding teacher and author, and former Head CBC Compiler whose leadership and inclusiveness lead to a dramatic increase in the size of the Santa Barbara CBC. We also want to thank Rebecca Coulter who stepped down as Head CBC Compiler a year ago after many years of inspiring leadership of this CBC.” 

The 2024 CBC count took place on December 30, 2023 (as is protocol for the timeline of data collection). Given the El Niño weather pattern, there was uncertainty about how accurate the bird count would be with birds sheltering from the storms, high winds at sea influencing the sea bird count, and our dear volunteers battling the odds. Patten stated in my interview with her:

“This year, the CBC species count (at approximately 195) was quite respectable considering how rough seas prevented our boat from launching, and steady rain overnight inhibited the owling efforts. We found a large diversity of oriole and warbler species as well as a higher number of montane species including Red Crossbill. We look forward to analyzing the detailed numbers of each species to obtain a pulse on how each species is faring. Many observers have noted reduced numbers of sparrows and other birds, but it’s unclear what this indicates about the overall health of these populations.”

The team leaders this year were CBC co-head Liz Muraoka in charge of North Goleta and Montecito area; Libby Patten in charge of North and South Santa Barbara area; Mark Holmgren as themountain area coordinator; Conor McMahon and Linus Blomqvist, leading teams in South Goleta; and Glenn Kincaid continuing asmaster compiler of species lists and mapping. 

For reference, the actual area counted in SB/Montecito covers a 15-mile diameter count circle, centered at Hwy 154 and Foothill Road, Santa Barbara. Approximate count circle boundaries are: San Ysidro Rd on the east, Paradise Road on the north, Coronado Road on the west, and five miles off the shoreline to the south. The count thus includes sea birding aboard a boat, as well as night birding with volunteers trained in each type of area.

Initial findings yielded a total 195 species of birds (pending a month’s verification procedure). The amazing and unique birds noted were: 

Owls: Spotted, Northern Saw-Whet, Western Screech, Barn, and Great Horned

Warblers: Chestnut-sided, MacGillivray’s, Black-and-White, Hermit, Lucy’s, Nashville, Black-throated Gray, Wilson’s, and a Yellow Warbler

Orioles: Bullock’s, Orchard, Hooded, Baltimore and Scott’s Oriole

Missing in the count this year were the sea birds (Pelagic) as the wind-tossed oceans were unsafe for launch of the bird-counting boat. Our famous Warbling Vireo was missing in action on “count day” but noted during the count week, thus marking its 11th winter in our area. Other missed birds were the Burrowing Owl, White-tailed Kite, and the Red-faced and Tennessee Warblers.

There were over 125 volunteers collecting the data on land and in the mountains, four doing the night shift, three counting sea birds from shorelines, and 20 came in from out of town to help with the count.

We reached out also to Board President SB Audubon Society Janice Levasheff for her comments and resources on birds for our readers: 

“The CBC brings many people together to collect important long-term local avifauna data, crucial for scientists studying birds and their life cycles, from migration to the effects of global climate change. Why study birds? They help balance the ecosystem. They provide us joy through their beauty and song. Observing them is a great, healthy activity. So, birds help us – what are some ways that we help them? Maintain clean feeders and birdbaths. Use native plants in your gardens, enjoy your dog walks on-leash, avoid the use of rodenticides, pesticides, and single-use items, and help maintain our area’s richly diverse habitats that support birds.”

Levasheff invites all kids (eight to 16 years old) to join theWinter Bird Count for Kids on January 20. For anyone interested in joining the SB Audubon Society, please see the 411.

MJ thanks the entire CBC team for their continued dedication and fearlessness in their annual collection of the pertinent data, regardless of the time of day (the count is a 24-hour detail), and the weather. 

411: www.santabarbaraaudubon.org