Date: 11/8/24 7:34 pm From: Joel Geier <clearwater...> Subject: Hart Mountain CBC canceled, but Sheldon CBC still happening on Dec 20th
Hi folks,
Looks like most of the Hart Mountain CBC circle is still going to be closed to all but "mission-critical" research access through the end of the year, in the aftermath of the Warner Peak Fire. Besides potential safety issues, a major concern is vehicles bringing weed seeds into the burn scar. Kim Haab did her best to advocate for the count as a way to get data on avian response to fire impacts, but this doesn't rise to the "mission-critical" level.
This means we'd basically be limited to the part of the circle down in the Warner Valley. Much of that, except for the Warner Valley Wetlands, is private ranch land where we'd only be able to bird from the county roads. So this really wouldn't be a representative count.
Given that situation, I think it makes best sense to cancel this count, rather than have volunteers driving long distances in who-knows-what winter conditions just to cover a small portion of the usual habitat.
Happy to say, there are no such problems at Sheldon NWR, so we'll still plan on running that count on Friday, December 20th.
As usual, the USFWS is kindly making free lodging available to volunteers in the Thousand Creek bunkhouse. If you'd like to help on that count, please contact me. Space in the main bunkhouse is somewhat limited (5 rooms that sleep 2 apiece, plus a cot in the back of the office), but there are a couple more rooms in a mobile home.
For hardy souls, camping out in the Virgin Valley Campground could also be an option. It could be cold (down to -5 F in some recent years) but you can always warm up in the WPA-era shower house, where hot water piped from the hot springs are running 24/7.
If you're driving up from the Reno area, you might consider helping on the Winnemucca CBC on Thursday, December 19th. That count usually wraps up by early afternoon, so there would be plenty of time to drive the 120 miles or so up to the bunkhouse at Sheldon, and still get there before dark.
If you're interested in helping on the Winnemucca CBC, please contact Shannon Finnerty <sfinnerty...> or Kylie Donch <kdonch...>.
-- Joel Geier 38566 Hwy 99W Corvallis OR 97330-9320 tel +1 541 745-5821 (home office land line) cell +1 541 760-1771 (only carried when I'm in field situations, otherwise no guarantee I'll pay attention) <clearwater...>
