The 45th annual Palo Alto Summer Bird C ount will be on Saturday, 7 June. The count circle is the same as that used for the Palo Alto Christmas Bird Count, spanning both Santa Clara and San Mateo counties from the bayside to the Santa Cruz Mountains. (See the map of the Palo Alto Count Circle at https://scvbirdalliance.org/capa-sector-map ( https://scvbirdalliance.org/capa-sector-map ) , to better understand the territories.)
The Summer Bird Count uses the same methodology as the Christmas Bird Count, setting a single day in which volunteers count all the individual birds and species that they spot within their assigned territories. However, the Summer Bird Count consistently gets better weather! and many of the bird species are in the middle of their breeding activities. The counters will also track breeding bird behaviors such as courtship, nesting, and carrying food.
For the 2025 count, we're looking for volunteers
1) to join the count! Experienced birders are excitedly welcomed, but we can match beginning birders with a team of more skilled birders
2) to coordinate a Sector (a territory which will be covered by multiple groups of birders)
We will host a "Countdown Dinner" the evening of June 7th, where you can meet the other birders, hear about the great sightings of the day, and review the initial data coming back from the count.
Do not disclose information that identifies the location of nesting birds of any species, to minimize stress on the nesting birds and the risk of vandalism or abuse.
