Date: 1/20/26 4:38 pm From: Jonathan Feenstra via groups.io <feenstra...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] California Aqueduct Big Day 1/19/26
Birders in Aqueduct-containing counties:
Yesterday, was the ninth California Aqueduct Big Day in which we count the birds in and around the California Aqueduct between I-5 in the west and Hesperia in the east. It's about 100 miles of water with about 60 road crossings. Coverage has improved over the years and for many areas the Aqueduct was walked and birds between the crossings were counted.
The most numerous species using the Aqueduct this year were, and have always been, Lesser Scaup and Bufflehead, with 1509 and 2089 respecitve individuals counted. Other relatively numerous, but locally uncommon, ducks were Common Goldeneye (59) and Greater Scaup (9). Numbers are generally higher in the west of the Aqueduct, but waterfowl were distributed throughout.
New species for the count were a Neotropic Cormorant found by Ron Cyger, a Common Loon and a hybrid Ring-necked Duck x Lesser Scaup found by Narest Satyan.
Unlike last year's count, the weather was beautiful and whether it was birdy or not, it was a great day to be outside.
Thanks to Naresh Satyan, Grigory Heaton, Ron Cyger, Bernardo Alps, Steve Meyers, Brad Singer, Scott Luna, Lance Benner, Charles Hood, and Lee Pace for donating their time and getting their steps in.
If you'd like to help next year, let me know and I'll put you on my list.
