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Before the 20th century, hunters engaged in the Christmas "Side Hunt." During this holiday tradition, hunters would choose sides and go afield with their gun. The winner was one who would bring back the biggest pile of feathered and furred quarry.
During this era, conservation was in its beginning stages. At the same time, many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations. On Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer in the Audubon Society, proposed a "Christmas Bird Census" as a new holiday tradition. This new tradition would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them.
So began the Christmas Bird Count.
Today, from December 14 through January 5 each year tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas brave snow, wind, or rain, and take part in the effort.
The Audubon’s Society Christmas Bird Count is on its 119th year, making it the nation’s longest running community science project.
On December 15, 2018, thirty-three volunteers gathered at the Audubon Center at Debs Park to survey 282-acres of land in search of our feathered friends. No experience was required. We kicked off the morning early at 8 a.m. with coffee and pan dulce “sweet bread.” Volunteers joined groups led by experienced birders and local professionals:
-Assistant Professor of Ecology, Eric Wood from the Wood Lab of Avian Ecology and Conservation at California State University of Los Angeles
-Director and Curator of Birds and Mammals, John McCormack from the Moore Lab of Zoology at Occidental College
-Collections Manager, James Maley from the Moore Lab of Zoology at Occidental College
-Community Naturalist, Adam Levitan
-Community Natural, Pedro Ramirez
-Director of Community Conservation, John Rowden from National Audubon Society
After 4 hours of hiking and counting, we gathered to have lunch and review our results. This year, we counted fifty-two species and 1,009 individuals.
Toyon is a common plant you'll see in our Children's Woodland and our Butterfly Loop. It's a perennial shrub native to western California and the Sierra foothills. It's a prominent member of the coastal sage scrub plant community. It's known by the common names Christmas berry and California Holly because of the bright red berries it produces. The city of Hollywood was named for this plant.
With thin, lisping cries, flocks of Cedar Waxwings descend on berry-laden trees and hedges, to flutter among the branches as they feast. These birds are sociable at all seasons, and it is rare to see just one waxwing. Occasionally a line of waxwings perched on a branch will pass a berry back and forth, from bill to bill, until one of them swallows it. This species has a more southerly range than the Bohemian Waxwing, and is a familiar visitor to most parts of this continent south of the Arctic.
Habitat
Open woodlands, fruiting trees, orchards; in winter, widespread, including towns. Breeding habitat is influenced by availability of fruiting trees and shrubs, often most common in "edge" situations, as along forest edges, streamsides, overgrown fields, edges of swamps, suburban yards. In winter, may be in any wooded or semi-open area where berries are abundant.
Feeding Behavior
Except when nesting, almost always forages in flocks. May hover briefly while plucking berries or taking insects from foliage. Often flies out to catch insects in mid-air.
Eggs
3-5, rarely 2-6. Pale gray to bluish gray, finely spotted with brown and black. Incubation is probably by female only, averaging about 12-13 days. Young: Both parents feed nestlings. Young leave the nest about 14-18 days after hatching. 2 broods per year.
Young
Both parents feed nestlings. Young leave the nest about 14-18 days after hatching. 2 broods per year.
Diet
Mostly berries and insects. Majority of annual diet is berries and small fruits; feeds on very wide variety of berries, with some important sources including juniper, dogwood, and wild cherries. Also eats some flowers and will drink oozing sap. Eats many insects in summer, including beetles, caterpillars, ants. Young nestlings are fed mostly insects at first, then more berries after a few days.
Nesting
In many areas, nesting is late, not beginning until mid-summer. Only a small area is defended as territory, so birds may nest near others in small colonies. In courtship, two birds may perch close together, posturing, touching bills, and passing food items back and forth. Nest: Placed in tree, on horizontal limb or in fork, usually 6-20' above the ground but can be lower or much higher (up to 50'). Nest (built by both sexes) is a rather loosely built open cup of grass, weeds, twigs, plant fibers, lined with finer materials such as moss, rootlets, fine grass, hair.
On December 1st, the Audubon Center at Debs Park was honored to host a Community Honoring event. This event was put together by Tongva Elder and community activist, Gloria Arellanes. Ms. Arellanes has long been known for her focus on local community issues and Chicana feminism. She created this community honoring and selects the honorees based on their community service and stewarship. The honorees chosen this year all do work to empower youth and benefit the communities they live in. This is the second year that the Audubon Center at Debs Park has been chosen to host this event which presents work that community members feel deserve acknowledgement. This Community Honoring celebrated notable individuals who have performed work that positively impacted the communities they live in.
This event recognized 6 honorees who have worked within their communities for positive change. Marcos and Minnie Aguilar, co-directors of Anahuacalmecac International University Preparatory; Michelle Castillo; Anna Christensen, Co Founder and Board Member of the Protect the Long Beach/Los Cerritos Wetlands; Irene Montantes, Mother to two sons, Community Organizer and News Reporter; RobertJohn Knapp, respected community member and Elder; and our very own Center Director, Marcos Trinidad. Each honoree was introduced by a loved one. It was touching to see the honorees commitment to their communities through the eyes of those closest to them. Honorees were given the podium to speak on the importance of community and issues that are important to them. They honorees were presented with a gift basket made up of items donated by community members.
After the honoring, attendees were invited to participate in a potluck lunch. Atteendees and honorees were able to connect and discuss projects they've been working on. After the delicious potluck lunch, attendees were treated to performances by MorningStar Foundation Hummingbird Women's Drum, singer Kelly Caballero, and a dance by Anahuacalmecac Student Dance Group. It was exciting to see indigenous performers of all ages coming together to honor these 6 local community members and activists. The Audubon Center at Debs Park is honored to be invited to host this event for the second year in a row. "I think the energy and value that an event like this brings to the Center is really special. Often, we continue to work and build and provide as many opportunities to the community as possible. It's important that we pause sometimes and open up the Center to our community so they can hold an event like this and honor the important drivers of this work," said center director, Marcos Trinidad.
We send out periodic emails about programs, events, and volunteer opportunities at the Center.
Audubon Center at Debs Park is located at 4700 Griffin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90031
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