The Bates Hole Christmas Bird Count will be on Friday, January 1, 2016.  We will meet at 7:30 AM at Charlie Scott’s house on the Two-Bar Ranch.  This is a great opportunity to start the new year off right with a great list.  Also, while those staying home in Casper will have to suffer with the wind, Bates Hole is usually calm and very beautiful.  Come join us.  Call Charlie Scott at 473-2512 or Stacey Scott at 262-0055 for more details.

 

THE 115^TH CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

Birders will be amassing from December 14, 2014 to January 5, 2015 to count as many birds as possible. Below are count dates around Wyoming including our 2 local counts.

DECEMBER 14, 2014 CBC’s

Green River – Participants will meet at the McDonald’s on Uinta Drive (just north of the river bridge) at 7:00 a.m. to assign count areas, then back at McDonald’s around lunchtime, and finally at Fred and Fern Linton’s home afterwards for the count tally and spaghetti feast. If you are interested in participating, please contact me via email or cellphone at 208-380-5802. Thanks & happy birding! (Submitted by Dave Mead)

Evanston WY/UT – Those interested should meet 7:30 am at the Hornet’s Nest Gas Station, 8 miles north of Evanston on Rt. 89. The Evanston circle holds the all-time record count for Greater Sage-Grouse, 698 in 1986.

For more details contact Tim Gorman at 307-789-3833 or 307-679-0656.

Albany County – hosted by the Laramie Audubon Society. If you would like to participate, meet at Coal Creek Coffee (110 E. Grand) at 7:30 am on the day of the count to get data  forms and team assignments. We will reconvene at The Grounds Internet and Coffee Lounge (171 N. 3rd St.) from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm to drop off morning reports and regroup for those continuing in the afternoon. Feeder watchers are also welcome. We will end the day with a chili supper where results will be compiled. Contact me for more information or if you would like to be assigned a route early (307.286.1972 or wolfhowlin@gmail.com).  Shay Howlin – Laramie

Dubois – Please contact Anna Moscicki at amoscick@dteworld.com or 307-455-2904 to participate. (Submitted by Eva Crane)

DECEMBER 20, 2014 CBC’s

Kane – Sponsored by Meadowlark Audubon Society of the Big Horn Basin.

Meet at the Big Horn Canyon National Recreation Area Visitor’s Center in Lovell at 7 a.m. At sunrise the teams will cover their routes and regroup at 4 p.m. for a chili dinner and compilation. Please drive a 4-wheel drive vehicle if possible. Bring binoculars, bird books, spotting scope, CAMERA, lunch, side dish for dinner, warm clothing & footwear, hat & gloves, and plenty of water and/or warm drinks.

The Kane Count Circle is centered around the old town of Kane and includes a good portion of the Yellowtail Habitat. Since the pheasant season is still open, wearing hunter orange is a good idea for your own safety. Everyone welcome – no expertise required so bring a friend! We thank the National Park Service for being our host. Contact Neil and Jennifer Miller @ 568-9346 or by email njmiller@tctwest.net for more info. (Info. submitted by Joyce Cicco – jcicco00@tritel.net)

Lander – Come join us. Del Nelson–332-5102

Casper – Planning meeting will be Dec. 18 at 7:00 PM at the Tate Museum.  On the day of the count, meet at King’s Corner – 112 S. Beech – at 7:00 AM. Meet back at King’s Corner at 5:30 PM for a pot luck supper and compiling of count.  Feeder watchers WANTED!  Count the largest number seen at one time.  Also, counters do not have to spend all day watching their feeders, even just one time on the day would be enough.  Send in count tally to Bruce Walgren at bruce_walgren@bresnan.net or 234-7455.

DECEMBER 27, 2014 CBC’s

Guernsey – Fort Laramie – Jane Dorn, compiler for the Guernsey – Fort Laramie Christmas Bird Count has set as the date.

If you are interested in carpooling from Cheyenne, please contact me, Barb Gorges, 634-0463, bgorges4@msn.com.

Please let Jane know if you plan to participate, 307-640-4002, linglebird@yahoo.com.

Start at 8 a.m. at the Fort Laramie Post Office, second meeting point at the entrance to Guernsey State Park at 9:30 a.m. I assume any from Cheyenne will car pool. Bring lunch and drinks. I will plan a tally party, chili supper at my house starting around 5 p.m. That should put everyone on the road no later than 6:30 or 7:00. We’ll see whether we owl or not, will mostly depend on the weather and interest of others.

Cody – Backup date in case of blizzard – Jan. 3, 2015.

If you would like to join the Cody CBC, call Joyce Cicco at 307-527-5030, or email jcicco00@tritel.net. The Cody routes are assigned prior to the count and participants receive route maps, bird checklists, and other information about the count in the mail. It is then up to those covering each route to meet up and cover their territory. At 6:00 p.m. we will gather at the Christ Episcopal Church, 825 Simpson Avenue in Cody, to tally the results of the count and then enjoy a pot-luck supper. Soup and beverages will be provided. Please bring a dish of your choice to share.

All levels of birders are welcome and we’ll try to pair experienced birders with those with less experience. Since the count will be after Christmas this year, perhaps Santa will have left you a new pair of binoculars or a new scope.

National Audubon is no longer charging a fee to participate in the count, but a small donation will be appreciated to help cover the expense of copying, mailing, food, and a donation to the church for use of the meeting room.

Riverton – We’ll meet at the new McDonald’s on North Federal Street at 7:15 for breakfast and grouping and leave for our city routes at 8:00, meet again at 11:30 for lunch and then head out for the rural areas. Everyone welcome! Bring warm clothing and binoculars, cameras are encouraged. For further information call 307-856-6690. (Submitted by Wayne & Wanda

DECEMBER 28, 2014 CBC’s

Pinedale – If you are in the area feel free to join us, we can always use more birders! I like to have routes given out prior to the day thus give me a call at 307-367-7018 for more details. We have a chili pot luck dinner at the Pinedale library starting at 5:30 PM that day. Dress warm!  Elizabeth Boehm

Sundance – 7:30a.m., leave for count routes 8am. Meet West end Conoco Rapid Stop. All welcome. More information contact Jen or Jean Adams – jgwindsong@rangeweb.net, or 290-0457, 283-3279, or 283-2467.

JANUARY 1, 2015 CBC’s

Bates Hole – This count is a mostly rural count, which provides a different suite of birds than you would with a town for the base of the circle.  Also, the wind rarely blows in the middle of Bates Hole, so we frequently are birding in dead calm while Casper has it’s normal wind and blowing snow.  So for a break from the wind, start the New Year off right with lots of neat birds.  Some of us will start with owling along the creeks and river.  Meet at Charlie Scott’s at 7:30 AM.  For more details, call Charlie Scott at 473-2512 or Stacey Scott at 262-0055.

JANUARY 3, 2015 CBC’s

Teton Valley ID/WY (west side of the Teton Range) – The day (Jan. 2, 2015) before I will be giving a winter bird ID refresher at the Teton Regional Land Trust Office in Driggs, ID at 2pm.

We will meet after 5pm on January 3 at the Land Trust Office for a potluck and compilation.

CASPER’S CBC INFO:  The Christmas Bird Pre-count organizational meeting will be held in the Pronghorn Room at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department office at 3030 Energy Lane on December 12, 2013 from 7 PM to 8:30 PM.  Anyone interested in participating in the Christmas Bird Count on December 14, 2013 (contacts for more CBC info. are Chris Michelson—234-8726 or Stacy Scott—262-0055) is encouraged to come to this planning meeting. We will discuss the area (s) to be covered, what birds we may see on the count, and other aspects of the Christmas Bird Count.  Energy Lane is located just off of Highway 220 / CY Avenue west of the west side Walmart.  There are brown information signs indicating the Wyoming Game and Fish office turn-off, and the Silverfox Steakhouse (Armor’s) is right at the corner of Energy Lane and Hwy 220 (watch for the sign).  Energy Lane winds a bit, but stay on it to the bottom of the hill where it dead ends at the Wyo Game and Fish office.  There is also a sign at the gateway to the Game and Fish property.  We will be using the entrance on the west side of the building; look for the sign on the lawn indicating Handicap Access and Meeting rooms.

Gathering meeting on the morning of the count will be at King’s Corner (112 S. Beech—on the corner of 1st Street and S. Beech Street) from 7:30-9AM. Potluck and compiling of count will, also, be at King’s Corner at 5:30.

Help is needed to set up tables and chairs before the  potluck, put away tables & chairs following the meal and clean-up of kitchen area. Please bring your own table ware. Ovens and/or microwaves are available. If an oven is needed, please let Rose-Mary (262-4861) know as it takes awhile to warm up the ovens.

Bates Hole CBC Info: January 1, 2014.  Meet at 7:30AM at Charlie Scott’s house (13900 State Highway 487).  Call Charlie at 473-2512 or Stacey Scott at 262-0055 for more details.

 

1. December 15 – Casper

2. Jan. 1, 2013 – Bates’ Hole

1. Dec. 17 – Murie Audubon Society – meet at the Audubon Center at Garden Creek, 101 Garden Creek Rd. at 7:30 am – contact Stacey Scott – hustace@gmail.com
2. Dec. 17 – The Evanston WY/UT CBC – those interested should meet 7:00 am at the Hornet’s Nest Gas Station, 8 miles north of Evanston on Rt 89.  The Evanston circle holds the all-time record count for Greater Sage-Grouse, 698 in 1986.  Contact – Tim Gorman – wyogoob@ALLWEST.NET
3. Dec. 17 – Green River CBC – meet at McDonald’s on Uinta Drive at  7am – Contact Fred & Fern Linton flinton@wyoming.com
4. Dec. 17 – Kane CBC – Meet at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area’s Visitor Center in Lovell at 6:30. Reconvene at 4:30 pm for potluck chili dinner and tally results. For more information, please contact Neil or Jennifer Miller, 307-568-9346.
5. Dec. 17 – Laramie CBC – Meet at Coal Creek Coffee at 7:30 am to pick up data sheets. You must get your assigned route from Deb Paulsen either before or at Coal Creek on Dec. 17th.  Feeder watchers also needed.  Re-convene at 12 noon at The Grounds on 3rd St. at Fremont to pick up more routes, or turn in data sheets, and talk about what was spotted.  Chili supper at 4pm to turn in your final data sheets.  Call Deb Paulsen (742-5623, debp@uwyo.edu) for more information or to pick your routes early.
6. Dec. 17 – Kane CBC  – Contact Suzanne Morstad – 307-568-2128 – smorstad@tctwest.net or Jennifer Miller- 307-568-9346 – njmiller@tctwest.net
7. Dec. 17 – Sheridan CBC – Contact Helen Moriarity – 307-750-2225 – hiedi@vcn.com
8. Dec. 18 – Guernsey – Ft. Laramie CBC. The compiler/coordinator is Jane Dorn, 307-640-4002, from Lingle. Meet at 8 a.m. at Ft. Laramie (the town, not the historic fort) Post Office or at 9:30 a.m. at the main entrance to Guernsey State Park. Pack your lunch and plan to spend all day if you can. There will be an opportunity to do some hiking in the park.  There will be a few of us coming up (or down in elevation!) from Cheyenne.  Anyone interested in carpooling, please call Barb Gorges, 634-0463 (287-4952 cell).
9. Dec. 18 – Sundance CBC – we meet at the east side Conoco at 7:30 for route assignments.   A chili dinner will be offered at the end of the day.  Contact information:  Jen or Jean at 307-283-2467, or jgwindsong@rangeweb.net,  ravenssong@rangeweb.net
10. Dec. 18 – Riverton CBC.  Meet at McDonalds on West Main at 7:30 a.m.  We’ll canvas Riverton in the morning with four teams, meet again at McDonald’s at 11:30 and head out to do the rural areas.  Everyone welcome.  Counters needed.  Call Bob at 307-851-0662 or Wanda at 307-856-6690.
11. Dec. 18 – Jackson WY CBC.  Susan Marsh is the compiler.  Contact for more info – Susan Patla – susan_patla@HOTMAIL.COM  
12. Dec. 18 – Buffalo CBC – Contact Deane Bjerke – 307-684-2798 – dbjerke@bresnan.net
13. Dec. 24 – Cody CBC – Route maps and directions will be distributed ahead of time. To participate, please contact Susan Ahalt (307-527-7027) or Joyce Cicco (307-527-5030). Potluck dinner and tally results begin at 6 pm in the basement community meeting room of Big Horn Federal Savings & Loan, 1701 Stampede Avenue, Cody. In case of bad weather, the count will take place on December 31.
14. Dec. 28 – Clark CBC – Meet at Edelweiss Inn at 7:30 am for route maps, instructions and coffee. Participants will bird the west side of the count circle in the morning, reassemble at Edelweiss at noon for lunch and a river walk, bird the east side of the count circle, and reconvene at Edelweiss at 4:30 for a potluck dinner and tally. For more information, please contact Mary “Lefty” Klein, 307-645-3223.
15. Dec. 28 – Gillette CBC – Contact Dustin Downey – ddowney@audubon.org – 307-756-3941, cell – 504-453-4124
16. Dec. 31 – Cheyenne CBC – meet at the downtown post office at 7:30 a.m.  Contact Greg Johnson gjohnson@west-inc.com
17. Dec. 31 – Story/Bighorn CBC– Contact Jean Daly – 307-674-9728

2012

1. Jan. 1 – Bates Hole – contact Charles Scott – charlesscott@wyoming.com
2. Jan. 1 – The Alta WY/Driggs ID CBC.  Contact me if you would like more info – susan_patla@HOTMAIL.COM.  We do a potluck at 5:30 pm at the Teton Regional Land Trust Office.  Susan Patla  307 413-1222