provided to The Santiva Chronicle
The Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society conducted its annual Christmas Bird Count Saturday, Dec. 19, when 113 participants counted a total of 15975 birds comprised of 96 different species. The results of the San-Cap count will be reported to the National Audubon Society and will become part of the 121st Audubon Christmas Bird Count.
The overall count was about average. The fish and eel kill caused by the current red tide bloom contributed to a historically large number of Laughing Gulls and Pelicans being in the count. Cold temperatures may have also played a part in high or low totals for some specific species.
Audubon Christmas Bird Counts are conducted throughout much of the Western Hemisphere from mid-December through early January. The CBC is a fertile source of historical information on the status and distribution of early winter bird populations and is studied by scientists and interested individuals the world over.
San-Cap Audubon sincerely thanks all those who took part in this year’s successful Christmas Bird Count. Many thanks also to SCCF for their count support and J.N. “Ding” Darling NWR for their count contributions and continued support.
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