The 11th Chesapeake Bay CBC will be held 26 December 2004, the day after
Christmas, a Sunday. For this count, which is stationary on the northern two
islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, a team of 4-5 all-day counters
does
its best to tally all the gulls, gannets, and other goodies that fly past this
part of the Bay mouth. During the day, we also try to pass on the word to
folks who are passing through or dropping by about any birds of note we might
have seen. Because the count falls on a weekend this year, we look forward to
seeing many familiar faces out there on Sunday. To help us get an accurate
count, and to assist in finding as many species as we can out there on that
day, we ask annually that visitors refrain from flushing the gulls that roost
on
the rocks of the islands' sides. This gives the birds a chance to rest
between bouts of foraging and makes counting them (and locating individuals of
less-common species, which may stay in one place for long periods) much easier!
Remember that to bird the northern islands, a letter of permission is
required, which must be presented in person to security staff at the toll
plaza,
along with driver's license and vehicle registration. Happy counting, and
happy
holiday -
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA
P. S. Alas, the Black-chinned Hummingbird appears not to have survived the
low temperatures and high winds of the most recent Arctic blast; it has not
been
seen since last reported, which was 19 December.
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