Never mind the soggy rubber boots, the rain dripping off your hat, the binoculars fogging up, or the fact that you can't concentrate on identifying birds because you're so cold and WET! It's the Santa Barbara Christmas Bird Count and nobody even says a word (out loud, that is) about the challenging conditions. Besides, this annual effort organized by the Santa Barbara chapter of Audubon has so much community support and so many great birds, folks just participate for the fun of it, despite the weather.

No question, though, after days of stormy weather and huge downpours, we were prepared for whatever it took to count all the birds in the circle. Perhaps the birders in the mountains had the worst of it: poor visibility, wind gusts, and closed roads. But at the end of the day, when everyone gathered in Fleischmann Auditorium at the Museum of Natural History to enjoy the potluck dinner and count down the list of birds seen, there were several great surprises and a lot of interesting species to report. The final tally was a remarkable 201 species sighted within the Count circle on January 2, 2005.

Black and White Warbler found near North Hall, UCSB. Photo courtesy Roger Millikan.

The Zone-tailed Hawk appeared for its twelfth winter, soaring over North Fairview Avenue in Goleta. A Red-necked Grebe was sighted off More Mesa. On the UCSB campus, a Magnolia Warbler (a first for a Santa Barbara CBC), and a Black-and-white Warbler showed up in the trees between North and Kerr Halls. A Red-naped Sapsucker returned for a second winter in a pepper tree near the Kellogg Ave. tennis courts in Goleta. And at the Santa Barbara Cemetery, a Worm-eating Warbler was discovered in the oak trees down the north slope.

Worm-eating Warbler found in the Santa Barbara Cemetary. Photo courtesy Jim Greaves.

Other interesting species were: an American Bittern at Lake Los Carneros and at Atascadero Creek; six adult male Allen's Hummingbirds scattered around; six White-throated Sparrows at various feeders; four Northern Rough-winged Swallows over Glen Annie Reservoir; and an adult male Orchard Oriole near the Biltmore Hotel in Montecito.

After every Count, we go over the species list and realize there were some really painful misses. We couldn't find a Clark's Grebe or a Royal Tern, but at least they appeared for Count Week. (Two other Count Week birds, the Cackling Goose and the Glaucous Gull, are both rather rare.) But many species of landbirds were difficult to find or missed altogether on Count day, due to the wet conditions. Numbers of tanagers and orioles were way down compared to other years.

As always, it is gratifying to see the support and enthusiasm of the birders, which are the strength of a Christmas Bird Count. In addition, the volunteers who help the Count in other ways are invaluable. A special thank you to Chris Walden, who took the sign-ups and helped me organize the Count. Chris is retiring after many years helping me, so we owe her a lot. The CBC Committee, the folks who help me compile the Count once all the paperwork is in, deserve a huge thank you: Karen Bridgers, Dave Compton, Rebecca Coulter, Joan Murdoch, and George Roland.