1. The name of this new
count will be CALAVERAS CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT. The center of the 15-mile
diameter circle is 38 degrees 13' N latitude and 120 degree 23'W longitude.
(Near the end of the road to Skull Ranch from Sheep Ranch.)
2. Enclosed is a topographic
map with the proposed circle drawn on it. There are only two other nearby
counts, one of which is partly drawn on the enclosed map.
3. The two other counts in
this general area are Stockton CBC,center
38 degrees 7'N and 121 degrees 24'W and Sonora CBC 38 degree N and 120 degrees
22' W (which is partly drawn on enclosed map).
4. This area extends from Murphys at 2000 feet to Calaveras Big Trees State Park at 5000
feet. The lower elevation is described as the Foothills which
then leads into the Yellow Pine Belt. Calaveras Big Trees State Park includes a
large stand of Sequoia giganteum. The count circle
includes open meadows, suburban homes and yards, small lakes, chaparral (chamise, ceanothus), yellow pine,
sugar pine, douglas fir,
white fir, incense cedar, cottonwood, black oak, maple, and dogwood. Over 100
species of birds have been observed throughout the year, many wintering in the
area. This area is important because Calaveras county
is one of the fastest growing areas in California. With so many forests nearby
not much concern is given to the loss of habit for each newly developed
community. A Christmas Bird count would be one way to monitor the changes that
the rapid growth inflict on this area.
5. I have talked with the
Chief Ranger (Mario Rodriguez) of Calaveras Big Trees State Park and he would
be interested in helping with the Christmas Bird count. The Park has a very
active Association of more than 150 people and several have already expressed a
willingness to help. Nancy Hay and Penelope Bowen who are willing to be the
compilers and party leaders have had more than ten years of heavy birding
experience each. We have also each participated in several CBC in the San
Francisco Bay area. We have friends in the Bay area who
would be willing to help train birders in the Calaveras area to be counters.
Penelope K. Bowen