Counting Mono's shorebirds
by Bartshe Miller
For
the past three years the Mono Lake Committee has coordinated seasonal
shorebird counts around the entire shoreline of Mono Lake. A small group
of participants, some from the Mono Basin, and some from the Owens Valley,
along with volunteer Committee members from the Eastern Sierra and beyond
have been making the shorebird counts a semi-annual tradition. With
spotting scopes and binoculars in tow, we circumnavigate the lake,
searching out every foot of shoreline for avian occupancy.
In late April and August we meet early in the morning and, regardless of weather, strike out for desolate sections of Mono Lake. Following precise logistical maneuvers that would be the envy of any army, we arrange drop-off points, strategically position 4WD vehicles, hike 2–6 miles, and rendezvous at the pick up points. In between it all we focus on the birds.
Shorebirds and waterfowl are counted below the 6417 foot pre-diversion lake level. Savannah Sparrows and Horned Larks try to distract you, but we save the counting for the shorebirds and ducks. Eared Grebes and California Gulls are not counted due to other ongoing census/research efforts.
Some highlights of past counts include: a Peregrine Falcon hunting phalaropes, 113 Black Terns congregating at Navy Beach, a flock of 70 Double-crested Cormorants passing over the northeast shore, a Bald Eagle perched on a tufa, a Parasitic Jaeger harassing gulls, and a Mountain Plover along the north shore. During the fall ‘99 count we totaled 18,654 individuals and 47 species. Some of the more common species you might encounter are the Western and Least Sandpiper, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Common Snipe, Cinnamon Teal, dowitchers, and Snowy Plover.
The next count will be on Saturday, April 22, and the
fall shorebird count is scheduled for August 19. If you are adept at
identifying shorebirds and waterfowl (and ideally ducks in flight) and
don’t mind getting your feet into the notoriously mucky stretches of
Mono Lake we would love to have your help! Please contact the Mono Lake
Committee at (760) 647-6595 or
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