Final 12 months, the oldest Christmas Hen Rely in Mexico turned 50 years outdated. That will be the CBC in San Blas, Nayarit, based by American birders in 1973.
Now we have an extended methods to go earlier than we attain that milestone in Michoacán. We held our very first CBC simply three years in the past, making a whole circuit across the lovely Lake Pátzcuaro. Up to now, these counts have been carried out nearly totally by Mexicans, most of them biologists… in addition to the native expat birder Georgia Conti, and yours actually. We might not have seniority within the Mexican CBC world, however we do have one spectacular setting:
Lake Pátzcuaro has an altitude of 1,920 m (6,300 toes), and is really lovely. Listed below are a number of extra images of the lake, taken by the workforce that my Cuban ornithologist good friend Jorge and I led:
Jorge and I
All over the place you look, the lake is surrounded by volcanic mountains.
A number of the odd rock formations at San Jerónimo Punchécuaro
Typical countryside close to the lake
On the lookout for woodland birds close to Matugeo
We are able to’t compete with the San Blas CBC, with its a lot bigger habitat variety. However we did obtain a really respectable 153 species seen. Our workforce of 9 observers noticed 103 species, barely edging out the opposite two groups.
My finest birds for the day had been a number of Grass Wrens. I beforehand knew this species from only one website, however that website is on non-public property, and this one has free entry.
Grass Wrens apparently share this splayed posture with their relations, the Marsh Wrens. However for each Grass Wren sighting registered on eBird, yow will discover 37 Marsh Wren sightings (or 6 sightings of the much more intently associated Sedge Wren).
I anticipate finding the Grey Hawk in tropical lowlands. However that is our second 12 months encountering it within the highlands round Lake Pátzcuaro.
It takes a little bit of effort to identify a Say’s Phoebe down right here.
American Pipits are widespread… on the bottom, close to water. However seeing this one, perched in a tree, nearly appeared like a lifer to me.
A Neotropical Cormorant made a dramatic touchdown.
And a Black-crowned Evening Heron struck a pose.
On our final cease of the day, within the woodland I confirmed above, I noticed this Hermit Thrush. He appeared very happy with himself.
And now, we’ve got a brand new improvement. In a number of days, our area will add our first ever Christmas Hen Rely for Lake Cuitzeo. Lake Cuitzeo is situated a half hour north of Morelia. It’s barely much less scenic than Lake Pátzcuaro, which is a half hour south-southwest of the identical metropolis. However I anticipate the next species and particular person chicken depend for Cuitzeo, because it hosts many, many extra winter geese and shorebirds.
Lake Cuitzeo
So right here’s my supply to our American readers (and a few particularly adventurous European readers): Subsequent 12 months, you can do your Christmas Hen Rely in your house city of East Plainville in Iowa. Or you can take a direct flight from Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Jose, or Oakland to the UNESCO World Heritage Metropolis of Morelia, based in 1540. Spend a number of days there, and some extra within the Pueblo Mágico (Magic City) of Pátzcuaro, as soon as capital of the pre-Columbian Purépecha empire. While you’re right here, you may get two Christmas Hen Counts for the value of 1. (Which is not any worth in any respect, not less than for the Counts themselves.)
We’ll even choose you up on our technique to the Counts. And we’ll aid you ID all these new birds.