By JENNA RHUDE
Moapa Valley Progress
Twenty-one volunteer bird enthusiasts gathered on Sunday, December 30 for the nineteenth annual Muddy River Christmas Bird Count. This annual event has bird-watchers treking through a large area along the Muddy River ranging from the Warm Springs Natural area to the Bowman Reservoir in Logandale.
This year a total of 81 species identified, with a total of 5,312 birds identified in the 15-mile diameter area that the counters were located.
After the early morning rendezvous at Warm Springs, the group was split into three teams. One group gathered at Bowman Reservoir. Another group stayed in the Warm Springs area, and the third group gathered in the Hidden Valley/Moapa River Indian Reservation area.
The bird watchers had plenty to keep them busy this year. Several new species were found in the course of the count. The Rusty Blackbird was spotted in the Hidden Valley area. This bird is rare to the desert southwest being more typically found in the southeastern United States.
The Golden-Crowned Sparrow was also spotted here. This species is usually found west of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Very rare to the upper Muddy River area is the Wood Duck. While they can be found at Lake Mead, they are generally not seen ranging this far north into the valley.
One final exciting sighting was that of an American White Pelican in Hidden Valley.
The Mourning Dove count fluctuates every year in the Moapa Valley. This year, there were only ten Mourning doves counted. But the Eurasian Collared-Dove count showed increased numbers.
“We had really good weather and that is always a good thing,” said Southern Nevada Water Authority wildlife biologist David Syzdek who organizes the event each year. “When we began our count, it was twenty degrees with no wind. Wind affects the count in a negative way.”
Syzdek stressed the importance of the bird count to science and conservation efforts. “Having long-term data helps us see the trend in the bird population over a period of time,” he explained. “Tracking the numbers helps us see where environmental changes are happening.”
Syzdek said that he was very happy with the number of volunteers that came out this year, especially since it was held on a Sunday.
“We are one of six Christmas bird counts in Clark County,” Syzdek said. “Most of our volunteers are from Las Vegas. But we did have someone from as far away as Bullhead City, Arizona.”
While no Moapa Valley residents participated in the bird count this year, Syzdek wanted to encourage local folks to come and participate.
“You don’t need a lot of experience to be helpful,” Syzdek said. “The more eyes, the better. If anyone is interested in bird-watching, there are brochures in the kiosk at the Warm Springs Conservation Area.”
The Christmas Bird Count has taken place nationally for 119 years. It is sponsored by the National Audubon Society.
“I was very happy with the number of people and the diversity of birds seen,” said Syzdek. He also expressed appreciation to the Moapa Band of Paiutes and NV Energy for their cooperation.
The following is the final tally of the 2018 Muddy River Bird Count: Snow Goose-8, Ross’s Goose (1 y)-2, Canada Goose-11, American Wigeon-2, Mallard-43, Green-Winged teal-11, Ring-necked Duck-13, Hooded Merganser-2, Ruddy Duck-18, Gambel’s Quail-225, Pied-billed Grebe-5, Western Grebe-4, Rock Pigeon-136, Eurasian Collared-Dove-65, Mourning Dove-10, Greater Roadrunner-10, White-throated Swift-37, Sora-1, American Coot-40, Killdeer-16, Wilson’s Snipe-3, Great Blue Heron-5, Great Egret-4, Northern Harrier-13, Sharp-shinned Hawk-6, Cooper’s Hawk-11, Red-shouldered hawk (1)-1, Red-tailed Hawk-45, Ferruginous Hawk-6, Great Horned Owl-1, Belted Kingfisher-2, Ladder-backed Woodpecker-5, Northern Flicker (RdShft)-84, American Kestrel-7, Prairie Falcon-1, Black Phoebe-11, Say’s Phoebe-34, Loggerhead Shrike-19,
Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay-6, American Crow-60, Common Raven-76, Horned Lark-120, Bushtit Verdin-27, Bushtit-32, Ruby-crowned Kinglet-34, Rock Wren-3, House Wren-1, Marsh Wren-5, Bewick’s Wren-10, Black-tailed gnatcatcher-23, Western Bluebird-22, Mountain Bluebird-18, American Robin-158, Northern Mockingbird-38, Crissal Thrasher-13, European Starling-506, American Pipit-48, Cedar Waxwing-47, Phainopepla-86, House Finch-151, Lesser Goldfinch-28, American Goldfinch-7, Dark-eyed Junco-2, Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon-5, White-crowned Sparrow-1172, Sagebrush Sparrow-1, Savannah Sparrow-7, Song Sparrow-22, Lincoln’s Sparrow-4, Abert’s Towhee-72, Spotted Towhee-3, Western Meadowlark-116, Red-winged Blackbird-977, Brewer’s Blackbird-270, Great-tailed Grackle-52, Orange-crowned Warbler-1, Yellow-rumped Warbler-133, House Sparrow-35, Wood Duck-2, Golden-crowned sparrow-1, Rusty Blackbird-1.
