Christmas Bird Count Again Sets New Record

The 49th Albany County Christmas Bird Count was held on December 15, 2024. Thirty-four participants conducted field surveys or watched feeders during count day, and observers spent 66 party-hours afield. Effort in 2024 was higher than an average count between 1975 and 2023 for participants (20) and party-hours (45). We recorded a total of 6,772 individual birds (107 birds/party-hour), which greatly exceeded the average of 3,155 birds (71.8 birds/party-hour) recorded on previous counts. A great effort given the blustery day! Thanks to all field and feeder observers who made the 2024 Christmas Bird Count a huge success.

For the second year in a row, we tallied more species during both count day (54) and count week (57), surpassing 2023 records of 47 species during count day and 54 species including count week. New species for the Albany County count in 2024 included a count day male Wood Duck, found by Spencer Hurt and Kyler Smith on the Spring Creek Pond creek, and an immature Black-crowned Night Heron, observed by Mary Schvetz along the Laramie River Greenbelt Trail, and a Gray Catbird, found by Laurel Armstrong in her backyard, during count week. Al Zerbe added a backyard White-crowned Sparrow during count week. These additional three species raised the total to 100 species observed during 49 years of Albany County counts.

Although temperatures were relatively mild, high winds (maximum gusts of 53 mph at the airport!) hampered finding some songbirds. Despite the winds, high counts for several species were achieved in 2024 (in addition to the three new ones above) including Mallard (1,659 individuals), Green-winged Teal (200), Eurasian Collared-Dove (450), Sharp-shinned Hawk (4), Ferruginous Hawk (3), American Kestrel (3), White-throated Sparrow (2), and Great-tailed Grackle (9). Compared to the average count adjusted for effort (1975–2023), more species and numbers of waterfowl were recorded in 2024, whereas winter finches (e.g., crossbills, grosbeaks, rosy-finches) were less abundant. Rough-legged Hawks were noticeably absent from much of the count circle. A table of results is WYAC 2024 Results.

Thanks again to all who participated in this record-setting year. I hope everyone had fun time and will plan on joining our 50th count next year.

Photos by Heather Johnson: White-throated Sparrow, Mallard, Ferruginous Hawk, Black-crowned Night Heron.

Brad A. Andres

 

First Winter Field Trip - Saturday, January 25th

 Clues in the Snow: Bird and Mammal Tracking Trip (Snowshoe/XC Ski Outing) 

Clark's Nutcracker observed during previous Laramie Audubon Trip (near Centennial, WY).

Dr. Gary Beauvais, Director of the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, will lead a snowshoe/cross-country ski trek through forest and riparian areas of the Medicine Bow National Forest on Saturday, January 25.  This trip, sponsored by the Laramie Audubon Society, will focus on identification of animal tracks and other signs written into the winter snow. The group will also discuss the natural history of the winter environment.  This is a favorite annual trip and we learn something new each year!  

Attendees must provide their own equipment* and be prepared for cold winter conditions.  Please dress in layers and bring plenty of snacks, water, and sun protection.  *Please coordinate with us if you need snowshoes - one of our members has a few extra pair and has offered to lend them to trip participants.  UW students can check with the UW Outdoor Program for equipment.  Local outdoor stores also have daily rentals available.

The group will meet at 8:30 a.m. at TBD. 
Attendees will return to Laramie by approximately 1 p.m.; those with their own transportation are free to leave at any time.  Some participants may elect to stop in Centennial for a no-host lunch (depending on group interest).  Backup date (in case of bad weather) - Saturday, February 1.

Congratulations to Our Fall 2024 Small Grant Recipients!

Conservation Grants - Fall 2024

Laramie Audubon thanks the numerous applicants to our Fall 2024 grant cycle.  We award grants to a variety of conservation-related projects each Spring and Fall.  This season we awarded grants of $500 to two outstanding projects: 

• Enhancing Wyoming toad recovery through disease mitigation: bolstering individual disease resistance mechanisms through immunization and probiotics
• Bug Day: Fostering Laramie’s Aquatic Biodiversity Awareness and Conservation of Sensitive Aquatic Ecosystems

See our Grants page to learn more about these projects.  Applications for our next funding cycle are due on March 31, 2025.    

Annual Albany County Christmas Bird Count

Interested in participating in the 2024 Christmas Bird Count?  This year's Albany County count will take place on Sunday, December 15.  The event begins at 8 a.m., however, teams can count in the morning and/or afternoon.  Feeder-watchers are also welcome.  Contact Brad for more information: baandres1@yahoo.com.