Birds of Southwest Nature Preserve
This handy 4-page list shows the birds found at SWNP, as well as their relative abundance each month of the year:
And thanks to eBird for this helpful birding checklist for SCNP.
Beginning Bird ID Workshops and Quarterly Surveys (ON HOLD*)
Are you interested in birds but can’t tell a wren from a warbler? Learn how at beginning birding workshops which are offered quarterly and led by Master Birders. Classroom sessions of about half an hour are followed by a birding practice session at SWNP. Each session focuses on the bird species likely to be seen at that time of year. Seating for the optional classroom session is limited to 12 participants, so registration is required!
* We will post dates when we feel we can safely offer these workshops again.
Bird sightings recorded during the practice sessions provide valuable survey information for SWNP and are reported to eBird.
Great Backyard Bird Count 2022: Saturday, February 19, 8am
On February 15, 2020, the Friends of Southwest Nature Preserve (SWNP) hosted an event for the 2020 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). Organized and let by Jim Frisinger, we had a record turnout of people counting (14) and birds counted (274). Also, we observed two first-time species: Killdeer and Blue-winged Teal, both identified by Caleb Hinojos. We divided ourselves into three groups so our bird counts would reflect some of the diversity of the SWNP. One group birded at the Big Pond, another at the meadow area on the north side of the preserve, and the third group checked out the newly designated bird habitat site, a wooded area with a creek running through it. The 40 species we identified were not quite a record, but in line with other days when the start time temperature was at 40 degrees (slightly chillier than average for this time of year). The first GBBC at SWNP was in 2007 before the area was formally a preserve. That year, there were 4 counters and 38 species counted. The most species counted was 46 in 2017.
2020 Results: 40 bird species (274 birds total) seen by 14 birders. Thanks to everyone who participated…and special thanks to Jim Frisinger for organizing the GBBCs!
For a history of Great Backyard Bird Count data, beginning in 2007, see: FINAL GBBC 2007-2020
Great Backyard Bird Count is a nation-wide citizen science event sponsored annually by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. For more information and how you can participate at your home, nearby park or other site, see www.birdcount.org/