Corn Creek Christmas Bird Count

Daniel Mitev, Dave Bradford, and John Hiatt counting waterfowl on one the ponds at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort.

On Saturday December 14, 2019, Red Rock Audubon Society conducted the Corn Creek Christmas Bird Count. Fifteen participants braved our nice southern Nevada weather to count birds from sunrise to sunset. We recorded 77 species and 2,509 individual birds. Highlights included the Townsend’s solitaires, Le Conte’s thrashers, phainopeplas, and burrowing owls. Numbers of small songbirds like sparrows and warblers seemed to be low this year. Congratulations to CJ Vadovic and Daniel Mitev for participating in their first Christmas Bird count.

Cactus wrens are always spotted at this count.

The burrowing owls are located at Floyd Lamb Park and at the Rainbow Owl preserve, where U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and RRAS have been working since 2005, to improve breeding habitat for burrowing owls. This winter about 50% of the owls appear to have migrated away from the area probably in search of more bountiful food. Check the RRAS activity calendar for upcoming volunteer opportunities at the Rainbow Owl Preserve.

Counting birds at Floyd Lamb Park - Jim Roombos, Jim Switalla, Christiana Manville, C J Vadovic, and Cathy Kozmary.

Areas covered in this count circle include the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort, Corn Creek area of Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Floyd Lamb Park, Gilcrease Orchard, Rainbow Owl Preserve and the former Silverstone Ranch Golf Course. The Corn Creek CBC started in 1961, so this was the 58th year for this count. Thanks to all the participants for keeping this tradition alive.

All smiles for Jim Switalla, Doug Chang, and Paul Rodriguez after completing their first of 7 CBSs. Will the smiles continue for all 7 counts?

​​Written by Chrisitana Manville
Photos submitted by Paul Rodriguez and Doug Chang