Birders prepare for annual count

Birding enthusiasts will be busy Dec. 19 during Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count. There are eight areas in Pierce County where the counting will take place. Fife is split between areas two and seven, with Interstate 5 as the boundary. All eight encompass an area with a 15-mile radius, with Tacoma Mall as the approximate central point.

Faye McAdams Hands is the coordinator for area two. She explained the event began 110 years ago on the East Coast. It was started in response to a tradition of people going out on Christmas Day to see who could shoot the most birds.

“Some people felt, can’t we just count them instead of shoot them?”

Bird enthusiasts began participating in Pierce County about 40 years ago.

The object of the activity is to identify and count as many birds and species of birds as possible. Last year the largest number of red-necked grebes in the country, 253, was reported here.

“From sunrise to sunset we count as many birds as we can in Pierce County,” McAdams Hands said. “We count each robin, each starling.” Some people venture out at night to count owls, she added.

The data gathered is used by scientists, government employees and others who deal with habitat issues.

“It gives us a wonderful amount of information,” she remarked.

McAdams Hands first got interested in the topic when living on Bainbridge Island years ago. She joined Tahoma Audubon Society when she moved to Pierce County. She enjoys bird watching year round. In October a black-tailed gull was spotted on Marine View Drive in Tacoma, only the second time that species has been reported in Washington. They are generally found in Japan and Korea.

“That was a special bird,” McAdams Hands said. “We always look for rarities after a storm or cold weather.”

The recent cold spell could have driven some birds that are normally up here in December to the south.

Likewise, birds that are generally in Canada, such as swans and geese, may be driven to Washington. Shelley Parker, coordinator for area seven, said extreme cold and little food pushes Canadian birds south.

“They can at least get by down here,” she remarked.

This is Parker’s fourth year participating. Area seven encompasses industrial and agricultural areas from Fife heading east toward Chief Leschi School.

Swan Creek is a good place to observe geese, while open fields on the farms attract hawks. The banks of the Puyallup River are good for spotting owls at night.

“That is pretty cool to see,” Parker remarked.

Area seven has its counter positions filled. Those who want to participate in area two can call McAdams Hands at (253) 942-9233.

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