News
Tejon Ranch Conservancy Fourth Annual Christmas Bird Count
Tejon Ranch Conservancy staff and 23 other guests spread out across Tejon Ranch on Thursday, December 15th for our 4th Annual Christmas Bird Count. Among the 6 teams, we found a record high 112 species. 10 species were new to the Tejon Ranch Christmas Bird Count list and 5 of those were also new to the Tejon Ranch bird species list.
One of the new species detected for the first time on Tejon Ranch was the pinyon jay. This charismatic and gregarious jay only migrates occasionally – known as irruptions – when the pinyon cone crop in the main part of the species’ range are diminished. Due to the presence of pinyon pines on Tejon Ranch, we always suspected that we would see pinyon jays but it was thrilling to confirm it all the same. Other species new to the Tejon Ranch bird list included: semipalmated plover, northern saw-whet owl, pygmy nuthatch, and white-throated sparrow. Species new to the Tejon Ranch Christmas Bird Count list included: sage sparrow, cinnamon teal, common goldeneye, common merganser, and brown creeper.
Other highlights included records highs of 8 California condors, 48 golden eagles, and 46 pinyon jays, as well as a sage thrasher and sage sparrow.
Wet Western Blue Bird photographed by Greg Smith
Beautiful!
