Annual Christmas Bird Count completed in Steamboat Springs
Erin Gelling / Courtesy Photo
The 2024 Christmas Bird Count in Routt County is in the books.
According to Erin Gelling, who compiles Steamboat’s Christmas Bird Count data, this year’s mission included 41 field and feeder-watcher participants who drove a combined 274 miles, walked 10 miles, skied 30 miles and snowshoed 1.5 miles to observe feeders for just over 11 hours on Saturday, Dec. 14.
The birders counted 36 different species and 1,561 total birds during their observation time.
Gelling said some highlights included sightings of Common Goldeneyes, Common Mergansers, two Song Sparrows and three different species of Dark-eyed Juncos.
“We counted a good number of Sharp-tailed Grouse, Red and White-breasted Nuthatches, American Goldfinches, and Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers,” said Gelling. “Thank you to all the bird counters, Yampatika, Steamboat Ski Resort, Marabou, The Egg restaurant, and National Audubon Society. If you are interested in participating in the Steamboat Springs CBC next year, look for information about count day and contact info on Audubon.org.”
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