Final 12 months, the oldest Christmas Chicken Rely in Mexico turned 50 years outdated. That might be the CBC in San Blas, Nayarit, based by American birders in 1973.
We’ve an extended methods to go earlier than we attain that milestone in Michoacán. We held our very first CBC simply three years in the past, making an entire circuit across the stunning Lake Pátzcuaro. To this point, these counts have been finished nearly fully by Mexicans, most of them biologists… in addition to the native expat birder Georgia Conti, and yours actually. We could not have seniority within the Mexican CBC world, however we do have one spectacular setting:
Lake Pátzcuaro has an altitude of 1,920 m (6,300 toes), and is actually stunning. Listed here are just a few extra images of the lake, taken by the crew that my Cuban ornithologist pal Jorge and I led:
Jorge and I
All over the place you look, the lake is surrounded by volcanic mountains.
A few of the odd rock formations at San Jerónimo Punchécuaro
Typical countryside close to the lake
In search of woodland birds close to Matugeo
We are able to’t compete with the San Blas CBC, with its a lot bigger habitat variety. However we did obtain a really respectable 153 species seen. Our crew of 9 observers noticed 103 species, barely edging out the opposite two groups.
My greatest birds for the day had been a number of Grass Wrens. I beforehand knew this species from only one web site, however that web site is on non-public property, and this one has free entry.
Grass Wrens apparently share this splayed posture with their family members, the Marsh Wrens. However for each Grass Wren sighting registered on eBird, yow will discover 37 Marsh Wren sightings (or 6 sightings of the much more carefully associated Sedge Wren).
I look forward to finding the Grey Hawk in tropical lowlands. However that is our second 12 months encountering it within the highlands round Lake Pátzcuaro.
It takes a little bit of effort to identify a Say’s Phoebe down right here.
American Pipits are frequent… on the bottom, close to water. However seeing this one, perched in a tree, nearly appeared like a lifer to me.
A Neotropical Cormorant made a dramatic touchdown.
And a Black-crowned Evening Heron struck a pose.
On our final cease of the day, within the woodland I confirmed above, I noticed this Hermit Thrush. He appeared very happy with himself.
And now, now we have a brand new growth. In just a few days, our area will add our first ever Christmas Chicken Rely for Lake Cuitzeo. Lake Cuitzeo is positioned a half hour north of Morelia. It’s barely much less scenic than Lake Pátzcuaro, which is a half hour south-southwest of the identical metropolis. However I count on a better species and particular person chicken rely for Cuitzeo, because it hosts many, many extra winter geese and shorebirds.
Lake Cuitzeo
So right here’s my supply to our American readers (and a few particularly adventurous European readers): Subsequent 12 months, you would do your Christmas Chicken Rely in your house city of East Plainville in Iowa. Or you would take a direct flight from Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Jose, or Oakland to the UNESCO World Heritage Metropolis of Morelia, based in 1540. Spend just a few days there, and some extra within the Pueblo Mágico (Magic City) of Pátzcuaro, as soon as capital of the pre-Columbian Purépecha empire. While you’re right here, you may get two Christmas Chicken Counts for the worth of 1. (Which is not any worth in any respect, a minimum of for the Counts themselves.)
We’ll even choose you up on our approach to the Counts. And we’ll enable you to ID all these new birds.
