Newsletter #3 - Christmas Bird Count
Christmas Bird Count
IMC Vida Silvestre’s bird count this year brought to light for me several interesting facts. Thirty two species of grassland birds breed in the Great Plains of Canada and the northern U.S. and they migrate to the Chihuahuan Desert where they spend the winter. Many of these species are in peril. Populations of the Sprage pipit, the Baird sparrow, the Grasshopper sparrow, and the Chestnut collared longspur have diminished drastically since 1970 and the Botterie sparrow is especially rare.
Not only have numbers of migratory birds diminished, but a resident bird of the Chihuahuan Desert, the Aplomado Falcon, has disappeared from much of the territory that it used to occupy. A second discovery for me is the fact that the breeding grounds are five times larger than the wintering grounds. Ranchers in the Chihuahuan Desert therefore have a big responsibility to improve and increase the areas of wintering grasslands for these birds. The importance of supporting their efforts to do this cannot be underestimated. Many groups and researchers are working in Mexico with ranchers. Pedro Calderon of IMC Vida Silvestre is one researcher who led the bird count on Cuenca Los Ojos land this year.
Click Here to see our Christmas bird count >>
(https://cuencalosojos.org/blogs/news/christmas-bird-count)
He said: “We are very glad and excited to work with CLO on the planned grazing program, and participate in the integral monitoring for rangelands, habitat and wildlife, specific for birds. It is an honor to collaborate with CLO, because of the impressive restoration history and the passion they put on conservation. We know, and truly believe in the importance to conserve this natural heritage on the borderlands of the northwest Chihuahuan Desert.”
With my best wishes for birds in 2018,
Founder of CLO
Support our Work through Art
This month, fellow artist Walt Anderson shares his work with CLO's community. Walt's prints are available for sale on our e-shop. $100 of each sale will go to support CLO's work.
Discover our e-shop (https://cuencalosojos.org/collections/print?page=2)
Walt Anderson's Prints
Montezuma Quail
Landing Kestrel
Bridled Titmouse
Vermilion Flycatcher
Golden Eagle
River Spotted Towhee
