Audubon's annual Christmas Bird Count begins Tuesday

Birding enthusiasts nationwide are encouraged to participate in the 111th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count, believed to be the longest-running wildlife census in the world.

The citizen project, which begins Tuesday and runs through Jan. 5, 2011, helps scientists assess the size of bird populations in local communities.

Count volunteers follow specified routes through a designated 15-mile-diameter circle, counting every bird they see or hear all day. It’s not just a species tally -- all birds are counted all day, giving an indication of the total number of birds in the circle that day. If observers live within a CBC circle, they may arrange in advance to count the birds at their feeders and submit those data to their compiler.

Those interested in participating, be it at home or with a field party, need to register in advance. There is a $5 fee per field participant per count. Feeder watchers do not need to pay the fee, and all observers 18 and younger may count for free. Fees go toward funding the program and to help cover costs of generating materials, producing the annual summary and maintaining the CBC website and database.

A few of the frequently asked questions and answers posted on the Audobon website regarding the Christmas Bird Count are after the jump:

Firearms industry responds to petition filed with EPA seeking to ban lead ammunition and fishing tackle

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry, stated its opposition to a petition filed Tuesday with the Environmental Protection Agency seeking to ban the use of lead in ammunition and fishing tackle.

"There is simply no scientific evidence that the use of traditional ammunition is having an adverse impact on wildlife populations that would require restricting or banning the use of traditional ammunition beyond current limitations, such as the scientifically based restriction on waterfowl hunting," NSSF President Steve Sanetti said in a press release. Using lead ammunition for waterfowl hunting already is banned nationally and in California is not allowed when big-game hunting in areas designated as California condor range.

Filed by several environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, the American Bird Conservancy and the Assn. of Avian Veterinarians, the petition claims that traditional bullets used by hunters are inconsistent with the Toxic Substance Control Act and that such ammo poses a danger to wildlife, in particular raptors, that may feed on unrecovered game in the field. The EPA has 90 days to issue a ruling that it will either accept or reject the petition.

NSSF also expressed its concerns over the possible ramifications such a ban would have on wildlife conservation. According to the group, a federal excise tax that manufacturers pay on the sale of ammunition is a primary source of wildlife conservation funding.

"Needlessly restricting or banning traditional ammunition absent sound science will hurt wildlife conservation efforts as fewer hunters take to the field," said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. "Hunters and their ammunition have done more for wildlife than the Center for Biological Diversity ever will."

-- Kelly Burgess

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Photo: Ammunition for sale at the Los Angeles Gun Club. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times

Free guided hikes offered to view wintering bald eagles

Bald eagles migrate annually to the Cache Creek Natural Area in Northern California's Lake County each October, where the raptors stay until mid-April.

To celebrate the majestic birds return to the area, the Bureau of Land Management is hosting free guided hikes to view the wintering bald eagles on most Saturday's in January and February.

The walks will take place at 10 a.m. on Jan. 16, 23 and 30, and Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27.

Those interested in participating should contact the BLM Ukiah Field Office at (707) 468-4000 to reserve a spot for a specific date. Early reservations are recommended as each trek is limited to 25 people and space fills up quickly.

The four-mile hike takes about three to four hours and does include a steep, 600-foot climb in the first mile.

Participants should wear sturdy hiking boots and dress for cold weather. They should also bring binoculars (most eagle sightings are from a distance), water and lunch, as none will be provided.

Hikes will be canceled if it is raining.

--Kelly Burgess

Photo: A bald eagle in a tree. Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Both bald eagle chicks on Santa Cruz Island die

The bald eagle nest on Santa Cruz Island sits empty -- quiet and devoid of the life and activity that was only recently present.

Both of the eaglets born in the sole nest on the island have died, and the parents have flown away.

Birding and nature enthusiasts who have been viewing the nest via Web camera are saddened by the loss.

"There has been an outpouring of emotion," said David Garcelon, president of the Institute for Wildlife Studies. "When people are so into watching birds and something like this happens, they take it pretty hard."

Available via the IWS website, the Santa Cruz Island site is one of four bald eagle nests with Web cams trained on them.