World Migratory Bird Day Celebration

On May 2nd, Salvemos al Río Laja coordinated a community bird count in the Peña Alta Natural Protected Area in the community of San Franco, San Diego de la Unión, Guanajuato.

This spring, the Willamette Laja Twinning Partnership embarked on a new annual tradition. In the Willamette and Laja basins, we held events to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day through bird counts, children’s activities, and community science. 

In celebration of this event in the Laja River Watershed, the Civil Association Salvemos al Río Laja coordinated a small bird count event in the Peña Alta Natural Protected Area in the community of San Franco, San Diego de la Unión, Guanajuato. This event invited children and adults from the local community, as well as the Peña Alta Civil Association, Brújula de Aves, Travelian Tours, and Guanajuato State Secretary of Environment and Territorial Planning. This event provided information about the birds found in the community and taught the importance of monitoring efforts and conservation of native habitats.

On May 8th, the Willamette team participated in a bird count May 8th at the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, near Corvallis, Oregon. Our USFWS partners designed family activities for a month-long celebration of World Migratory Bird Day at the refuge.

A similar event was held in the Cañada de la Virgen subbasin in Las Tinajas, which is part of the Ejido Agustín Gonzales, located near San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. (In Mexico, an ejido is an area of land farmed and maintained by the community and recognized by the state government.) This event had participants from three local communities–Juan Xido Cabras, Presa Allende, and Agustín Gonzales—as well as the civil associations Cuerpos de Conservación Guanajuato, Caminos de Agua, and Audubon de México. The event featured environmental education activities, a bird watching tour, and an explanation of the conservation and reforestation efforts that are being carried out at Las Tinajas. Watch this video to learn more about restoration projects at Las Tinajas.

In the Willamette River Watershed, members of the Twinning program and their family members participated in a bird count May 8th at the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, near Corvallis, Oregon. The Twinning program also partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Environment for the Americas to develop a month-long family event at the William L. Finely National Wildlife Refuge to celebrate migratory birds through interactive activities. The activities for this event were available in-person and digitally and were designed by our USFWS partners Eduardo Gonzalez-Dorta and Samantha Bartling. 

These events support the binational education program Aves Compartidas (Shared Birds). We hope to continue to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day into the future in order to engage our local communities in community science, increase awareness of migratory bird conservation, and continue to foster international connections. 

Birdwatching at the Peña Alta Natural Protected Area, San Franco Community, San Diego de la Union, Guanajuato.

Birdwatching at the Peña Alta Natural Protected Area, San Franco Community, San Diego de la Union, Guanajuato.

Birdwatching at Las Tinajas, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato.

Birdwatching at Las Tinajas, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato.

Birdwatching at William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Corvallis, Oregon.

Birdwatching at William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Corvallis, Oregon.

Birdwatching at William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Corvallis, Oregon.

The Great Blue Heron is a shared migratory bird of the Willamette and Laja watersheds. This bird was observed at the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Corvallis, Oregon.

BIRD OBSERVATION DATA - MAY 2021

All bird observations were uploaded to eBird, contributing to community science.

33 bird species observed in these counts are shared species of the Willamette and Laja watersheds (indicated by asterisks * ).

11 bird species were observed in both the Willamette and Laja bird counts (indicated by bold text).

May 8th, 2021 - WILLIAM L. FINLEY National Wildlife Refuge, CORVALLIS, OREGON

36 SPecies observed

• 24 Canada Goose - Ganzo Canadiense

• 2 Wood Duck - Pato Arcoíris

• 2 Gadwall - Ánade friso *

• 9 Mallard - Pato de Collar/Ánade Azulón

• 1 Ring-necked Duck - Pato Pico Anillado *

• 1 California Quail - Codorniz de California

• 1 Mourning Dove - Paloma Huilota *

• 1 Rufous Hummingbird - Zumbador Canelo *

• 10 American Coot - Gallareta Americana*

• 1 Western Sandpiper - Playero Occidental

• 1 Great Blue Heron - Garza Morena *

• 1 Turkey Vulture - Zopilote Aura *

• 1 Northern Flicker - Carpintero de Pechera Común *

• 3 Black Phoebe - Papamoscas Negro *

• 1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher - Mosquero del Pacífico

• 2 Warbling Vireo - Vireo Gorjeador *

• 1 California Scrub-Jay - Chara Calliforniana

• 4 Black-capped Chickadee - Carbonero de Capucha Negra

• 3 Wrentit - Camea

• 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch - Bajapalos Pecho Canela

• 1 Marsh Wren - Saltapared Pantanero

• 1 Bewick's Wren - Saltapared Cola Larga *

• 1 Swainson's Thrush - Zorzal de Sawinson *

• 6 American Robin - Mirlo Primavera

• 1 Dark-eyed Junco - Junco Ojos Negros

• 1 Purple Finch - Pinzón Colorado

• 2 Song Sparrow - Gorrión Cantor

• 2 Spotted Towhee - Rascador Moteado

• 1 Red-winged Blackbird - Tordo Sargento *

• 1 Brown-headed Cowbird - Tordo Cabeza Café *

• 1 Orange-crowned Wabler - Chipe Corona Naranga *

• 1 Common Yellowthroat - Mascarita Común *

• 1 Black-throated Grey Warbler - Chipe Negrogris *

• 1 Wilson's Warbler - Chipe Corona Negra *

• 1 Western Tanager - Piranga Capucha Roja *

• 1 Black-headed Grosbeak - Picogordo Tigrillo *

May 2nd, 2021 - PEÑA ALTA, SAN FRANCO Community, San Diego de La Union, GUANAJUATO

44 SPecies observed

• 4 Blue-winged Teal - Cerceta Alas Azules            

• 2 Gadwall - Ánade friso *

• 35 Mexican Duck - Pato Mexicano

• 50 Ruddy Duck - Pato Tepalcate/Malvasía Canela *

• 1 Ring-necked Duck - Pato Pico Anillado *

• 2 Least Grebe - Zambullidor Menor

• 2 Mourning Dove - Paloma Huilota *

• 1 Eurasian Collared-Dove - Paloma de Collar Turca *

• 10 White-winged Dove - Paloma Alas Blancas

• 2 Inca Dove - Tortolita Mexicana

• 1 White-throated Swift - Vencejo Gorgiblanco

• 2 Broad-billed Hummingbird - Colibrí Pico Ancho          

• 53 American Coot - Gallareta Americana *

• 2 Black-necked Stilt - Monjita Americana

• 3 Killdeer - Chorlo Tildío *

• 1 Least Sandpiper - Playero Diminuto *

• 4 Spotted Sandpiper - Playero Alzacolita *

• 3 Neotropic Cormorant - Cormorán Neotropical

• 1 Great Egret - Garza Blanca *

• 2 Turkey Vulture - Zopilote Aura *

• 1 Ladder-backed Woodpecker - Carpintero Mexicano

• 2 Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet - Mosquerito Chillón

• 6 Black Phoebe - Papamoscas Negro *

• 4 Say's Phoebe - Papamoscas Llanero

• 4 Vermilion Flycatcher - Mosquero Cardenal

• 2 Ash-throated Flycatcher - Papamoscas Cenizo

• 3 Cassin's Kingbird - Tirano Chibiú

• 1 Common Raven - Cuervo Común *

• 4 Barn Swallow - Golondrina Tijereta *

• 1 Cliff Swallow - Golondrina Risquera *

• 3 Bewick's Wren - Saltapared Cola Larga *

• 1 Cactus Wren - Matraca del Desierto

• 2 Curve-billed Thrasher - Cuicacoche Pico Curvo

• 8 Cedar Waxwing - Chinito/Amapelis Americano *

• 9 Phainopepla - Phainopepla

• 2 House Finch - Pinzón Mexicano *

• 2 House Sparrow - Gorrión Doméstico *

• 3 Chipping Sparrow - Gorrión Cejas Blancas

• 2 Black-chinned Sparrow - Gorrión Barba Negra

• 2 Canyon Towhee - Rascador Viejita

• 1 Black-vented Oriole - Calandria de Wagler

• 13 Brown-headed Cowbird - Tordo Cabeza Café *

• 1 Wilson's Warbler - Chipe Corona Negra *

• 2 Blue Grosbeak - Colorín Azul  

May 8th, 2021 - LAS TINAJAS, SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, GUANAJUATO

32 SPecies observed

• 1 Inca Dove - Tortolita Mexicana

• 1 White-winged Dove - Paloma Alas Blancas

• 1 Mourning Dove - Paloma Huilota *

• 1 Greater Roadrunner – Correcaminos Norteño 

• 1 Broad-billed Hummingbird - Colibrí Pico Ancho            

• 1 Great Blue Heron - Garza Morena *

• 2 Turkey Vulture - Zopilote Aura *

• 2 Ladder-backed Woodpecker - Carpintero Mexicano

• 1 Crested Caracara – Caracara Quebrantehuesos

• 1 Say's Phoebe - Papamoscas Llanero

• 1 Vermilion Flycatcher - Mosquero Cardenal

• 1 Great Kiskadee – Luis Bienteveo

• 1 Chihuahuan Raven – Cuervo Llanero

• 1 Verdin - Verdín

• 1 Barn Swallow - Golondrina Tijereta *

• 1 Canyon Wren – Saltapared Barranqueño

• 1 House Wren – Saltapared Común *

• 1 Cactus Wren - Matraca del Desierto

• 1 Northern Mockingbird – Centzontle Norteño

• 1 Curve-billed Thrasher - Cuicacoche Pico Curvo

• 1 Cedar Waxwing - Chinito/Amapelis Americano *

• 1 Phainopepla - Phainopepla

• 1 House Finch - Pinzón Mexicano *

• 1 Black-chinned Sparrow - Gorrión Barba Negra

• 1 Lark Sparrow – Gorrión Arlequín

• 1 Canyon Towhee - Rascador Viejita

• 1 Black-vented Oriole - Calandria de Wagler

• 1 Great-tailed Grackle – Zantate Mayor

• 1 Pyrrhuloxia – Cardenal Desértico

• 1 Black-headed Grosbeak - Picogordo Tigrillo *

• 1 Blue Grosbeak - Colorín Azul

• 1 Cinnamon-rumped Seedeater – Semillero de Collar