Summer Lake Shorebird Survey
Objective: Count of the number and distribution of breeding shorebirds at Summer Lake Wildlife Area. We will systematically cover all of the wetland units and determine the magnitude by species and location.
Date: June 8 & 9, 2019 – You can arrive the night before or even come down for the day
Requirements: We are looking for birders who can count and identify the breeding species found on the Wildlife Area (killdeer, snowy plover, long-billed curlew, willet, Am. avocet, black-necked stilt, spotted sandpiper, Wilson’s phalarope and Wilson’s snipe). The numerical count by location or area is most important.
Accommodation: The small bunkhouse is not available this year, although you can camp or park an RV, or pay to stay in the lodge.
Dogs are not allowed. This is the peak of nesting season and the presence of dogs would be very disturbing to breeding birds. Even the most well behaved and best of controlled dogs could cause problems with eggs and/or chicks.
Registration: Please email Mike Bogar to sign up. If you are an inexperienced birder, you will be able to accompany more experienced people and learn the birds.
The birds: Apart from the shorebirds this is the prime season to see Summer Lake. There are lots of Bitterns, Cranes, Egrets, Night Herons, White Pelicans and Terns. It is a fantastic area to bird. There is plently of time to explore the immediate area for desert birds and Winter Ridge for Forest birds. We have found some unusual birds in the past couple of years: Great-Tailed Grackle, Franklin's Gull, Wandering Tattler, Sanderling, Whimbrel, Red Phalarope and Yellow Rail