Hello Terre Haute birders,
I would like to set SUNDAY Dec 20 as the date for this year's Christmas bird count. That's on the first weekend of the count period (which begins Dec 14 this year), and recent experience has shown that Sunday is a much better day traffic-wise for bird counting than Saturday -- quieter and safer. If the weather forecast for Sunday is terrible and Saturday better, we might use Saturday as a back-up.
Please let me know if this date will work for you, if you are interested in participating this year.
Given the covid-19 situation, careful social distancing is in order. Birding on your own or within a family "bubble" should minimize that problem. We can communicate by cell phone during the day, as we usually do, and you can call me or email me with totals after finishing. If the weather is decent, perhaps we can have an optional outdoor lunch meeting at either Dobbs or Fairbanks Park; keep our distances, wear masks, and limit the time.
Every year is different, and this one may be excellent for winter finches and nuthatches. Good numbers of Pine Siskins and Red-breasted Nuthatches are on hand, and Evening Grosbeaks are staging a remarkable invasion deep into Indiana, with records in about 20 counties. Steve Lima saw a pair in West Terre Haute a few days ago.
Thanks for your interest; forward this message to any likely birders I've omitted. I'll send out further instructions as the date approaches.
Peter Scott