For more than a century, the National Audubon Society has enlisted citizen scientists across the country and abroad for a holiday bird survey. This year’s count is Dec. 14 to Jan. 5.
On this chilly Saturday morning, the Yuma Audubon Society is focusing on a 15-mile circle around Mittry Lake.
Water from the Colorado River attracts birds to the area, as part of the Pacific Flyway – a major route for migratory birds.
Nancy Meister, president of the Yuma chapter, said consistent counts help answer questions about long-term shifts in bird populations.
“Are we losing birds? Are we gaining birds?" Meister said. "Are they changing in terms of latitude? Are they not coming down as far south or are they heading more north?”
At the end of the day, the Yuma teams inventory the birds during dinner.
This year’s results are about average, Meister says, with nearly 20,000 birds and 113 species. The tally will be added to the international Audubon survey.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect the final number of birds observed during the Yuma count.