It is with heavy hearts that we announce that the 2020 San Francisco and Oakland Christmas Bird Counts have been cancelled due to public health orders. We are grateful to those of you who signed up for our sponsored counts. And of course, we are disappointed that we will have to wait until 2021 to join with you in the next Christmas Bird Counts.  

We are cancelling the counts this year due to the Bay Area’s newest regional stay-at-home orders, which prohibit interaction between members of different households and also has shut down many outdoor destinations. Although we did our best this year to adapt the CBCs to help ensure safety, we are cancelling the event to comply with the Bay Area’s health orders.

In the meantime, here are two online events that we’d recommend for you to participate in.

Project Feeder Watch: Go to feederwatch.org and learn how to create and contribute your report about birds that you see at your feeder. Your reports will be part of a valuable reservoir of data for conservation projects!

Auk the Vote’s Phone Banks for Georgia: The Georgia Senate run-offs determine control of the US Senate. Please join a coordinated effort by Auk the Vote!, Georgia Audubon, and the Environmental Voter Project in a series of non partisan phone banks beginning December 19th. Go to aukthevote.org for more information on how you can participate. 

We can take solace in the beautiful natural environment that surrounds us, and our continued ability to go out in the company of members of our household or just in the company of nature, to enjoy our local birds. We are also optimistic that next year we will be able to enjoy each other’s company during the count and at the celebratory post-count dinner. 

Let’s look forward to the San Francisco and Oakland CBC in 2021! Stay safe and be well.