Isabella Christmas Bird Count

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This year’s Jan 3 Isabella CBC marks the end of an era: It will be the first time in decades that Steve Schon won’t be MC for our post-count dinner. While I wish this was the opening of one of my fact-challenged CBC notes, it is not: Steve and Ann moved from MN recently.

 

Steve has been a good and steadfast friend for as long as I can remember, which is like two days ago, but Mary assures me it has been decades. He’s one of the very few to willingly accompany me on my all-day, cross-country CBC adventures, aka Wilson Death Marches (but more recently Old Man Walkabouts). Despite being handicapped by the shorter stride of a height-challenged individual, he survived them all, never losing his preternaturally upbeat, good-natured disposition, no matter the conditions.

 

 

So where is Steve taking his charm, wit, musical ability, unfailingly cheery disposition, kind heart, generosity, many talents and good looks? (All but one of those is true.) The last place one might expect; the land of wildfires, choking smoke, atmospheric rivers, floods, drought, heat waves, earthquakes, air pollution and perhaps worst of all, year-round pickleball: California. It made no sense until he confided that his real reason was to be closer to his secret crush, Kim Khardashian. (Good luck with that, Steve.)

 

I know I speak for anyone who’s ever attended a post-dinner count wrangled by Steve: We’ll miss you! That means we’ll need someone to manage the post-dinner count (I can’t). We’re not looking for another Schonie, of course, just someone who can talk and count (the reason I can’t do it). I have a tentative volunteer, but there is a possibility he won’t be able to make it, so if you’re interested, please let me know. (A notable perk: The MC is granted immunity from Grab-a-Gift.)

 

As always, please let me know if you intend to participate by December 28 to give me time to organize parties, assign territories and make maps. Also, let me know how many in your party will be joining us for the post-count salad – bread – lasagna dinner (provided) at the Isabella Community Center, and how many prefer the herbivore version of lasagna.

 

I will assign you to a group and/or area shortly before the count day based on the number of counters participating and road intel available at that time. If you are a loner, I’d prefer to assign you to another party for safety, but that is not a requirement to participate. As is typical, I don’t expect we’ll be able to access most of the count circle by vehicle. If able, I hope you’ll include a willingness to walk on packed trails, or better yet, snowshoeing on unpacked trails or off-trail altogether. Also, please let me know:

 

1. Whether counting all day or part of day only.
2. Group size, participant names, who the leader is, who will be responsible for recording and returning your data to me if not the leader, and whether you are willing to be teamed with others.
3. Type of vehicle (car, truck, SUV; 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive).
4. Whether willing to: count from car only (limited opportunity because few roads are plowed); hike or ski on plowed roads or packed trails; hike, snowshoe, or ski on unplowed roads/unpacked trails, or even do the same off-trail by bushwhacking through the woods (opportunities abound!); snowmobile, ATV, dogsled or fat-tire bike (I’m looking at you, Sparky).
5. Whether you'd like to participate in the downy woodpecker tree-use study (requires ability to identify all local tree species in winter).

 

Steve Wilson

Count Compiler

218-323-7633