Tess McGguire (Left) spots a bird, and Peter Vaughan writes it down during the Napa-Solano Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count. (Photo by George Johnston)

The Benicia Christmas Bird Count is, well, not just for the birds. It is an activity that many do year after year, some of whom inspire others to get in on the fun.
Every year, a group of bird watchers choose a date in December to observe birds and tally how many they come within eyesight. This year, Dec 18 was chosen as the day for the Christmas Bird Count.
The event began in 1930 by Benicia resident Emerson Stoner. He designated the area near where Interstate 680 is north of Pierce Lane. This is the 71st year the count has been held, not including the years where World War II and the Korean War were taking place. The Napa-Solano Audubun Society took it over in 1971 and has hosted it ever since. The area where the count takes place consists of all of Benicia and Cordelia, a large portion of Vallejo, Jamieson Canyon in Napa, Newell Preserve in American Canyon, Green Valley in Fairfield and the Suisun Marsh.
One group participating in the count consisted of Tess McGuire, Gayle Vaughan and her husband Pete. They spent the day at the Benicia State Recreation Area walking the grounds and counting all the birds they saw. This was was Vaughans, first Benicia Bird Count. They have been novice bird watchers and decide to gain more experience through this event.
“I did not do much bird watching when i was teaching unless I was out on a field trip or i was looking in the backyard,” Gayle, a former Benicia Middle School and Mills Elementary School teacher, said. “We did often go out and look. My dad always had a bird book by the kitchen window. I learned from him about basic birds.”
Gayle has lived in Benicia for 39 years. She grew up in Williams and credits living in the area with its local bird refuges and a desire from childhood to fly as the reason she loves the animals.
“When I was a little kid and they would ask me what i wanted to be when i grew up, I said i want to be able to fly,” she said. “Doesn’t every kid have that dream? You’re flying, you’re soaring over everything. That’s the coolest thing, to be able to fly. You can go up above and see everything that’s there.”
According to Vaughan, it has been “amazing” seeing an experienced bird watcher like McGuire spot a feathered creature and identify it instantly. In the near future, the Vaughans are planning a trip to South America where they will search for some of the more exotic birds down there.

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