Christina Burnham

On September 15th, the Hawaiian Honeypeepers took to the field for the 46th Annual Bird-A-Thon, co-captained by Young Friends of Point Blue's Lucy Stevenot and Antarctica program scientist Christina Burnham. Our team of 12 gathered at 9 am at the Point Blue headquarters in Petaluma, where we fueled up on a hearty breakfast and plenty of coffee. As we made our introductions, we quickly realized that for many of the Honeypeepers, this wasn’t just their first Bird-A-Thon—it was also their first birding experience! And what better place to start their birding adventure than Shollenberger Park, a vibrant marsh just a few steps from the office doors. Bright blue skies and crisp morning air set the perfect backdrop as we tallied 26 bird species, including the elegant American avocet with its distinctive curved bill, a northern harrier gliding over the marsh in search of prey, and two cackling geese—migrants from the far north that overwinter in California.

Around 11 am, we left the marsh behind and headed into the scenic rolling hills off Lakeville Highway to Lucy’s family property. Along the way, we caught glimpses of coyotes and jackrabbits darting through the golden grasses and turkey vultures wheeling overhead. Perched atop a hill, the property provided sweeping views of the surrounding farmland, with ponds fed from a winding creek framed by groves of oak and sycamore trees. The colorful ornamental plants in the front yard of the Stevenot home attracted Anna’s hummingbirds, while other common favorites like mourning doves, house finches, and northern mockingbirds flitted busily between shrubs and structures. In the wilder back acreage, we were treated to sightings of Nuttall’s woodpecker, western bluebirds, and even a hooded oriole. The property boasted a variety of wildlife beyond birds—Pacific chorus frogs nestled in the stalks along the creek’s edge, western fence lizards basked atop wood piles, and monarch butterflies fluttered by. With these critters, we managed to complete one of the day’s Marcia Grand Bird-A-Thon team challenges—recording a reptile, a mammal, and an invertebrate, in a nod to the tradition set by Rich Stallcup, Point Blue's co-founder, who meticulously logged all species seen while out in the field.

At 12:30 pm, the team paused for a well-deserved break, enjoying homemade pizza courtesy of Lucy’s parents. Seated together, the Honeypeepers exchanged tales of our favorite sightings, compared notes on elusive species, and traded some cheerful quips. As the conversation flowed, we got to know each other better, turning our group of ragtag new birding companions into something more—a team energized by a shared passion for conservation and wildlife. As the break ended, however, the pressure began to build. We had set our goal at 40 bird species within four hours. We knew we were close to that number, but with some shorebird and gull species still awaiting verification from photo reviews, the total remained unclear. Had we reached our goal? With less than twenty minutes left on the clock, we thanked the Stevenots for hosting and made haste back to Point Blue headquarters. From there, it was a short power-walk to the constructed wetlands of the Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility, where, peering over the thick stands of reeds, we spotted five more species, including gadwall, pied-billed grebes, and the breathtaking sight of a white-tailed kite in flight.

In total, the Hawaiian Honeypeepers recorded an impressive 45 bird species in just four hours. It turns out we had reached our goal all along! But the memory of the team's hustle and excitement during those final moments as we scrambled to log those last sightings will always make us smile. It was a wonderful day filled with great birding, beautiful landscapes, and a shared appreciation for nature, and we look forward to continuing the tradition in future Bird-A-Thons!