With its beeping call and bright carrot-like beak, the Black Oystercatcher is the clown among the 2012 Bird of the Year nominees. Audubon California first involved itself with the species in 2010 when we were surprised to see how little was known. Despite their special status as a federal Focal Species, and their popularity with the bird-watching public, there was almost no baseline information such as abundance, distribution or breeding success.

So in 2011 we conducted the first-ever targeted survey for Black Oystercatchers in California and then followed it up with a breeding season survey this past year. These two surveys are providing the basis for a soon to be released report that will provide a deeper look into the popular bird than has ever been possible. The initial findings show that the species is doing better than expected, great outcome to conservation efforts along the coast.

If you want to celebrate the success of this species, please vote the Black Oystercatcher for Bird of the Year.

(Photo by Mike Baird)