Hamilton counters gather at The Teller Education Barn (1180 Chaffin Ln Corvallis) at 7:30 AM with the intent of getting to the field by daylight about 8:00. The Hamilton group honors a 32-year-old tradition by meeting back at The Teller for lunch featuring homemade chili and Oreos, and of course some delectable Christmas goodies. The counts are serious endeavors, but congenial birders interested in sharing their knowledge with beginners make the atmosphere competitive but lots of fun.

Hamilton counters see an average of 67 species with a high count of 78 in 2013. The Hamilton area averages nearly 7,500 birds seen, many of which are waterfowl on the Daly Mansion Pond where open water remains available every year. We’ve recorded 133 species in the Hamilton circle.