BIRD WATCHERS SET TO TAKE WING 103RD ANNUAL CHRISTMAS COUNT ON TAP SATURDAY AROUND VALLEY.

Byline: Kerry Cavanaugh Staff Writer

For the serious bird watcher, this Saturday morning is a must. Birders will be out in rain or shine, armed with binoculars and intent on spying the common and the rare of San Fernando Valley birds as part of the National Audubon Society's annual Christmas Bird Count.

This marks the 103rd year for the count, which brings both the avid and novice birders nationwide out into the cold to catalog the winged creatures in their community.

The San Fernando Valley Audubon Society has planned eight count groups Saturday to eye the sky from Chatsworth to Lake View Terrace. The results will be collected and sent to the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology in New York to fill out the national study of bird distribution and population.

``Often the Christmas Bird Count is the only measure of what's out there,'' said Arthur Langton, who has collected count results since the 1960s. ``This is one of the ways an amateur can contribute to what we know.''

Langton has watched bird populations grow and decline over the years as the Los Angeles landscape changed. Rivers and creeks have been lined in cement, grasslands have been paved and many urban birds now forage in picnic trash and garbage cans.

Birds that were once as common as sea gulls on schoolyards are now rare finds, Langton said.

Take the horned lark, a grassland bird that appeared in high numbers on the Christmas Bird Count 20 to 25 years ago. Now Langton would consider Saturday a lucky day if he could record a single horned lark.

``That would be a neat bird to see,'' he said, wistfully.

As some birds disappear from the area, others like the great-tailed grackle from the blackbird family are becoming more prevalent. Because of the recent rain after several dry years, Langton expects to see more wading birds, more ducks and high numbers of Canada geese.

Even without the current influx of waterfowl, a Los Angeles bird watcher is sure to see some fine specimens a short drive from the city's urban core. California has more bird species than any other state except perhaps Texas, but that's a matter of state debate and maybe some rivalry, Langton said.

Local birders can join Langton and other Audubon leaders on group bird counts Saturday. Binoculars, a field guide, note paper and pencil are all handy for bird watching. Most groups start early and will continue past noon, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water and snacks.

And birders who can't get away from home Saturday can still participate, Langton said. They can count the birds species in their yard and report them to Langton [phone].

IF YOU GO

--Here are the group counts planned Saturday in the San Fernando Valley:

Caballero Canyon and Mountain Gateway Park: Meet at 8 a.m. From the Ventura Freeway, go south on Reseda Boulevard about 2.2 miles to Caballero trailhead on the east side of Reseda, across from Braemar Country Club. Wear boots. Bring a snack, water and lunch.

Hansen Dam and vicinity: Meet at 7 a.m. From Osborne Street, turn onto Dronfield Avenue and enter the park. Head downhill and park in the large parking lot. Bring a lunch and drink.

O'Melveny Park: Meet at 10 a.m. Take Balboa Boulevard north past the Ronald Reagan Freeway and turn left/west on Sesnon Boulevard. Continue for half a mile and park on the right. Bring lunch and a drink.

Pierce College: Meet at 8 a.m. Enter campus from Winnetka Avenue and meet by the flagpole in front of the Administration Building. Bring a drink and snack.

Sepulveda Basin: Meet at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot east of Woodley Avenue and north of Burbank Boulevard. Bring a drink and lunch.

Limekiln Canyon: Meet at 8 a.m. Park on the north side of Rinaldi Street, one block west of Tampa Avenue.

Wilson Canyon: Meet at 8 a.m. Take the Foothill Freeway and exit at Roxford Street. Turn north on Roxford and the road curves right to become Olive View Drive. Watch for the park entrance on the left. Go uphill and bear left at the fork. Bring water and a snack.

Chatsworth Nature Preserve: Meet at 8 a.m. at the preserve entrance at the north end of Fallbrook Avenue. Bring lunch and water. Be prompt and plan on staying until 2 p.m. No smoking or pets.

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IF YOU GO (see text)