2003 Hamilton Christmas Bird Count Highlights Count Date: Dec. 26, 2003
The 2003 Hamilton Christmas Bird Count was very successful, with several records set. A grand total of 77,280 birds of 101 species was seen on Count Day, Dec. 26, 2003. The total of 101 species identified on December 26 was the highest ever for count day (previous high was 100 in 1997). With eight other species seen Dec. 23-25 or 27-29 but not on Dec. 26, this year also saw the highest total of Count Day Identified plus Count Week Species at 109 (previous high was 103 in 2002 and 1997). Although weather conditions were very good, there is no doubt that the species records resulted from the work of the 111 participants, the highest number since the first Hamilton Christmas Bird Count in 1921. Illustrating the need to have as many participants as possible, 26 of the species seen on Count Day were found in only one area. Another 14 species were seen in only two areas. Weather: 3AM-6AM - Cloudy, southwest winds 18 kmph gusting to 30, low temperature -2C. 6AM - dark - clear skies, winds west 28 kmph gusting to 40, high temperature +3C. Many land species were hard to find in some areas. Hamilton Harbour and Burlington Bay were mainly ice free. Creeks were flowing freely but Cootes Paradise was almost completely iced over. Large numbers of lake ducks seen a week earlier and later were probably well offshore due to high winds. Activity: 111 participants; 42 Field parties; 9 Owling parties; 16 Feederwatch reports. 191.5 hours walking (daytime); 57.3 hours driving (daytime); 16 hours owling; 65.75 hours feederwatching; 265.05 km walked daytime; 1176 km driven daytime; 207.3 km driven owling; 2.5 km walked owling. New species for the count: Greater White-fronted Goose, Common Raven. Since 1954 a total of 176 species have been seen on Count Day. Some 32 species have been seen on the last 50 Hamilton CBCs (1954-2003); 7 additional species have been seen on 49 of those counts. Totals for 69 species were higher than the 10-year average (1993-2002). Totals significantly higher (double or more) in 2003 than the average for the previous 10 years were: Pied-billed Grebe*, Red-necked Grebe*, Double-crested Cormorant*, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Trumpeter Swan*, Ruddy Duck*, Rough-legged Hawk, Wild Turkey, Red-bellied Woodpecker*, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch*, Carolina Wren and Pine Siskin. Species marked with an * reached new highs for the last fifty years of the count (1954-2003), as did Red-throated Loon, Mute Swan, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ring-billed Gull and White-breasted Nuthatch. Species totals significantly lower (half or less) in 2003 than the average for the previous 10 years (1993-2002): Great Black-backed Gull, Blue Jay. Other highlights: American Crow and Black-capped Chickadee totals were 30% and 20% respectively above their ten-year averages (1993-2002). A drop of almost 3000 in Canada Goose numbers over the 2002 number is unexplained. Directions: Hamilton is the large city on the west end of Lake Ontario opposite the CN Tower and Sky Dome. Mike Mike Street Ancaster, Ontario, Canada [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mike Street <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
