West Humber Naturalists held its 27th annual Kleinburg Christmas Bird Count on Sunday December 16th. This coincided with a major winter storm that reduced the numbers of observers, species and individual birds. 42 species and 1812 individuals were recorded by 9 fields observers and 11 feeder watchers. Both of these totals were well below the averages for the count of 56 species and 12562 individuals. Low counts were recorded for all species because of the limited number of observers and the poor conditions but they were especially low for waterfowl because of the lack of open water (13 Canada Geese, 63 Mallard, 1 Black Duck). Highlights included Hoary Redpoll, Hermit Thrush and Fox Sparrow. Notable misses (with years previously seen in brackets) were Northern Harrier (25), Ruffed Grouse (25), Great Horned Owl (26), Herring Gull (26), Song Sparrow (26) and Horned Lark (21). I would like to thank everyone who joined us for the count and look forward to a better year in 2008. Bob Noble West Humber Naturalists Christmas Bird Count Compiler _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
