The 84th Toronto Christmas Bird Count was held on Sunday, December 14th. The count circle is centred on the corner of Avenue Rd. and Roselawn Ave. in the City of Toronto. A record 108 participants took part in this year's Toronto CBC. A total of 89 species was found on count day (slightly above the 10 year average of 87) including a total of 51,071 birds (9th highest count all-time; about 2.5% below the 10 year average of 52,390). Highlights of the count included: 2 male Black-throated Blue Warblers - a first ever for the Toronto count - the 171st species all-time to be seen on count day (excluding count week birds) 1 American Pipit - 8th record for the count 1 Common Yellowthroat - 9th record for the count 1 Killdeer - 14th record for the count The Top Ten species counts were: European Starling 16,841; Rock Pigeon 4,683; Long-tailed Duck 4,280; Ring-billed Gull 4,252; House Sparrow 2,403; Mallard 2,367; Canada Goose 1,967; Redhead 1,857; American Robin 1,224; Greater Scaup 1,223 Record high counts included: Trumpeter Swan 6 (ties 6 in 2007); Common Merganser 980 (previously 480 in 1953); Red-breasted Merganser 712 (previously 309 in 2006); Sharp-shinned Hawk 18 (ties 18 in 2001); Cooper's Hawk 21 (previously 16 in 2006); Red-tailed Hawk 99 (previously 89 in 2005); Merlin 3 (ties 3 in 2005 and 2007); Rock Pigeon 4,683 (previously 4,136 in 2007); Downy Woodpecker 245 (previously 234 in 2006); Eastern Bluebird 8 (previously 5 in 2005); Dark-eyed Junco 962 (previously 821 in 1989); Northern Cardinal 517 (previously 478 in 2006). Unususally low counts included: Gadwall 178 (lowest since 141 in 1982); American Black Duck (third lowest count since the 1940s); Bufflehead 411 (lowest since 261 in 1995); American Crow 99 (the seventh consecutive year under 100 individuals since the appearance of West Nile Virus in our area in 2002 - 1294 had been seen in 2001). Species missed altogether (of those which have been found on more than 20 of the 84 count days): Wood Duck, Northern Pintail, Harlequin Duck, Rough-legged Hawk, Ring-necked Pheasant, Hermit Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Rusty Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Purple Finch and Evening Grosbeak. The Toronto Ornithological Club would like to express thanks to our gracious hosts Mary Ellen Hebb and Robin Fraser who hosted a wonderful round-up celebration party for over 60 of our count volunteers. Good luck to all of the other Ontario CBCs and happy holidays to all Glenn Coady Toronto CBC compiler _________________________________________________________________
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