The 61st Peterborough Christmas Bird Count took place on Sunday December 16th. On a dull wet day 35 participants found a total of 58 species, the same total as last year and four below our record. Of particular note was one new species - a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (has not been relocated since), and the previously reported Northern Hawk Owl.
Records broken (previous high): Mallard 1264 (1124) Ring-necked Duck 3 (2) Common Merganser 255 (71) (Lake Chemong had large reaches of unfrozen water for many years) Wild Turkey 287 (225) Eastern Screech-Owl 3 (2) Black-capped Chickadee 1951 (1759) White-breasted Nuthatch 102 (95) Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 (2) Dark-eyed Junco 426 (366) Record tied: Barred Owl 2 Other high numbers: Northern Cardinal 107 - Highest for 20 years Common Redpoll 539 - Highest for 20 years Low numbers: Red-tailed Hawk 19 - Half of the last ten year average Blue Jay 125 - Lowest for 15 years American Robin 9 - Lowest for 16 years Tony Bigg Compiler _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
