The 35th Burk's Falls Christmas Bird Count was held on Friday, December 14.
It covers the area bordered by Burk's Falls on the south, Sundridge on the
north and Magnetawan on the east, along the Highway 11 corridor between
Huntsville and North Bay.
The 22 participants found 38 species of birds, and 2540 individuals
The major lake in the region, Lake Bernard was again ice free resulting in
higher diversity and number of waterbirds. Ice free lakes are becoming the
new trend.
Highlights
Common Loon - one on Lake Bernard, 4th time on count
Common Goldeneye - 49 - new high (previous was 13 in 2001) - only 6th time
Hooded Merganser - 2 - only 6th time but present this year and previous two
Common Merganser - 61 - new high (previous was 53 in 2001)
Wild Turkey - 19 - new high and third time
Ring-billed Gull - 1 - only 4th time
Iceland Gull - 1 - 4th time
Glaucous Gull - 9 - new high (previous was 2 in 2001) - 5th time on count
Blue Jay - 221 - above average
Black-capped Chickadee - 920 - 9th highest total
Boreal Chickadee - only 2nd time since 1999 - coming to feeder in Sundridge
(e-mail for directions)
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 50 - well below average - very few cones
White-breasted Nuthatch - 40 - new high (previous was 35 in 2002)
Northern Cardinal - 3 - ties previous highs of 1993 and 1995, 10th time
(massive influx into area in late October and early November)
Winter Finches - Pine Grosbeak (131), Purple Finch (2), White-winged
Crossbill (8), Common Redpoll (218 - average), - there was a lack of cones
Martin Parker
Compiler
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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/
