Over 100 observers found 67 species. The species count was below the 10 year average of 72 due to an early onset of winter; a rather cold, snowy and windy day; and perhaps the poorest finch winter in a couple of decades. Just under 16,000 individual birds were counted, the lowest in over a decade, also helped by a low American Crow count of 3,743 (10,000 is the usual count). Official results are expected to be released early in the new year.
Highlights included 2 Harlequin Ducks, a White-winged Scoter, and the first record of a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker. The day also saw an all-time high of 9 Snowy Owls. Completely absent were Bohemian Waxwing, crossbills, redpolls, and Pine Siskin. The Ottawa-Gatineau count is organized by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club and the Club des ornithologues de l'Outaouais. Bernie Ladouceur, compiler _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
