The 29th Petroglyphs Christmas Bird Count was held on Saturday, December 27, 2014 under very good conditions. The day was overcast but calm and above freezing with only some light drizzle in the late afternoon.
Participants: 27 Total species: 38 (average is 32, high is 40) Total individuals: 2717 (average is 2460) Most of the 38 species detected were detected in good numbers (i.e. well above the 10-year average). There were two new species recorded this year: EASTERN SCREECH-OWL: 2 (presumed pair dueting before dawn) MERLIN: 1 Other Noteworthy Species: CANADA GOOSE: 1 (4th time on count) NORTHERN HARRIER: 1 (2nd time on count) SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: 1 (6th time on count) GRAY JAY: 2 (single birds at two different locations - until 2010, an average of 5.5 birds were recorded annually on this count - with the exception of 1990. From 2010-2013 none were recorded so single birds at two traditional territories holds promise that some are still hanging on in the southern portion of their Ontario range). BOREAL CHICKADEE: 1 (5th time on count, last recorded in 2005) WINTER WREN: 1 (4th time on count) Record High Counts: RED-TAILED HAWK: 10 (previous high 8) HERRING GULL: 8 (previous high 5) GREAT HORNED OWL: 3 (previous high 1) BARRED OWL: 11 (previous high 7) WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 233 (almost doubling the previous high of 119) Low Counts: MOURNING DOVE: 9 (below 10-year average of 21) RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 43 (below 10-year average of 96) Count Period Only Birds: BOHEMIAN WAXWING Finches were very few as follows: COMMON REDPOLL: 87 HOARY REDPOLL: 1 AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 48 EVENING GROSBEAK: 1 The count circle (including the 6 areas) can be viewed at the following link: https://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?msid=217208700112631695001.0004d125bfd0d20adc5de&msa=0&ll=44.660839,-77.950058&spn=0.2525,0.676346 Thanks to all participants! Colin Jones, Compiler McCracken's Landing, ON _______________________________________________ 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 Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
