The 44th annual Meaford CBC was held on Sunday December 28. Theday was mild (-1 to +2), as were days leading up to the count, melting all thesnow cover. Winds were light. Fine mist of rain and light snow at times through theday. Georgian Bay water was open, with noice edge; all but a few small ponds were also ice-free. Despite the warm temps and mostly clearweather, counting was slow, but the teams managed to find just above theaverage number of species for the count. However, overall numbers were down, especially considering 1000 birds were of asingle species - one glorious flock of Snow Buntings! No record highs, onerecord low, no new species: Total species – 49 (43 yearaverage is 46)Total individuals – 3455 (below average)New species - 0 (cumulative total remains at 118) New highs - 0 Ties - 0Lows - House Sparrow – 2 (#’s have been dropping over last 10 years); MourningDove - 14 (lowest in 34 years).Notables/mentionables: 2 Evening Grosbeak; Golden Eagle continuesto winter in the Beaver Valley; Bald Eagle numbers continue to rise/stabilize; 1Common Loon (injured) and 1 Great Blue Heron -unusual, but occur occasionally (10 x in 44 yrs); 1 red-phase Eastern Screech Owl roosting in a nest box.
Lynne RichardsonThornburyCompiler _______________________________________________ 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
