The 83rd Kitchener CBC was held today (December 17th). We had a lot of snow in the week leading up to the count, including overnight last night, ending early this morning. That seems to have forced a lot of birds in to feeders and sheltered areas. Most water was frozen this year, unlike the last few years. Conditions during the day were fairly pleasant, especially given those of the last 48 hours. 67 species were found on count day, which is up from last year’s 62 and the twenty year average of 61. Total number of individuals was 27,511, slightly above average. No new species for the count were found, leaving the cumulative total at 141.
There are still many feeder counts to come in so some numbers will change for those species. Unusual species: Common Raven (2nd record), Trumpeter Swan (3rd), Tufted Titmouse (3rd), Fox Sparrow (3rd), Peregrine Falcon (6th), Gadwall (7th), Long-eared Owl (9th), Lesser Black-backed Gull (10th), White-crowned Sparrow (10th), Hermit Thrush (13th). New highs: Dark-eyed Junco (1314, previous high 1052 in 2013), Bald Eagle (14, previous high 10 in 2014), Red-bellied Woodpecker (48, previous high 45 in 2014), Fox Sparrow (3, previous high 1 in 2006 and 1999), Trumpeter Swan (5, previous high 3 in 2015), Pileated Woodpecker 11 (previous high 10 in 2010). Other high counts (20 year average): Merlin 2 (0.8), Wild Turkey 171 (77.8), Song Sparrow 27 (13), American Crow 6883 (3640), Blue Jay 345 (213.6), White-breasted Nuthatch 187 (117), Carolina Wren 1 (0.7), American Tree Sparrow 661 (436), Mourning Dove 899 (596). Low counts (20 year average): Great Black-backed Gull 2 (40.9), Herring Gull 170 (1294), Ring-billed Gull 132 (847), American Kestrel 1 (4.8), Northern Shrike 1 (3.3), Great Blue Heron 4 (9.7), Pine Siskin 13 (30.8), American Black Duck 34 (71.3). Notable misses (times recorded on last 20 counts): Northern Harrier (14), Glaucous Gull (14), Common Redpoll (13), Iceland Gull (12), Hooded Merganser (12), Ruffed Grouse (9), Brown-headed Cowbird (8). Count week birds to date: Green-winged Teal, Sandhill Crane. Thanks to all the counters we had this year and especially to Beth and Virgil Martin who hosted the post-count meal and compilation. For more information or if you find any "good" (including any of those species listed as misses above) species in the count circle between now and December 20, please contact me privately. Here is a map showing the location of the Kitchener and all other Canadian Christmas Bird Counts: http://www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/cbc/index.jsp?targetpg=mapviewer&lang=EN Mike Burrell Kitchener CBC Compiler _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
