The 40th Annual Burk's Falls Christmas Bird Count was held on Friday. December 16 with temperatures ranging from -28C to -8C. This count is in the eastern section of the District of Parry Sound, halfway between Huntsville and North Bay on Highway 11. There were 23 field participants and 3 feeder watchers.
A total of 24 species consisting of 2671 individual birds were recorded. The freezing conditions prior to the count resulted in no gulls and only two species of waterfowl. Lack of spruce and other cones reduced the number of winter finches. The overall highlight was the presence of a Red-bellied Woodpecker in the Magnetawan area, a new species for this count, bring the all-time total number of species to 92. Other highlights: 2 Trumpeter Swan at Magnetawan, 18 Wild Turkey (new high) but only 2 Ruffed Grouse, 3 Northern Shrike, 9 Gray Jays, 115 Bohemian Waxwing, 34 Pine Grosbeak, 3 Purple Finch, 16 White-winged Crossbill, 658 American Goldfinch (new count high). Winter finch numbers were low with no Red Crossbills, only 4 Common Redpoll, and no Pine Siskin. A special thanks to Alex Mills who started this count in 1977 and still attends with a crew from Barrie. _______________________________________________ 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
