Margaret Bain posting for Roger Frost, compiler.
Fifth Annual Rice Lake Plains Christmas Bird Count, January 1, 2017 The Fifth Annual Rice Lake Plains Christmas Bird Count took place on January 1, 2017. Thirty-five field observers and 11 feeder watchers counted 9,116 birds of 49 species. The weather, for a change, was good, with light winds and temperatures around freezing. Highlights included: Turkey Vulture – 2 in Area 2 Northern Goshawk – 1 in Area 3 Rough-legged Hawk – 1 in Area 3 Bald Eagle – 2, single birds in Area 3 and 4 Winter Wren – 1 in Area 2 Northern Mockingbird – 1 in Area 2 White-crowned Sparrow – 1 in Area 4 Evening Grosbeak – 8 birds found in Area 4 and 5 Twenty-four species were counted in record high numbers. This was mainly due to the good weather, large number of observers and the fact that this was only the fifth count. Some of the more outstanding high counts were: Wild Turkey – 549 (previous high 246 in 2014) Mourning Dove – 710 (previous high 380 in 2016) White-breasted Nuthatch – 138 (previous high 74 in 2015) Eastern Bluebird – 52 (previous high 18 in 2013) American Robin – 786 (previous high 45 in 2013) European Starling – 1524 (previous high 408 in 2016) Only Red-tailed Hawks (13) were found in record low numbers. Due to the lack of open water, waterbirds were almost entirely absent. Similarly, most finch species were missed entirely. _______________________________________________ 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
