The 84th Kitchener CBC was held today (December 16th). The snow and cold weather this week froze most water but stretches of the Grand River were still open. The snow seemed to do a good job of concentrating many birds but cleared out others (especially gulls). There are still many feeder counts to come in so most totals will change.
69 species have been found on count day, which is our third-best total ever, and well above-average for the last twenty years (61). Total number of individuals was fairly high at 31, 603 (average is 28,776) although that is largely driven by large numbers of American Crows, Canada Geese, and Mallards. One new species (long overdue Eastern Bluebird!) for the count was found bringing the cumulative total to 142. Unusual species: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (3rd record), Common Raven (3rd), Trumpeter Swan (4th), Gray Catbird (4th), American Wigeon (4th), Fox Sparrow (4th), Mute Swan (6th), Snow Goose (7th), Wilson’s Snipe (7th), Barred Owl (9th), Hermit Thrush (14th). New highs: Trumpeter Swan (26, previous high 5 in 2016), Hermit Thrush (3, previous high 1 in 13 years), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (2, previous high 1 in 2 years), Snow Goose (19, previous high 10 in 2008), White-throated Sparrow (25, previous high 21 in 2014), Red-bellied Woodpecker (55, previous high 54 in 2016), Carolina Wren (4, previous high 4 in 2006), Merlin (3, previous high 3 in two years). Other high counts (20 year average): Mute Swan 5 (0.3), Pine Siskin 216 (31.5), Bald Eagle 11 (4), Horned Lark 85 (35.5), Wild Turkey 207 (87.6), Eastern Screech-Owl 26 (11), American Crow 7434 (3966.6), American Robin 187 (104.4), Golden-crowned Kinglet 86 (55). Low counts (20 year average): Bufflehead 1 (15.7), Herring Gull 99 (1227.1), Ring-billed Gull 169 (835), Swamp Sparrow 1 (4), Glaucous Gull 1 (4), Snow Bunting 71 (238.8), Northern Shrike 1 (3.3), Purple Finch 1 (3.1), Great Horned Owl 3 (6.3). Notable misses (times recorded on last 20 counts): American Kestrel (18), Great Black-backed Gull (18), Common Redpoll (13), Iceland Gull (12), Lesser Black-backed Gull (10), Ruffed Grouse (8), Brown-headed Cowbird (8). Thanks to all the counters we had this year and especially to Virgil and Beth 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 19, 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
