Eighty-three observers undertook this count on Saturday, December 29, a beautiful winter day in Algonquin. Conditions were good for observing birds, with sun all day, a little cool-in-the-open light wind only in the morning, temperatures from minus 16 to minus 13 degrees C, and snow on the ground of 30 cm or less (with many packed-down trails making walking easy). As usual, the only open water was in limited sections of rivers and streams. However, there is virtually no cone crop this year and the preliminary count results below reflect that.
Total Observers: 83 Total Species: 25 (average is 27) Total Individuals: 1,521 (average is 4,579) Birds per Party Hour: 9 (average is 25) New Species for the Count: None Noteworthy Species: Northern Saw-whet Owl (being mobbed by Black-capped Chickadees and two Boreal Chickadees) New High Count: Wild Turkey: 12 (previous high: 6) Low Numbers: Blue Jay: 6 (the extent of the massive Blue Jay fall migration this year in southern Ontario is obvious here) Count Week species (so far): Bufflehead and Snow Bunting Winter Finches: -Pine Grosbeak: 52 -Common Redpoll: 2 -Pine Siskin: 1 (at Visitor Centre) -American Goldfinch: 5 -Evening Grosbeak: 8 Complete count results will be posted later on the Algonquin Park website: Thanks to all the participants and those who helped organize and undertake the count and tally event this year. Ron Tozer Algonquin Park CBC Compiler Dwight, ON Directions: Algonquin Park is three hours north of Toronto, via Highways 400, 11 and 60. Follow the signs which start in Toronto on Highway 400. From Ottawa, take Highway 17 to Renfrew, then follow Highway 60 to the Park. _______________________________________________ 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
