The 34th Petroglyphs Christmas Bird Count was held on Saturday, January 4, 2020 - a day with very pleasant weather. It was an extremely calm day (excellent listening conditions), temperature was hovering around zero for most of the day, with mostly overcast skies.
Participants: 36 (above average) Total species: 29 (below the 10-year average of 32.4 - there were few finch species present and virtually no open water for waterfowl, gulls, etc.) Total individuals: 3338 (well above the 10-year average is 2248) Notable species and high counts included: BARRED OWL: 26 (crushing the previous count high of 11 individuals) DOWNY WOODPECKER: 50 (much higher than the 10-year average of 23 and near the count high of 54) HAIRY WOODPECKER: 70 (much higher than the 10-year average of 37) PILEATED WOODPECKER: 33 (much higher than the 10-year average of 14) CANADA JAY: a single bird was seen along the Jack Lake Rd (until 2009 recorded annually but since then only recorded in 2014, during count period in 2016, and in 2017 and 2019) BLUE JAY: 652 (much higher than the 10-year average of 239 and nearly tying the count high of 653) RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 278 (much higher than the 10-year average of 81) WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 170 (much higher than the 10-year average of 86) WINTER WREN: count period only GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET: 108 (much higher than the 10-year average of 31 and near the count high of 20) Low Counts: BALD EAGLE: 2 (10-year average is 6 and count high is 14) Winter Finches: PURPLE FINCH: 115 RED CROSSBILL: 43 including at least two different types. Type 2 individuals were recorded and confirmed by Matthew Young at Cornell. At least a single Type 3 individual was also heard calling overhead. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL: count period only (Petroglyphs Provincial Park) AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 8 (very low - 10-year average is 163 and count high is 714) PINE SISKIN: 2 AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 262 Misses. BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER: although not recorded every year, very likely a scarce resident species within the count circle. SNOW BUNTING: only missed 5 other times in the 34 year history of the count The count circle (including the 6 areas) can be viewed at the following link: https://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?msid=217208700112631695001.0004d125bfd0d20adc5de&msa=0&ll=44.660839,-77.950058&spn=0.2525,0.676346 Thanks to all participants! Colin Jones, Compiler Peterborough, ON _______________________________________________ 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
