The 29th Christmas Bird Count for the Caledon circle, which includes Orangeville and Erin, was held on Dec 29 by Headwaters Nature. Last year's count was cancelled due to COVID and this year we had only 16 field observers for the same reason. A normal complement is 26, so coverage was not as thorough as normal. We also had 6 feeder watchers. The temperature was around 0C but the weather was dull all day, cloudy and foggy with light precipitation at times. Still water was mostly frozen. Total birds counted was 3,235, about 25% below the last five year average. However the 41 species found was average.
New Species – Hooded Merganser (4), Barred Owl and Eastern Bluebird (5) (though a single Bluebird was a count week sighting in 1989). Record High Numbers – Trumpeter Swan – (3), previously 1 in 2015; Winter Wren (2), previously 1 in 1994. Count week included a pair of Brown-headed Cowbirds. Notable misses – no gulls, great blue heron, kingfisher, northern shrike, brown creeper or winter finches (expect Purple). Thanks to all who participated. Russ McGillivray Compiler, ONCD -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Birdnews is reserved for announcements, location summaries, first of year reports, etc. To post a message on Birdnews, send an email to: [email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Birdnews Moderators by email at [email protected]. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel. To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
