January 1, 2022 marked the 4th Christmas Bird Count in Smooth Rock Falls. Six feeder stations and three field observers tallied a respectable 15 species, plus 3 count week species.
Our most numerous bird was Common Raven, at an all-time high of 116. Our lowest was Evening Grosbeak, with only one bird observed, although there was a flock of at least seven at my feeders the day before. An abrupt drop in temperature (-3 C on Dec. 31, and -25 C in the morning of Jan. 1) may be to blame for our record low number of individuals: 244. Notably missing this year was Bald Eagle. There were no really unusual sightings. Observers were delighted with the number of Blue Jays in the area, and two each of Boreal Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches were good additions to the list. Thank you to all who volunteered their time in this year's count! Angie Williams -- 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.
