The Ottawa-Gatineau CBC was held Sunday, December 15. The count is a joint
effort of the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club (OFNC) and the Club des
ornithologies de l’Outaouais (COO). Temperatures ranged from -15 to -7 C, with
only a few centimetres of snow on the ground; waterways were partly frozen.
Approximately 170 field observers and 26 feeder watchers found 77 species and
42,855 individuals. The most abundant bird was, again, American Crow. We
produced a roost count of 25,000 birds, down several thousand from the previous
year, but the effort was hampered by more birds than usual coming into the
roost well after dusk.
Highlights included Northern Pintail, 2 Green-winged Teal, 5 Greater Scaup,
Common Loon, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Northern Saw-whet Owl, an amazing 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, an equally amazing 7 Eastern Bluebirds,
White-crowned Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, and Pine and Yellow-dumped Warblers.
There were record highs for Eastern Screech Owl (6), Common Raven (181), Winter
Wren (3), Carolina wren (7), and White-throated Sparrow (62). 40 Hooded
Margansers tied a record high. Red-winged Blackbird (3) and Common Grackle put
in their first appearances in a while. Count week birds included Red-necked
Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Snowy Owl, and Red-bellied Woodpecker.
Winter finches were near non-existent (10 Pine Siskin and 1 Evening Grosbeak);
and numbers were low, too, for Bohemian Waxwing (6). Cedar Waxwing (13), and
Purple Fich (18). On the other hand, birds such as Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush
(6), Northern Flicker (3), and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, once very rare in the
winter, are becoming regular winter birds for us. Dark-eyed Junco (950) and
Northern Cardinal (790) were very close to record highs. Winter birding in
Ottawa sure has changed!
Thanks to my co-compiler, Daniel Toussaint of the COO, the sector leaders, and
all who participated!
Bernie Ladouceur (OFNC), compiler
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