The preliminary report on the 22nd Denver Urban Christmas Count
shows that we have 89 species, 33,000 birds. (This comes from full reports of 9
of the 15 field parties, verbal ones from most of the others, but few feeder
reports.) The number of species is above average, though about average for the
last 9 years. So far I can't compare the nubmer of individuals with previous
counts.
Geese compose two/thirds of the individual birds reported so far,
and waterfowl another 15 per cent or so. Their totals already far exceed the
average and already bump against the previous high. Species with over 1,000
individuals, so far, include Mallard, N. Shoveler, Rock Pigeon, Starling, and
House Sparrow (it's an urban count, after all).
* 21 waterfowl including 3 Barrow's Goldeneyes at the place reported on
Cobirds along the Platte, and all three merganser species (on the Platte
between Confluence Park and Riverside Cemetery), 11 Snow Geese (both forms),
and 2 Greater White-fronted Geese (with Canadas, somewhere between Evans &
Colfax, I think).
* 10 raptor species including N. Goshawk, and Merlin
* A White Pelican at Cherry Creek Reservoir, which waved its wings on Jan. 1,
but survived only until yesterday, because today a Bald Eagle fed on its
carcass.
* Birds seen on less than 10 counts include Barn Owl (Rocky Mtn. Arsenal NWR),
American Pipit, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Harris's Sparrow.
* And one new bird for the count: Dick Schottler and Dick Pratt watched three
Wild Turkeys stroll down for a drink just north of Riverside
Cemetery (they talked to someone who said he usually saw four).
Hugh Kingery, Count compiler
--
Colorado Field Ornithologists: http://www.cfo-link.org/
Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/
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