[nysbirds-l] 2012 Rockland County CBC Results - Preliminary
Preliminary 2012 Preliminary CBC Results The 66th Annual Rockland County CBC was conducted on December 16, 2012. Thirty-nine field counters covered eight of the nine sub-regions within the Rockland count circle. (On average, the missing sub-region adds approximately 1,470 individuals to the total count.) Air temperatures remained near 40°F with a light to moderate rain persisting throughout much of the day. All water bodies were open and ice-free. A total of 13,826 individual birds representing 87 species was counted. The count includes one count week species and one feeder count report. The number of species observed in 2012 is fairly typical. The range for 1947 through 2011 is 47 to 92 species with an average of 74. The number of individuals counted, however, is somewhat on the low side. For 1947-2011, counts range from 2,275 to 59,622 with an average of 18,975. For 2012, the top three most abundant species were: European Starling (3,568), Canada Goose (3,015), and Ring-billed Gull (1,403). Together, these three species make up nearly 58% of the total count. The full count will be posted, along with past years, on www.rocklandaudubon.org, when the results have been finalized. (Still awaiting addition feeder counts and count week reports.) The highlights are given below. Increases Northern Shoveler 2012 was the highest recorded count, 133 compared to the previous high of 94 in 2011. Great Blue Heron the 2012 count of 53 surpassed the previous high of 42 in 1999. Bald Eagle the 2012 count of 44 individuals (18 juveniles and 26 adults) topped the old record of 29 established in 2007. Decreases Canvasback continues to decline; only 16 seen in 2012 compared to the average 181 (1947-2011). Herring Gull seven seen in 2012 compared to the average 914 from 1947 through 2011. Numbers have declined substantially since about 2000, likely the result of capping and other waste management practices at the Clarkstown and Haverstraw landfills. American Crow 260 seen in 2012. This was the 12th lowest count since 1947 and the lowest count since 1970. Red-winged Blackbird 26 seen in 2012. The average for the entire 1947-2011 period is 678. Common Grackle 40 seen in 2012 compared to the 1947-2011 average of 360. The large roosting flocks typically found in Piermont Marsh were not evident this year. Misses Yellow-rumped Warbler seen in 51 of 65 years; none in 2012. Field Sparrow - seen in 55 of 65 years; none in 2012. Swamp Sparrow - seen in 58 of 65 years; none in 2012. Purple Finch - seen in 58 of 65 years; none in 2012. Other counts of note Brant four seen at Haverstraw Bay County Park. This is only the third time since 1947 that Brant have found their way onto the Rockland count. Red-throated Loon the three seen in 2012 (one in Haverstraw Bay and two near Piermont) equal the total number seen in the previous 65 years ( one in 1952, one in 1970, and one count week bird in 2006). Wilsons Warbler single individual seen on count day as well as on the two days preceding the count. Present in the backyard of a private residence near Piermont. Photographs of the individual are available upon request. This species is rare in Rockland even in the Spring and Summer, but there is at least one record from Rockland County as late as December 19 dating back to 1961. Most Disappointing Find Barred Owl a freshly killed individual found on the road near Haverstraw Bay County Park. This species was previously unknown from this area of the County. Alan Wells, CBC Compiler Rockland Audubon Society -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] 2012 Rockland County CBC Results - Preliminary
Preliminary 2012 Preliminary CBC Results The 66th Annual Rockland County CBC was conducted on December 16, 2012. Thirty-nine field counters covered eight of the nine sub-regions within the Rockland count circle. (On average, the missing sub-region adds approximately 1,470 individuals to the total count.) Air temperatures remained near 40°F with a light to moderate rain persisting throughout much of the day. All water bodies were open and ice-free. A total of 13,826 individual birds representing 87 species was counted. The count includes one count week species and one feeder count report. The number of species observed in 2012 is fairly typical. The range for 1947 through 2011 is 47 to 92 species with an average of 74. The number of individuals counted, however, is somewhat on the low side. For 1947-2011, counts range from 2,275 to 59,622 with an average of 18,975. For 2012, the top three most abundant species were: European Starling (3,568), Canada Goose (3,015), and Ring-billed Gull (1,403). Together, these three species make up nearly 58% of the total count. The full count will be posted, along with past years, on www.rocklandaudubon.org, when the results have been finalized. (Still awaiting addition feeder counts and count week reports.) The highlights are given below. Increases Northern Shoveler 2012 was the highest recorded count, 133 compared to the previous high of 94 in 2011. Great Blue Heron the 2012 count of 53 surpassed the previous high of 42 in 1999. Bald Eagle the 2012 count of 44 individuals (18 juveniles and 26 adults) topped the old record of 29 established in 2007. Decreases Canvasback continues to decline; only 16 seen in 2012 compared to the average 181 (1947-2011). Herring Gull seven seen in 2012 compared to the average 914 from 1947 through 2011. Numbers have declined substantially since about 2000, likely the result of capping and other waste management practices at the Clarkstown and Haverstraw landfills. American Crow 260 seen in 2012. This was the 12th lowest count since 1947 and the lowest count since 1970. Red-winged Blackbird 26 seen in 2012. The average for the entire 1947-2011 period is 678. Common Grackle 40 seen in 2012 compared to the 1947-2011 average of 360. The large roosting flocks typically found in Piermont Marsh were not evident this year. Misses Yellow-rumped Warbler seen in 51 of 65 years; none in 2012. Field Sparrow - seen in 55 of 65 years; none in 2012. Swamp Sparrow - seen in 58 of 65 years; none in 2012. Purple Finch - seen in 58 of 65 years; none in 2012. Other counts of note Brant four seen at Haverstraw Bay County Park. This is only the third time since 1947 that Brant have found their way onto the Rockland count. Red-throated Loon the three seen in 2012 (one in Haverstraw Bay and two near Piermont) equal the total number seen in the previous 65 years ( one in 1952, one in 1970, and one count week bird in 2006). Wilsons Warbler single individual seen on count day as well as on the two days preceding the count. Present in the backyard of a private residence near Piermont. Photographs of the individual are available upon request. This species is rare in Rockland even in the Spring and Summer, but there is at least one record from Rockland County as late as December 19 dating back to 1961. Most Disappointing Find Barred Owl a freshly killed individual found on the road near Haverstraw Bay County Park. This species was previously unknown from this area of the County. Alan Wells, CBC Compiler Rockland Audubon Society -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
