*64th Pickering CBC – December 30, 2017*
Pickering held its 64th Christmas Bird Count on Saturday December 30, 2017. The count was sponsored by Pickering Naturalists. A total of 65 species were counted, somewhat below our 15-year average of 66.3 species per count. Our highest count for this period was 77 species in 2012. The number of individual birds tallied this year was 15, 757, a decrease of 21% from our previous CBC. There were 35 field observers and 6 feeder watchers. Count day started off very cold at – 14 degrees C, with a wind chill of – 17. It warmed up to a balmy – 7.5 (wind chill – 13) by 3:00 pm, then dropped again to – 11 (wind chill – 19) at 5:00 pm. Conditions were calm at daybreak but winds from the north and west increased throughout the day, reaching 8 km/hr at 11:00 am and a brutal maximum of 28 gusting to 43 by 4:00 pm. We had bright overcast skies for most of the day, with a marginal amount of light snow falling intermittently in the afternoon. The sky cleared in late afternoon. Snow cover consisted of several cm of light snow. Marshes and bays were iced over, with creeks almost completely frozen except for a very few small leads. An overall total of 154 species have been seen on the count since its inception in 1949. No new species were added this year. Common Loon was reported for the second time only (the previous report involved a single bird in 1991). Other unusual species for our count included King Eider – 1 (our third record – singles were found in 1963 and 1987), Peregrine Falcon – 1 (our third record – 2 were seen in Jan. 2011 and 1 in Dec. 2012) and Black-crowned Night-Heron – 1 (our fifth record – previously noted in 1989 – 2, 1991 – 2, 1992 – 1, and in 2005 – 2). Common Grackle (1) was seen for only the second time since 1991 (one bird was also observed in Jan. 2014). Up to 1991, this species had been reported about every other year. Brown Thrasher (1) was noted for only the third time since 1984 (singles were also seen in 1992 and 2001). We had record-high counts for Mute Swan – 110 (unfortunately!!! – the previous maximum for this most undesirable alien was 44 in Jan. 2014); Red-bellied Woodpecker – 28 (the previous maximum was 16 last year, and 13 in Jan. 2015); Common Raven – 17 (the previous maximum was 13 last year, with a first-ever record in Jan. 2009); and Eastern Towhee – 3 (the previous maximum was 2 in 1970). Other relatively high counts included Wild Turkey – 88 (our third-highest tally, the maximum counts were 139 in Jan. 2014 and 93 in Dec. 2012); Snow Bunting – 240 (the highest since 2007, when 323 were seen); and Song Sparrow – 9 (the highest since 2001, when 11 were noted). Low counts were recorded for several dabbler ducks as well as gulls – presumably due to the prolonged cold snap. American Black Duck has been seen annually since 1964, but this year’s tally of 8 was one of the two lowest ever (only 6 were seen in 2007). At 147, the count for Mallard was the lowest count since 1971. Buffleheads (18) were likewise in short supply. The tally was the lowest since 1983, when 12 were reported. Counts for Ring-billed – 213, Herring – 40 and Great black-backed Gull – 4, were all at their lowest level since Jan. 2009. Both Glaucous and Iceland Gulls were absent altogether, although these species have been seen on 41 and 26 CBCs respectively (but see also the count week species listed below). As for songbirds, we had one of our lowest counts for Black-capped Chickadee (367) since 1964. The only CBC with a lower count during this period was in Jan. 2005, when 294 were recorded. A low tally was also recorded for American Goldfinch (165) – the lowest since Jan. 2004. Four species were reported during count week (but not on the CBC day itself): Great Horned Owl (seen on 42 previous CBCs), Glaucous Gull (seen on 41 previous CBCs), Rusty Blackbird (seen on 24 previous CBCs) and Red Crossbill (seen on 8 previous CBCs). Of the species missed on this year’s CBC, a few bear mentioning: Golden-crowned Kinglet (reported on 53 CBCs), Purple Finch (noted on 45 CBCs), Ruffed Grouse (observed on 50 CBCs – but irregular since about 2004), and Northern Mockingbird (seen about annually since 1981). American Kestrel is a significant and worrisome miss. This was the second consecutive year that it was missed, although it had previously been reported annually (if count week records are included) since 1959. Most of our CBCs have been held in December (for many years, it was scheduled on Boxing Day – Dec. 26). When I refer to previous CBCs held in December, I simply refer to the year. If I refer to a count held in January, I have made this explicit (e.g., Jan. 2010). This should avoid confusion regarding which CBC is being referenced. The Pickering CBC was initiated by Dr. J. Murray Speirs on Jan. 2, 1949, and has been carried out for 64 years (with an unfortunate lapse of 5 years from 1995 to 1999). The count area extends from the shores of Lake Ontario north to the Oak Ridges moraine. It is centred at latitude 43.902 degrees north, and longitude 79.097 degrees west. The CBC area incorporates the neighbouring community of Ajax, as well as portions of Lynde Shores Conservation Area, including part of Cranberry Marsh, in Durham Region. Please visit our website at www.pickeringnaturalists.org for more information on our club. Many thanks to all of the counters and feeder watchers. We especially appreciate the generosity of our hosts for the wrap-up, Jonathan and Rosemary Oliver – and their remarkable feeding station! Our dedicated CBC compiler is Glenda Jones, ably assisted by Dan Shire and Karen McKillop. Carolyn King provided additional research, with data grinching and historical analysis by yours truly. Sorry for the very late posting. Steve LaForest Pickering Naturalists stevelafor...@hotmail.com _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
