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Nature Link

With Blake Mann

2002 Christmas bird counts

Tuesday, December 31, 2002

We are well into the annual Christmas Bird Count period which ends January 5. I participated in several in the region, including Kettle Point, Rondeau, Strathroy and Wallaceburg. On December 14, I spent time in Rock Glen and Arkona for the Kettle Point Count. I came up with a very respectable 25 species seen in or from Rock Glen CA. It is amazing what you can dig up when you "beat the bushes". My highlights there included 2 Robins, a Ruffed Grouse, a Golden-crowned Kinglet, and a Brown Creeper. Total species for the entire count ended up at 71. Other highlights for this CBC included a Golden Eagle, and a Turkey Vulture.
The next day, Rondeau/Blenheim turned up a decent total of 99 species. It was a windy day (as was Saturday), so birds were hunkered down. I did south point trail in the park, and scraped up 33 species, a little above average. My highlights included 2 Fox Sparrows, 3 Field Sparrows, 2 Robins, and 8 Carolina Wrens. Elsewhere on the count were 2 Turkey Vultures, an Eastern Phoebe, a Brown Thrasher, and a female King Eider.
On December 21, we also participated in the Strathroy count. It was yet another windy day (where does all this wind come from?). An average total of 54 species were tallied, including an Eastern Phoebe (new for the count), a Carolina Wren, and several Northern Flickers. I birded Longwoods area and came up with 20 species there, including 3 Flickers, and 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets.
The Wallaceburg CBC was held on December 28, starting out with brisk winds (what's new?). Total species tallied was a very respectable 82, although overall numbers were down considerably. This was our second highest – last year being 87. One new species for the count included 2 female Surf Scoters on the St. Clair River. I had seen this duo on the 24th at Fawn Island, but then I saw 2 White-winged Scoters on the 25th. The white-winged ended up being a count week bird, as well as the Turkey Vulture I saw on the 26th. Record high numbers were for Herring Gull, Long-eared Owl, Golden-Crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird and Yellow-rumped Warbler. Low numbers were tallied in Tufted Titmouse (19), and Great Horned Owl (1) – likely caused by West Nile Virus. Other notables were 2 Common Loons, an Iceland Gull, Field Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, 3 Eastern Towhee, 30 Wild Turkey, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Duck numbers were probably at an all time low. Also during count week were a Thayer's Gull and a "Nelson's" Gull (hybrid glaucous Xherring) that I noted on the St. Clair River previous to the count. The total species list for Wallaceburg's CBC is now at 121.
The prize this year goes to Kingston, where they racked up an amazing 109 species on December 14. The highest species tally usually is a contest between Kingston, Long Point and Rondeau each year. Long Point only recorded 87 this year. Numbers of birds were significantly down on all counts this year.
Christmas Bird Counts are done each year all over North America to census numbers and types of birds. They have been taking place for over 100 years, and have been very popular in recent years.
Saturday, January 4 will be windy.