Pickering Christmas Bird Count January 2, 2010
Sorry for the late posting.
Pickering held its 57th Christmas Bird Count on Saturday January 2,
2010. A total of 62 species were counted,
well down from last year's 70 species. In contrast to the species
count, the number of individual birds tallied was 20, 212, more than
50% higher than on January 3, 2009. There were 31 field observers and
6 feeder watchers.
New for the count was Ruddy Duck, with 4 birds seen. Common Raven was
new on last year's count, and this time, 3 birds were reported.
Highest-ever counts were made for Wild Turkey - 69 (previous maximum 54
on Dec. 17/05), Snow Goose - 4 (previous maximum 3 on Dec. 26/89, seen
on 7 previous counts) and Canada Goose - 12, 987 (previous maximum 11,
901 on Dec. 17/06). Half of the Canadas and all of the Snow Geese were
seen in a single huge flock on the lakeshore near Lynde Shores CA.
Second-highest counts were established for Greater Scaup- 659 (previous
maximum 666 on Jan. 3/09), Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4 (previous maximum
6 on Dec. 18/07) and Red-breasted Nuthatch - 16 (previous maximum 18 on
Dec. 17/06). Third-highest counts were noted for Gadwall - 28
(previous maximum 48 on Dec. 26/90), Cooper's Hawk - 6 (previous
maximum 8 on Jan. 3/09) and White-crowned Sparrow (seen on 7 previous counts
with a previous maximum of 6
on Dec. 26/86).
The weather was very cold for Pickering, with an overnight low of -18
degrees, a high of only -9 degrees, and a brisk wind. Despite mild
conditions earlier in the winter, the area experienced a rapid hard
freeze shortly before the count with dire consequences for our less
hardy species. Notable misses on this CBC included Great Blue Heron
(seen on 27 previous counts), Belted Kingfisher (seen on 29 previous
counts) and Swamp Sparrow (seen on 37 previous counts).
This freeze-up also contributed to low tallies for gulls: Ring-billed -
245 (3rd lowest count of the decade), Herring - 126 (4th lowest since
Dec. 27/76), Glaucous -1 (low), and Great Black-backed - 8 (2nd lowest
since Dec. 26/78). Many of the counts for ducks were likewise low,
especially Mallard - 240 (lowest since Dec. 26/83) and Common Merganser
- 23 (lowest since Dec. 26/86).
With cold weather and a good snow-cover, one might anticipate a good showing of
finches - that is if there had been any significant presence of finches in this
part of the province. The only finch species present in reasonable numbers was
American Goldfinch - 599 (highest count of the decade, 6th highest overall,
previous maximum 943 on Dec. 26/84). In one area, this was the most common
species!
Other sightings of interest included Hooded Merganser - 1 (seen on 13 previous
counts with a maximum of 7 on Dec. 15/02), Black-capped Chickadee - 804
(highest count this decade), Winter Wren - 2 (seen on 17 previous counts) and
Northern Mockingbird (seen on 9 of the last 10 counts).
Species missed on count day but seen seen during count week included
Ring-necked Pheasant (seen on 37 previous counts), and three owl species -
Great Horned (found on 39 counts), Long-eared (found on 27 counts) and
Short-eared (found on 6 counts).
Many thanks to all of the field counters and feeder watchers, and particularly
to our hosts for the wrap-up, Jonathan and Rosemary Oliver. Our hard-working
CBC compiler is Glenda Jones.
The count was conducted by the Pickering Naturalists. Pickering is located
immediately east of Toronto. It extends from the shore of Lake Ontario north
to the Oak Ridges moraine. The count area incorporates the neighbouring
community of Ajax, as well as portions of Lynde Shores Conservation Area,
including Cranberry Marsh.
Steve LaForest
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