The 15th annual Strathroy Area Christmas Bird Count was held on December 21, 2010. It was fairly cold, with temperatures between -13 and -6. The snow cover was fairly deep, from approximately 8" to 12", with drifting in some areas up to 20". As a result of the snow cover, normally accessible areas could not be surveyed. The species total was low, with 52 species located.
There was one new species discovered: GREATER SCAUP (2 birds at the Strathroy Sewage Lagoons) High totals of nine species were seen: . MUTE SWAN (3) . BALD EAGLE (4) . SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (12) . ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (63) . WILD TURKEY (330) . EASTERN SCREECH-OWL (29) . GREAT HORNED OWL (10) . DOWNY WOODPECKER (116) . CEDAR WAXWING (166) There were several species, normally seen on the count, that were missed this year: . NORTHERN HARRIER . RING-BILLED GULL . SHORT-EARED OWL . NORTHERN SHRIKE . EASTERN BLUEBIRD . HERMIT THRUSH . YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER CAROLINA WREN, which is normally seen on the count, was missed yesterday. However, one came to my feeder today. So it will be a CW bird this year. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
