The 28th Petroglyphs Christmas Bird Count was held on Thursday, Jan 2, 2014. The temperature was a very cold -27 degrees Celsius in the early a.m. and only went up to about -20 around mid-day. There were also strong winds all day (including early in the morning). Many species were sparse this year due to a lack of natural foods but there is little doubt that the cold temperature and strong winds also contributed to the low numbers (even the Black-capped Chickadees were largely unresponsive to pishing, squeaking and owl calls).
Participants: 30 Total species: 27 (average is 32) Total individuals: 1988 (average 2454) Noteworthy Species: CANADA GOOSE: 3 (3rd time on count) RED-TAILED HAWK: count period only GOLDEN EAGLE: 2 (visiting some beaver carcasses put out by a local trapper) BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER: 1 (Petroglyphs Provincial Park) AMERICAN ROBIN: 3 (5th time on count and fist since 2004/05) High Counts: WILD TURKEY: - 126 (a new count high - virtually all were associated with feeders) BLUE JAY: 564 (near count high of 653) AMERICAN TREE SPARROW: 73 (above 10-year average of 24 but no where near count high of 218) DARK-EYED JUNCO: 21 (above 10-year average of 5 but no where near count high of 168) Low Counts: RUFFED GROUSE: 9 (below 10-year average of 19 and well below record high of 77) MOURNING DOVE: 5 (well below 10-year average of 21) RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 48 (below 10-year average of 96) WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 35 (below 10-year average of 61) EUROPEAN STARLING: 7 (below 10-year average of 24) Misses: NORTHERN SHRIKE: although not recorded every year, at least 1 is recorded most years GRAY JAY: missed for the fourth year in a row. Although single birds have been recorded in both Petroglyphs Provincial Park and the Kawartha Nordic Ski Trails last year, no family groups have been noted for several years. Prior to 2010, the average count was 5 and they were recorded every year with the exception of 1990. Finches were very few as follows: RED CROSSBILL: 4 (appeared to be small-billed individuals associating with Eastern Hemlock on Jack's Lake Rd) AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 202 EVENING GROSBEAK: 4 The count circle (including the 6 areas) can be viewed at the following link: https://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?msid=217208700112631695001.0004d125bfd0d20adc5de&msa=0&ll=44.660839,-77.950058&spn=0.2525,0.676346 Thanks to all participants! Colin Jones, Compiler McCracken's Landing, ON _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
