The Ottawa-Gatineau CBC was held Sunday, December 28. Weather conditions were close to ideal. Preliminary results show 159 field observers and 31 feeder watchers finding 77 species, which is about five species above average.
Most of the highlights were water birds including 3 Northern Shovelers, a Harlequin Duck, 2 Horned Grebes, a Red-necked Grebe, an American Coot, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, and 14 Iceland Gulls. Winter bird highlights included 2 American Three-toed Woodpeckers, Northern Goshawk, a male and female Barrow’s Goldeneye, and isolated pockets for Pine and Evening Grosbeaks. It appears we will tie or exceed record highs for Merlin (7) and Cooper’s Hawk (perhaps as many as 19). Over 60,000 individuals were counted. This includes an ever increasing American Crow roost of approximately 30,000 individuals. Thanks to my co-compiler, Daniel Toussaint, the sector leaders and participants, the crow counters, and the support of our two sponsoring clubs: the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club (OFNC) and the Club des orinithologues de l’Outaouais (COO). Bernie Ladouceur -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Birdnews is reserved for announcements, location summaries, first of year reports, etc. To post a message on Birdnews, send an email to: [email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Birdnews Moderators by email at [email protected]. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel. To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
