On December 27th, 2020 local Mississippi Valley and area volunteers took part in the 121th Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC). The annual event is a worldwide citizen science project organized by Audubon and Birds Canada and it is supported by the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists. The event involves the surveying of bird populations within thousands of predefined areas, each roughly 450 square km. Volunteers record the number and the species type of each bird seen anywhere within a 12 km radius circle centered on the Carleton Place downtown bridge. The recorded sightings are valuable data provided to Audubon for their ongoing research into changes and distributions of bird populations.
This year’s CBC was supported by 30 field and 29 feeder observers who recorded 8338 individual birds comprising 51 species. The results are very close to our record levels of 8800 individuals and 52 species. In addition, there were 4 count week species and 8 records tied or broken.
- Green-winged Teal – found by Rene behind RONA – a first ever
- Mallard – record high 95 with 83 from Mike’s CP town count
- Bald Eagle at 7
- Coopers Hawk – tied at 3
- Raven – at 86
- White-breasted Nuthatch at 265
- Cardinal at 93
- Eastern Towhee – continues at a local feeder
Ravens by: Sheila Craig and Redpoll by: Penny Osbourne
There were over 1300 Common Redpolls seen with a couple of Hoary Redpolls mixed in, as well there was good numbers of Bohemians and Raptors. A couple of Red-winged Blackbirds and a Bluebird were still in the area (good spotting Mary – last time I remember it was you and Howard who brought home the Bluebirds).
Thank you one and all for your participation and excellent efforts. A special thanks to the new participants (Natalika, Irena, Gerard, William and Sheila) and the return of Ron who did his traditional trail walk. Best to all of you in 2021 and may all of your birding include at least one new species.
The complete list of sightings can be found on the MVFN website under the Birding menu as well as on the Audubon site within their CBC pages for all areas including ours which is designated by Audubon as “ONCP”.
Happy New Year to All of You.
Cheers
Iain
