The 71st Kitchener CBC was held December 17, with 55 observers in the field and at feeders. A total of 69 species were found, the fourth highest for the count, and well above the 20-year average of 62. The 27, 063 individuals was also well above the 20-year average of 21,442.
New Species for Count: Sandhill Crane - 1, brings the cumulative species total to 129. Other uncommon species: Mute Swan - 5 (5th occurrence) Scaup spp. - 1 (5th occurrence of either species) Bufflehead - 33 (10th occurrence) Hooded Merganser - 1 (9th occurrence) Bald Eagle - 3 (8th occurrence) Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 (8th occurrence) Merlin - 1 (7th occurrence) Wild Turkey (3rd occurrence) Northern Saw-whet Owl - 1 (2nd occurrence) Hermit Thrush - 1 (9th occurrence) Bohemian Waxwing - 1 (3rd occurrence) Eastern Towhee - 1 (20th occurrence, but the 3rd in past 17 years) Field Sparrow - 1 (11th occurrence) Lapland Longspur - 1 (5th occurrence) Record high counts (previous high, year): Bufflehead - 33 (7, 2003) Bald Eagle - 3 (3, 2003) Northern Saw-whet Owl - 1 (1, 1993) Red-bellied Woodpecker - 10 (6, 2004) American Crow - 2,131 (1,217, 2000) Winter Wren - 9 (6, 1992) Hermit Thrush - 1 (1, 8 other years) White-throated Sparrow - 19 (15, 1983) Above average counts (20-year average): European Starling - 8058 (4175) Canada Goose - 5508 (3489) American Crow - 2131 (506) Dark-eyed Junco - 864 (539) Horned Lark - 165 (34) American Robin - 220 (68) Cooper's Hawk - 10 (6) Blue Jay - 346 (257) Below average counts (20-year average) Pine Siskin - 1 (38) American Kestrel - 2 (18), this species has declined almost every year from a high of 44 in 1987 Common Redpoll - 9 (52) Great Black-backed Gull - 8 (45) Great Horned Owl - 3 (12) House Finch - 170 (419) House Sparrow - 836 (1693) Cedar Waxwing - 101 (175) Notable misses: Ruffed Grouse 3rd miss in last 8 years, and 4th miss ever. Purple Finch (7th miss in last 34 counts) Summer Tanager (13th miss in last 15 counts) Thanks to all the participants who made this years count another success! Mike Burrell Heidelberg, Ont.
