*Pickering Christmas Bird Count January 2, 2011*
Pickering held its 58th Christmas Bird Count on Sunday January 2, 2011. A total of 69 species were counted, well up from last year’s 62 species. The number of individual birds tallied was 21, 606, an increase of 14% over our previous CBC. There were 25 field observers and 7 feeder watchers. New for the count was Peregrine Falcon, with 2 birds seen. This was only our third year for Common Raven, with 2 birds seen on this CBC. Highest-ever counts were made for Horned Grebe – 3 (previous maximum of 1, seen on 5 previous counts), American Crow – 722 (previous maximum of just 478 on Jan. 3, 2009), Red-breasted Nuthatch – 23 (previous maximum of 18 on Dec. 17, 2006) and Carolina Wren – 2 (ties maximum of Dec. 26, 1993, singles were seen on 5 previous counts). The tally for American Black Duck (175) was the highest in 23 years. A second-highest tally was made for Trumpeter Swan – 12 (maximum of 13 on Dec. 28, 2003). Other sightings of interest included Green-winged Teal – 1 (seen on 3 previous counts), Bald Eagle – 1 (seen on 5 previous counts), Bohemian Waxwing – 21 (seen on 5 previous counts), White-winged Scoter – 1 (seen on 7 previous counts), American Coot – 1 (seen on 8 previous counts), Redhead – 1 (seen on 9 previous counts), Northern Pintail – 2 (seen on 11 previous counts) and Hooded Merganser – 1 (seen on 12 previous counts), The weather was mild with temperatures just slightly below freezing and light winds. Our snow cover had recently vanished in rain showers. As a result, feeder birds and ‘snow’ species were in short supply. Notable misses on this CBC included Red-breasted Merganser (seen on 30 previous counts), Great Horned Owl (seen on 37 previous counts), Pileated Woodpecker (seen on 34 previous counts) and Song Sparrow (seen on 43 previous counts). Our most disappointing miss this year was paradoxically a species that has never been recorded on our CBC. A Wood Thrush at Lynde Shores C.A. woodlot was present well into late December, but apparently vanished just prior to the count! We had low tallies (Hooray!) on this CBC for two undesirable alien species: Mute Swan – 3, and House Sparrow – 155 (second lowest in 48 years!). The tally for American Tree Sparrow (173) was the lowest in 43 years. Count week observations included Wild Turkey (seen annually on CBC since Dec. 28, 2003), Barred Owl (seen on 17 previous counts) and Northern Mockingbird (seen on 9 of our last 11 counts). Many thanks to all of the counters and feeder watchers, and especially to our hosts for the wrap-up, Jonathan and Rosemary Oliver. Our hard-working CBC compiler is Glenda Jones. Pickering is located immediately east of Toronto. It extends from the shores of Lake Ontario north to the Oak Ridges moraine. The count area incorporates the neighbouring community of Ajax, as well as portions of Lynde Shores Conservation Area, including Cranberry Marsh. Sorry for the late posting. Steve LaForest Pickering Naturalists _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
