The 36th North Bay Christmas Bird Count was completed on December 14th by 18 Field Watchers and 10 Feeder Watchers. Weather was mild. Field Watchers enjoyed surveying on foot and with open car windows. Feeder Watchers commented that there were fewer than normal birds feeding. However, the species total (34) and total birds counted (2835) are healthy averages for the effort put forth. No records were broken, but two highs were matched: Bald Eagle (6) and Song Sparrow (2). Notable species which do not always make the count but were observed this year include: Common Goldeneye (2), Common Loon (2), Rough-Legged Hawk (3), Herring Gull (5), Gray Jay (2), Brown Creeper (1), Snowy Owl (1), Bohemian Waxwing (82), Song Sparrow (2), White-Throated Sparrow (5), Northern Cardinal (2), Common Grackle (6), Pine Grosbeak (16), Hoary Redpoll (1). Observed during count week were Canada Goose, American Robin and American Tree Sparrow. Higher than usual count was obtained for Mallard (578), Bald Eagle (6), Pileated Woodpecker(15), and Common Redpoll (436). Lower than expected counts were tallied for Downy Woodpecker (9), Northern Shrike (0), Dark-Eyed Junco (0), and American Goldfinch (10). Recovered from a low count in 2013 were Hairy Woodpecker (32), American Crow (52), Black-Capped Chickadee (579), Red- Breasted Nuthatch (18), White-Breasted Nuthatch (26), and Evening Grosbeak (53). Counts of the day were tallied at the home of the Co-ordinator where great food and tales of the day's adventures were shared. One group shared a photo of a White-Crested Polish chicken observed foraging in a driveway of a home on Trout Lake. However, the finest story was that provided by an Area Leader who had been called to a residence the day before CBC to assist with a Common Loon in distress. The Loon, for reason not known, had become grounded in a snow covered yard, far from water (just about all of which is now frozen). Our member was able to relocate the Loon (which was apparently uninjured) to some remaining open water in Trout Lake at the inlet of Lee's Creek. This same Area Leader observed a Common Loon fishing in this same open water for the tally on CBC day! Compiler, Lori Anderson _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
