The 92nd Toronto Christmas Bird Count was held yesterday on Sunday December 17th. The day was freezing, but windless conditions made bird detection fun and relatively easy. With 91 species tallied overall, species diversity was solid, although individual numbers of birds were quite low at 28,178 (for perspective, our record high was 69,350 in 1998). The low individual count was largely due to scarce waterfowl; ducks were scattered around Toronto’s waters at very low densities, and no large rafts were found anywhere.
Sadly, no new count birds were detected, but interesting sightings of the day include Tundra Swan <http://cbc.torontobirding.ca/#/graph/Tundra Swan> (2), Double-crested Cormorant <http://cbc.torontobirding.ca/#/graph/Double-crested Cormorant> (2), and a Rusty Blackbird <http://cbc.torontobirding.ca/#/graph/Rusty Blackbird>. However, it was the sparrows who took the day! A continuing Fox Sparrow <http://cbc.torontobirding.ca/#/graph/Fox Sparrow> was seen in High Park, a Lincoln’s Sparrow <http://cbc.torontobirding.ca/#/graph/Lincoln's%20Sparrow> was found at Tommy Thompson Park, and three Savannah Sparrows <http://cbc.torontobirding.ca/#/graph/Savannah%20Sparrow> were found collectively in High Park and the base lands of Tommy Thompson. Record high numbers of Trumpeter Swan <http://cbc.torontobirding.ca/#/graph/Trumpeter%20Swan> (44) and Northern Cardinal <http://cbc.torontobirding.ca/#/graph/Northern%20Cardinal> (722) were expected given the increases in these species overall, but the fact the cardinals outnumbered Greater Scaup in Toronto was a bit of a surprise! A notable miss for the count area was Canvasback, and relatively low numbers for Greater Scaup <http://cbc.torontobirding.ca/#/graph/Greater Scaup> (486), Long-tailed Duck <http://cbc.torontobirding.ca/#/graph/Long-tailed Duck> (3,210), Bufflehead <http://cbc.torontobirding.ca/#/graph/Bufflehead> (182), and Red-breasted Merganser <http://cbc.torontobirding.ca/#/graph/Red-breasted Merganser> (305), rival years that the lakeshore has been completely frozen. A huge thank you to all route leaders and volunteers for a great day. An especially large debt of gratitude to the compilers (Ivor Williams, Garth Riley and Howard Shapiro) and to Ange Brooks for hosting another wonderful round up! Emily Rondel-Toronto Ornithological Club Records Councillor _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
