Cold temperatures preceding the Pakenham-Arnprior CBC held on Boxing Day resulted in all still water being frozen. Count day was also cold but relatively calm, which allowed the 46 field observers to ascertain that the lack of birds being heard in the woods was due to a lack of birds being present in the woods. The 15 feeder watchers contributed greatly to the count total.
Total Species: 51 (ten-year average = 55) Total Individuals: 5,542 (ten-year average = 7,221) Notable absences were: gulls, Great Horned Owl, American Robin, crossbills, blackbirds. Only 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet and 4 Brown Creepers were tallied. Notable high counts were: 5 Northern Goshawks (one shy of the record 6 in 1984); 128 Hairy Woodpeckers (new record); 37 Pileated Woodpeckers (new record). Notable species were: Hooded Merganser (6th record); Merlin (10th record); Long-eared Owl (4th record); White-crowned Sparrow (6th record). The four Snowy Owls were nowhere near the record 15 tallied in 2013, but still constitute a good number for this Count. Finch numbers were generally low, with only one Purple Finch recorded (at a feeder with House Finches). Other finches were: 20 Pine Grosbeaks, 20 House Finches, 155 Common Redpolls, 2 Pine Siskins, 142 American Goldfinches, and 79 Evening Grosbeaks. House Sparrows continue their decline, with 91 being tallied (the record stands at 2,011 in 1984). Happy Birding! Michael Runtz compiler _______________________________________________ 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
