This past Saturday, 09 January, Alan Beebe, Nancy Ebel, and I participated in the fifth annual Esopus Bend Nature Preserve Winter Bird Count, encountering 502 individuals of 35 species. Copied below is the full report, followed by the list of species and number of individuals recorded. The report contains more detail than may be of general interest, so the short summary includes a very nice look at three BLACK VULTURES, three FIELD SPARROWS, 32 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 5 Hermit Thrushes, and several flocks of active Cedar Waxwings. Otherwise the count was rather unremarkable.
The table referenced in the report, comparing the five-year history of this January count, should be up on the Esopus Creek Conservancy web site (www.esopuscreekconservancy.org) in the next few days, for anyone interested in the historical numbers. Steve M. Chorvas Saugerties, NY ************************************** The fifth annual Esopus Bend Nature Preserve Winter Bird Count (WBC) was conducted on Saturday, 09 January, recording 502 individuals of 35 species during a twelve-hour effort that included two hours of pre-dawn "owling" (5:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.). In comparison to previous counts, the 2010 WBC recorded an average number of species (four-year average equals 35) and an intermediate number of individuals, with two previous counts detecting more birds, and two counts producing fewer individuals. For the third consecutive year, environmental conditions factored in the scarcity of some species, notably waterfowl, gulls, Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron, and Belted Kingfisher on a nearly completely (99%) frozen Esopus Creek. Temperatures ranged from an early morning low of 12° (F) to an afternoon high of 22° (F). Winds were calm throughout the count day, with only an occasional slight ENE breeze. Fair night skies, a waning crescent moon, and reflective snow cover provided ample natural illumination for our two-hour nocturnal owl survey, followed by day-long clear skies and brilliant sunshine. Snow cover was 100%, averaging 1-3" of soft powder over hard ice in exposed areas, encasing most ground feeding resources. Two new species were recorded for the Winter Bird Count, and also represent first-time records for Esopus Bend Nature Preserve (EBNP), advancing the cumulative five-year total for the count to 57 species and the historical composite for EBNP to 134 bird species. Three Black Vultures were observed circling low over the large sandbar due north of the meadow, providing a stunning view against a deep blue sky of this traditionally southern species that only a decade ago was a rare sight in New York State at this time of the year; and one Cooper's Hawk was observed flushing neighboring feeder birds at the Edgewood entrance before perching for several minutes high up in a deciduous tree bordering the Meadow Road access. Three Field Sparrows represented a new high count for this half-hardy species infrequently encountered anywhere in Ulster County during the winter months; and new high counts were recorded for Golden-crowned Kinglet (32, nearly three times the previous high count of 12 in 2009 and 2006), and American Goldfinch (15, eclipsing 13 in 2009 and 2007). Several flocks of Cedar Waxwings were consistently present during our two-hour survey of the meadow and wetlands, foraging on abundant Asiatic Bittersweet and actively moving around, creating a challenge to obtaining an accurate count while avoiding duplication, and resulting in a conservative estimate of 58 individuals. We did not detect any owls during the pre-dawn survey, and record low counts were recorded for Downy Woodpecker (18), Black-capped Chickadee (66), Carolina Wren (7), Hermit Thrush (5), American Tree Sparrow (2), and Song Sparrow (10). We also failed to detect any Northern Flickers, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, or Swamp Sparrow; and (not unexpectedly) overwintering blackbirds, starlings, and winter finches (siskins, redpolls, crossbills, and grosbeaks) were completely absent this year with the exception of one male Purple Finch. Multiflora Rose hips and Asiatic Bittersweet crops were good to abundant and widespread. Herbaceous seed heads were generally accessible above the snow pack but encrusted at ground level. Eastern hemlock cones appeared sparse again this year, as did most mast crops. Several spring-fed tributaries and the south stream remained open and flowing freely, and one tiny patch of open creek water at the historic ferry crossing harbored our only waterfowl for the count -- a drake and hen Mallard. The following table summarizes the 2010 survey and provides a comparative analysis of the five-year history of this winter bird count. Thanks go out this year to Alan Beebe and Nancy Ebel for their effort in conducting this count, and Joe Hernandez and his young grandson Gavin Metcalf for joining us for the first hour. Information collected from this annual January survey of the 160-acre nature preserve provides a basis for monitoring future winter bird population dynamics, and guidance for current and future land management and stewardship decisions. Next year's WBC will be conducted on the traditional second Saturday of the month, January 08, 2011. Steve M. Chorvas EBNP Winter Bird Count Compiler Mallard - 2 Wild Turkey - 8 Black Vulture - 3 Cooper's Hawk - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 2 Ring-billed Gull - 7 Herring Gull - 1 Mourning Dove - 7 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 12 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 3 Downy Woodpecker - 18 Hairy Woodpecker - 4 Pileated Woodpecker - 1 Blue Jay - 19 American Crow - 19 Black-capped Chickadee - 66 Tufted Titmouse - 55 White-breasted Nuthatch - 22 Brown Creeper - 2 Carolina Wren - 7 Golden-crowned Kinglet - 32 Eastern Bluebird - 1 Hermit Thrush - 5 American Robin - 2 Cedar Waxwing - 58 American Tree Sparrow - 2 Field Sparrow - 3 Song Sparrow - 10 White-throated Sparrow - 42 Dark-eyed Junco - 16 Northern Cardinal - 40 Purple Finch - 1 House Finch - 12 American Goldfinch - 15 House Sparrow - 4 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
