Beginning on 1 Jan 1954, with five participants, a Christmas Bird Count was establishes, with the center point located in Manorville, Long Island. Extending from Smiths Point County Park and Cupsogue County Park to Calverton, and from Gabreski (Suffolk County) Airport to Yapank, this Count includes ocean, bay, marshland, pond, farm field, wooded area, and massive residential habitat.
Held on 27 December 2023, the morning started with heavy fog, mild temperatures, light breezes and some light showers, which continued throughout the day. This year, 36 participants on 11 field teams, and 4 feeder-watchers, totaled 120 species and 16,377 birds seen. Highlights included: Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Northern Shoveler, Bald Eagle, Willet, Red Knot, Iceland Gull, Black-headed Gull (from a Feeder-watch), Red-headed Woodpecker, Palm Warbler and Boat-tailed Grackle. Count Week birds - which might have been seen on Count Day had there not been dense fog throughout the day - included Harlequin Duck, Great Cormorant, and Razorbill. Full details and statistics will be available on the National Audubon Christmas Bird Count website. Our Compilation Dinner was held in Eastport, and was well attended with nearly all teams sending representatives. Many thanks go out to Eastern Long Island Audubon Society for providing the catered dinner. The Society has been the sponsor of this Count since 1967. A very special Thank You to all the participants, especially those who provided last minute coverage in areas left in the void, due to last minute issues! Nice birds and great people made for a successful - and satisfying day. Save 27 December 2024 for the next Central Suffolk Christmas Bird Count! Eileen Schwinn Eastern LI Audubon Society Compiler, Central Suffolk CBC -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") NYSbirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/nysbirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) birding_DOT_aba_DOT_org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
