The 50th Long Point Christmas Count was held on Saturday, December 18th, 2010. The weather that day was overcast with a low temperature of -8 Celsius and a high of -2 with winds out of the west averaging 30 kph with gusts to 60 kph. Forty-four observers tallied just over 29,000 individual birds of 105 species. The long-term individuals average is about 25,500 and the average species total is 101.
Two species – Greater White-fronted Goose and Spotted Towhee – were new to the count bringing the all-time species list to 188 species. Other unusual species seen included 1 Double-crested Cormorant (seen once before), 3 Cackling Geese (seen 3 times previously), and 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (seen 4 times previously). Record high species counts included: Bald Eagle: 36 Cooper’s Hawk: 18 Rough-legged Hawk: 60 Sandhill Crane: 400 Eastern Screech-Owl: 35 Red-bellied Woodpecker: 52 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 4 American Crow: 2729 Species in decline and of concern included Ruffed Grouse at a record low 3 individuals and Great Horned Owl with 5 counted and in steady decline over the past 20 years. Thank you to the 44 participants who worked so hard to make our 50th count such a rousing success with a special mention to participants Bob Curry and Bob Stamp who both participated in the very first count on Dec. 26, 1961. I would also like to thank my wife Anne Marie who has prepared a fabulous meal at the end of the day for count participants for the past 25 years. Ron Ridout Count Compiler _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
