{BIRD NOTES} BCBC 2010.doc--111th Audubon Christmas Bird Count + Notes

 

 

 

Bird Notes

 

The 111^th Audubon Christmas Bird Count

 

There were 27 observers in 25 locations across Canada and the United States at the birth of the Christmas Bird Count on Christmas Day in 1900. The Count has grown to include well over 50,000 counters at 2,000 locations and ranges from above the Arctic Circle south to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.

 

All areas have a 15 mile diameter circle in which to count bird species and the numbers of each. The Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society’s area has its center just off Rt. 9 near the Sunset Lake Road intersection. It includes all of Dummerston, W. Brattleboro and Brattleboro proper.  It extends north to Newfane Hill, south to the Green River Bridge, west to Marlboro and Hogback Mountain, and east across the river to W. Chesterfield and the Connecticut River setbacks in Hinsdale, including Vernon Dam.

 

A big thank you goes out to the 32 people in the 7 groups who braved the elements and spent 182 hours and drove 286 miles in search of our feathered Christmas friends.  Thanks also to those individuals who took time out from their busy day to do a feeder count. The enthusiasm and diligence of all involved made this one of the best Brattleboro Christmas Bird Counts ever.  5,177 birds of 57 species were counted, which includes the 5 Count Week species.

 

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our awesome supper hosts, Hollie Bowen and Paul Love, who open the doors of their beautiful home on Whipple Street in Brattleboro year after year for the count down pot luck supper at the end of the day. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

 

Statistics________________________

 

Skies:  Partly Cloudy

Temp.:  A.M. 15    P.M. 34

Precipitation: None

Snow Cover:  Dusting

Lakes, Ponds and Rivers:  Mostly Frozen

Small Streams:  Open and Running

No. of Groups: 7

No. of Participants: 32

No. of Feeder Counts:  several

Car Miles:  286

Walk Miles:   7

People Hours:  182

No. of Species:  52

No. Count Week Species:  5

Total No. of Individuals:  5,177

 

CW = Count Week = 3 days before count day and 3 days after

 

 

VTBR--Brattleboro Christmas Bird Count, Saturday, December 18, 2010

 

Canada Goose   140

American Black Duck   21

Mallard   85

Common Goldeneye   35   CW

Barrow’s Goldeneye   1   CW

Hooded Merganser   7

Common Merganser   11

Ruffed Grouse   3

Wild Turkey   82

Great Blue Heron   1

Bald Eagle   1

Northern Harrier   1   CW

Sharp-shinned Hawk   1

Cooper’s Hawk   3

Red-tailed Hawk   12

Ring-billed Gull   7

Herring Gull   4

Rock Pigeon   349

Mourning Dove   210

Barred Owl   3

Belted Kingfisher   1

Red-bellied Woodpecker   13

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker   1

Downy Woodpecker   65

Hairy Woodpecker   49

Northern Flicker   2

Pileated Woodpecker   2

Northern Shrike   3

Blue Jay   282

American Crow   112

Common Raven   12

Horned Lark   76

Black-capped Chickadee   587

Tufted Titmouse   62

Red-breasted Nuthatch   11

White-breasted Nuthatch   87

Brown Creeper   1

Carolina Wren   9

Golden-crowned Kinglet   6

Ruby-crowned Kinglet   4

Eastern Bluebird   28

Hermit Thrush   1   CW

American Robin   31

Northern Mockingbird   8

European Starling   193

Cedar Waxwing   149

American Tree Sparrows   68

Song Sparrow   9

White-throated Sparrow   4

Dark-eyed Junco   131

Northern Cardinal   53

House Finch   167

Common Redpoll   1   CW

Pine Siskin   50

American Goldfinch   183

Evening Grosbeak   58

House Sparrow   213

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Gift of Redpolls

Barbara Cole called on Christmas Day with news of the appearance of a flock of 40 Common Redpolls and several Pine Siskins at her feeders in Wilmington, VT.

 

Redpolls Are Here

This morning (Sunday, Dec. 26) around 8 a.m., our feeders were pleased to play host to a visit by Common Redpolls. We can confirm three to four. A larger flock of about a dozen appeared to also be redpolls, but didn’t come close enough for a positive ID.

---Ned Pokras & Meg Kluge, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

Here are some birds from Guilford on Sunday, Dec. 19^th.

1 White-throated Sparrow

1 Red-tailed Hawk

3 Bluebirds

Lots of Jays and Chickadees, but few Juncos and Finches this year.

---Susan James, Guilford, VT

 

 

 

 

 

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Please share your birding news with us.

What have you got coming to your feeders?

Are there any birds nesting in your yard?

What have you seen while on a trip?

Drop us an e-mail chpmnkx@sover.net

 

 Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

 

Check out our website:

http://sevtaudubonbirdnotes.blogspot.com/

~~~~~~~~~~

A friend is someone who reaches for your hand

and touches your heart.