Crummy Christmas weather dampens bird count

Submitted by Derek Connelly

A rainy Christmas season affected not just seasonal spirits, but the annual Audubon bird count as well.

December 27, the day of the count, was 100 per cent, which lowered the species count this year to 46, dropping from the 55 seen last year. Overall numbers dropped by 14 per cent - about 1,200 birds.

Waterfowl and European starlings seemed to be the only birds enjoying the rain. Mallard numbers doubled and Canada geese quadrupled this year. The open water created by the warmer weather also added three new birds: Cackling Goose, Common Goldeneye and Common Merganser. A yellow-rumped warbler, which usually winters in the southern United States, was a rare find in Glen Major, another first for the Uxbridge count. One barred and two Great Horned owls were heard calling this year.

Another interesting bird was a leucistic form of goldfinch which showed up in Goodwood. Leucism is a condition where the bird lacks melanin pigments in its feathers so they appear white or yellow. In this condition a goldfinch’s nickname, the “Wild canary,” is not so wild at all.

More people participated in the field this year, however less time was spent driving due to the rain. Nevertheless birders on foot maintained or exceeded their distance and time compared to last year.

While the number of feeder watchers was about the same as last year, the number of birds seen was 50 per cent lower.

A potluck supper and tally up of birds was held at the home of Anne and Alan Wells for the volunteer counters. Thank you to the Wells for hosting, to Mark Dorriesfield for inputting the data, and to all the field and feeder watchers for their effort.

Also, thanks to those people who filled their feeders, opened their gates for birders to count their birds, and some who even opened their homes to let us warm up while we counted. Hope to see you next year….with sunshine, or at least better weather?

Of special note: James Kamstra and novice birder Maria O’Sullivan were filmed by the CBC National News on our count day explaining the significance of the Christmas Bird Count. That’s the CBC on the CBC! You can watch it on the CBC National News YouTube channel or below.

Check the North Durham Nature website for more detailed Christmas Bird Count results. All results will be submitted to the National Audubon Christmas Bird Count site and Bird Studies Canada.