CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT RESULTS, 2008


 

 

 

The Stanton Bird Club held their 2008 Christmas Bird Count Saturday Dec. 20 for the Lewiston / Auburn area. A total of 52 species were recorded, above last year's 46 and the 10-year average of 49. Waterfowl, gulls, and doves were particularly low; yet with Lake Auburn open there were loons, scaup, and goldeneyes plus lots of Mallards and Black Ducks on the Androscoggin River, and even one Belted Kingfisher was found (by Dan Marquis' group). Only one Brown Creeper was found (Doug Beck's group).

On the high side were crows which were everywhere in numbers. Titmice tied the maximum seen since 1980. All seven groups had American Robins, setting a new high since 1980, White-throated Sparrows also set a new
high. Blue Jays, Tree Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Juncos, while not setting new high counts, were found throughout the area, and by every group. Feeder birds were in good numbers, indeed many birds which frequent
feeders were only found at feeders, with exceptions.

Nearly all irruptive species were found, although not in numbers, including Northern Shrike, Snow Bunting (most by Tom Hayward's group), Pine Grosbeak (Dan Marquis' group), Common Redpoll (Carole Jean's group), and Pine Siskin (Linda Seamans' group). White-winged Crossbills were found for the first time, since 1980, previously seen only on count week (found by Joan DeOrsey). A Rough-legged Hawk was also new to the count (Stan DeOrsey's group). Other particularly good finds were one Hermit Thrush (found by Tom Marston) and one Rusty Blackbird (Dan Marquis' group).

Missed species included the Peregrine Falcon normally at St. Mary's Church, although two were seen on Friday (by Bonnie Soper). Also no Pileated Woodpeckers were recorded, nor were Bohemian Waxwing or Evening Grosbeaks.

Over 30 people took part including a team of Junior Naturalists lead by Susan Hayward and Gloria Moreau. The Junior Naturalists progressed house-to-house on a prearranged route to count at feeders. They all enjoyed themselves immensely particularly with the heated homes and sweets! -- plus good birds. We thank everyone who helped.

COUNT COMPILER: STAN DEORSEY

PHOTOS FROM THE COUNT

 

* Refers to species new to the count

2008 COUNT RESULTS

Canada Goose 3
American Black Duck 23
Mallard 248 low
Greater Scaup 62
Common Goldeneye 21
Hooded Merganser 5
Common Merganser 4
Wild Turkey 166 years
Common Loon 3
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Bald Eagle 9 includes 3 first year
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2
Cooper's Hawk 3
Red-tailed Hawk 4
Rough-legged Hawk 1*
Ring-billed Gull 33
Herring Gull 101
Rock Pigeon 219
Mourning Dove 166
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 45
Hairy Woodpecker 17
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Shrike 1
Blue Jay 177 lots
American Crow 2,886
Common Raven 5
Black-capped Chickadee 397
Tufted Titmouse 61
Red-breasted Nuthatch 17
White-breasted Nuthatch 31
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 1
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 370
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 234
Cedar Waxwing 146
American Tree Sparrow 78
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 25
Dark-eyed Junco 290
Snow Bunting 230
Northern Cardinal 40
Rusty Blackbird 1
Pine Grosbeak 5
Purple Finch 15
House Finch 76
White-winged Crossbill 12
Common Redpoll 27
Pine Siskin 40
American Goldfinch 248
House Sparrow 47

Count Week
Peregrine Falcon 2
Northern Goshawk 1
Chipping Sparrow 1

Total species ...........................54
Total individuals .................6,617

2007 COUNT RESULTS

  1. American Wigeon - 1
  2. American Black Duck - 22
  3. Mallard - 326
  4. Common Goldeneye - 21
  5. Hooded Merganser - 21
  6. Common Merganser - 8
  7. Red-breasted Merganser - 1 (count week)
  8. Wild Turkey - 256
  9. Double-crested Cormorant - 2
  10. Bald Eagle - 10 adult, 4 imm.
  11. Cooper's Hawk - 1
  12. Red-tailed Hawk - 6
  13. Peregrine Falcon - 1
  14. Ring-billed Gull - 163
  15. Herring Gull - 270
  16. Great Black-backed Gull - 5
  17. Rock Pigeon - 431
  18. Mourning Dove - 360
  19. Downy Woodpecker - 29
  20. Hairy Woodpecker - 20
  21. Pileated Woodpecker - 5
  22. Northern Shrike - 3
  23. Blue Jay - 127
  24. American Crow - 1548
  25. Common Raven - 5
  26. Horned Lark - 5
  27. Black-capped Chickadee - 467
  28. Tufted Titmouse - 36
  29. Red-breasted Nuthatch - 14
  30. White-breasted Nuthatch - 34
  31. Brown Creeper - 1
  32. American Robin - 2
  33. Northern Mockingbird - 1
  34. European Starling - 1042
  35. Bohemian Waxwing - 15
  36. Cedar Waxwing - 20
  37. American Tree Sparrow - 26
  38. Song Sparrow - 1
  39. Dark-eyed Junco - 29
  40. Snow Bunting - 140
  41. Northern Cardinal - 17
  42. Pine Grosbeak - 109
  43. Purple Finch - 5
  44. House Finch - 153
  45. Common Redpoll - 149
  46. American Goldfinch - 91
  47. House Sparrow - 120

Total Count DaySpecies...........46

Total Individuals..................6236

2006 COUNT RESULTS

American Black Duck................ 21
Mallard.....................................393
Greater Scaup............................ 35
Common Goldeneye.................. 70
Hooded Merganser .................... 6
Common Merganser.................. 72
Ruffed Grouse ............................ 1
Wild Turkey ............................. 82
Common Loon ........................... 2
Horned Grebe ............................ 2
*Red-necked Grebe.....................1
Bald Eagle................3 adult, 1 imm.
Red-tailed Hawk ........................ 7
Peregrine Falcon.......................... 1
American Coot ........................... 1
Ring-billed Gull ....................... 247
Herring Gull .............................. 62
Great Black-backed Gull ............ 3
Rock Pigeon ............................284
Mourning Dov......................... 155
Downy Woodpecker ................ 23
Hairy Woodpecker ................... 11
Pileated Woodpecker ................. 1
Blue Jay ................................... 37
American Crow ...................... 823
Common Raven .......................... 3
Black-capped Chickadee ........ 259
Tufted Titmouse......................... 42
Red-breasted Nuthatch................ 2
White-breasted Nuthatch .......... 43
Golden-crowned Kinglet.............. 7
American Robin .......................... 4
Northern Mockingbird ................ 4
European Starling .................... 411
American Tree Sparrow ........... 19
Song Sparrow ............................ 1
Dark-eyed Junco ...................... 18
Northern Cardinal ..................... 22
Purple Finch................................ 2
House Finch ..............................62
American Goldfinch ................ 107
House Sparrow ........................ 68
Buteo Species...............................1
Accipitor Species..........................1
Gull Species................................49

Total Identified Species...........42

Total Individuals..................3469
2005 COUNT RESULTS

1. American Black Duck .......... 18
2. Mallard .............................. 491
3. Common Goldeneye ..............59
4. Hooded Merganser ................ 9
5. Common Merganser ..............33
6. Red-brested Merganser ...........7
7. Wild Turkey ....................... 151
8. Common Loon ....................... 1
9. Horned Grebe ........................ 1
10.Double-crested Cormorant .... 1
11.Great Cormorant ................... 1
12.Bald Eagle .......4 adult, 12 imm.
13.Sharp-shinned Hawk ..............1
14.Coopers Hawk ...................... 1
15.Red-tailed Hawk ................... 7
16.Peregrine Falcon .....................1
17.Ring-billed Gull .................. 451
18.Herring Gull ....................... 328
19.Great Black-backed Gull ..... 12
20.Rock Pigeon ...................... 341
21.Mourning Dove.................. 294
22.Belted Kingfisher ................... 1
23.Downy Woodpecker ........... 23
24.Hairy Woodpecker ................ 7
25.Pileated Woodpecker ........... 4
26.Blue Jay ............................ 191
27.American Crow ................1717
28.Common Raven .................... 1
29.Horned Lark ....................... 14
30.Black-capped Chickadee ...473
31.Tufted Titmouse ...................36
32.Red-breasted Nuthatch ..........7
33.White-breasted Nuthatch......40
34.Brown Creeper.......................3
35.Carolina Wren*..................... 1
36.Hermit Thrush* ..................... 1
37.American Robin .....................1
38.Northern Mockingbird........... 2
39.European Starling ............ 1514
40.Bohemian Waxwing ............. 53
41.American Tree Sparrow ...... 17
42.White-throated Sparrow ........ 1
43.Dark-eyed Junco.................. 24
44.Snow Bunting......................120
45.Northern Cardinal ................ 19
46.Purple Finch........................... 3
47.House Finch .........................93
48.Common Redpoll .................11
49.American Goldfinch.............135
50.House Sparrow ................... 42

Total Identified Species...........50

Total Individuals..................6977

 

2004 COUNT RESULTS

1. American Black Duck........... 33
2. Mallard................................533
3. Common Goldeneye........... 126
4. Hooded Merganser ...............15
5. Common Merganser ............ 28
6. Ruffed Grouse ........................ 2
7. Wild Turkey ........................209
8. Common Loon ...................... 2
9. Bald Eagle ..........3 adult, 1 imm.
10. Coopers Hawk .................... 1
11. Red-tailed Hawk .................. 8
12. Peregrine Falcon* .................2
13. Ring-billed Gull .................145
14. Herring Gull ......................162
15. Iceland Gull ...........................1
16. Great Black-backed Gull ..... 3
17. Rock Pigeon .....................298
18. Mourning Dove ................ 434
19. Great Horned Owl ............... 1
20. Belted Kingfisher ...................1
21. Red-bellied Woodpecker ..... 2
22. Downy Woodpecker ......... 45
23. Hairy Woodpecker ........... 22
24. Pileated Woodpecker........... 1
25. Northern Shrike.................... 1
26. Blue Jay ............................. 75
27. American Crow ..............1184
28. Black-capped Chickadee.. 469
29. Tufted Titmouse ..................61
30. Red-breasted Nuthatch ........ 8
31. White-breasted Nuthatch ... 61
32. Brown Creeper .................. ..2
33. Golden-crowned Kinglet ... .34
34. American Robin ................ ...1
35. Northern Mockingbird ..........5
36. European Starling .............801
37. American Tree Sparrow .... 51
38. Song Sparrow ......................5
39. Dark-eyed Junco.................49
40. Northern Cardinal ...............33
41. Purple Finch .......................14
42. House Finch ..................... 142
43. American Goldfinch ...........131
44. House Sparrow .................301

Total Identified Species...........44

Total Individuals..................5506

10 Year Average..................... 49

...............................................6000