Nature
Notes for December 27, 2013
Weather
was the major news on the nature front for the past two weeks.
The Port Hope-Cobourg Christmas Bird Count was held on December, an incredibly cold day. The high temperature
recorded for the day was only -13ยบ C. An icy wind out of the north-east chilled
observers, especially in open locations. There was fog rising over Lake Ontario, so visibility was limited to 100 metres offshore. Snow started in the
afternoon, becoming heavy by 3 p.m., which limited visibility even more.
Despite such wretched conditions,
thirty-seven observers took to the field, and tallied 15,843 birds of 68
species. An additional 6 species were seen during count week. This was the
lowest species count since 1999.
The highlight was a single Great Gray Owl, which was a new species for this count.
Other highlights were: 4 Bald Eagles
(tied record high); 1 Red-shouldered Hawk; 231 Wild Turkeys (2nd highest count);
4 Snowy Owls (tied record high); 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker; 2 Winter Wrens (tied
record high); 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets; 1 Hermit Thrush; and 6 Common Redpolls.
Low totals recorded were: 19
White-breasted Nuthatch (lowest ever); 892 Black-capped Chickadees (lowest
since 2000); and 2 Northern Shrike (lowest since 1993).
Count Week species included: Northern Pintail, American Coot, Thayer's Gull, Iceland Gull,
The following day, December 15, was
the Presqu’ile-Brighton Count. If anything, weather conditions were even worse.
Added to the bone-chilling temperatures and winds, roads were snow-covered
first thing in the morning. Observers were in the field before many of the
secondary roads had been plowed, so had to rearrange their planned routes to accommodate
the plows. Observers in Presqu’ile Park itself have to walk their routes, so
the 15 to 20 cm of snow added to their challenge.
Still, twenty-six field observers and
one feeder-watcher tallied 11,320 birds of 69 species. The 11,320
individuals was about half that found over most of the past decade. The
20-year average species total is 79. Waterfowl numbers were low because there
was almost no open water inland and Lake Ontario had a wide ice edge.
Only Black Duck and Mallards of the dabblers were recorded. Long-tailed Duck (365), Bufflehead (57) and
Common Merganser (2) were at 20-year lows. Inland birds were scarce away
from feeders and this was the first count in over 20 years that no Ruffed Grouse were recorded.
Several species, recorded in all 10 areas, included; Red-tailed Hawk, MourningDove, Bue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Tree Sparrow and Dark-eyed Juncos.
New for the count was a Cackling Goose, upgraded from a Count Week bird in 2012.
Other unusual birds included: 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker; 2 Chipping Sparrows; 2 Iceland Gulls; and 1 Glaucous Gull. One Gray Catbird, a Count Week bird, was the first since 1976.
High Counts (old records and years in brackets): Mute Swan - 824 (624 in 2011); Bald Eagle - 8 (6 in 2009); Snowy Owl - 10 (7 in 1978); Dark-eyed Junco - 649 (568 in 2011).
Near-record high counts included Northern Harrier (7) and Red-bellied Woodpecker (5) that missed tying the record by 1 bird each.
Several species, recorded in all 10 areas, included; Red-tailed Hawk, MourningDove, Bue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Tree Sparrow and Dark-eyed Juncos.
New for the count was a Cackling Goose, upgraded from a Count Week bird in 2012.
Other unusual birds included: 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker; 2 Chipping Sparrows; 2 Iceland Gulls; and 1 Glaucous Gull. One Gray Catbird, a Count Week bird, was the first since 1976.
High Counts (old records and years in brackets): Mute Swan - 824 (624 in 2011); Bald Eagle - 8 (6 in 2009); Snowy Owl - 10 (7 in 1978); Dark-eyed Junco - 649 (568 in 2011).
Near-record high counts included Northern Harrier (7) and Red-bellied Woodpecker (5) that missed tying the record by 1 bird each.
This
past weekend brought freezing rain. This will probably reduce bird numbers on
the first official Rice Lake Plains Christmas Bird Count to be held on January
1, 2014.
The
ice coating on everything is not just an inconvenience for humans. It makes the
food that birds depend on inaccessible. The many harvested corn and soybean
fields that provide food for waterfowl are now under an impermeable blanket of
ice. The fruit that is the food of such species as American Robin, Eastern Bluebird, and Cedar Waxwing is now not available to the birds.
Those
birds that have enough energy resources will have fled the area. Those that do
not have enough stored energy will die.
My
bird feeders have been incredibly busy since the ice came. We had to pry them
from their poles and let the ice thaw inside in the shower stall in order for
the birds to get at the seeds in them. Even the squirrels have been more
numerous than usual. Their seed caches, too, are sealed in a blanket of ice.
Now
that power has been restored to my part of Port Hope, I can file this column
and send to all of my readers best wishes for the coming year. I hope that you
all were able to celebrate a Merry Christmas.