OSFN Newsletter: January, 2025 – annual regional bird count

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A native of the Owen Sound area, and a keen naturalist since his very early years, Erik recently completed his bachelor’s degree programme in Environmental Science, at the University of Guelph. This presentation will be available only online, via Zoom. Here are the details for time and registration to participate. 7pm Thurs. January 9, 2025 Online Only, Via Zoom

To Register for this Zoom meeting, please go to https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEkfu-opjgjE9QEhT5eBMreS3bpuHhIx8UD#/registration Once you fill out the form, Zoom will send you a personalized link you can use to join the meeting/webinar. If you need help, please send an email, in advance, to web@osfn.ca with Oaxaca on the subject line.  For Membership and Young Naturalist Club information, please visit  www.osfn.ca and  Facebook.

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Below are summaries and highlights from various local Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs):

Owen Sound

The 2024-2025 Christmas Bird Count marked the 54th year of the Owen Sound count. On December 14th, 35 participants tallied 7,856 individuals of 55 species. The number of individuals was considerably lower compared to last year, as was the total number of species. This might be due to the colder weather and greater snow cover this year compared to last year. The number of participants this year was also lower, perhaps also due to the cold snowy weather.

Some unusual species from this year’s count included the count’s first Ovenbird, a count week Winter Wren, and a couple Snowy Owls, which are not recorded every year. Record high counts were set this year for Redhead, Sandhill Crane, and Red-bellied Woodpecker. Sandhill Cranes have been steadily increasing in the area in early winter, with 741 recorded on count day this year.

Two Bald Eagles at Lions Head by Les Anderson

Bald Eagles were also seen in good numbers this year, which is encouraging given last year’s low count. A few species were seen in lower numbers than usual this year, including Common Merganser, Ruffed Grouse, and House Sparrow.

Several species were also seen in higher numbers than usual this year, including Red-breasted Merganser, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and American Tree Sparrow.

Erik Van Den Kieboom – Compiler

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Tobermory – Tuesday December 17 – Shared by Tanya Markvart

Despite the weather, we collectively counted 43 species (avg. = 40) and 1342 individuals (avg. = 1607). The inclement weather likely explains low individual numbers. Other patterns and outliers that emerged include:

  • Low winter finch diversity and abundance with only one Pine Siskin, four Evening Grosbeaks and one Purple Finch;
  • 2nd highest year for European Starlings with 102 individuals;
  • Record-breaking year for Belted Kingfisher with three observed; last observed in 1988 (one individual) and 1986 (two individuals);
  • Mourning Dove was absent, which has not happened since 1983. If anyone has an observation of Mourning Dove for the count week (December 14-16 & 18-20), please let me know;
  • Low count for Herring Gull, with 87 seen (avg. 248). This trend seems to be consistent with the Wiarton and Nayaashiinigmiing CBC. An increase in avian influenza in North America may explain this low count;  
  • Tied the highest Horned Grebe count with 12 individuals; last experienced in 2007;
  • Low count for Bufflehead with three observed (avg. 22);
  • 1st count of a “Diurnal raptor sp.”, either a Gyrfalcon or Northern Goshawk was spotted as a “flyover” but was not seen well enough to distinguish the species. However, Northern Goshawk is the most likely of the two;
  • 1st Snow Goose record for the CBC, recorded as count week. They were seen a few days before the CBC; and
  • 3rd year for Trumpeter/Tundra Swan (2 observed); the species could not be specified.

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KINCARDINE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT – James Turland – Compiler

For a long time, people have been captivated by birds. Their vibrant colors and melodious songs have earned them a special place in our folklore and mythology. Spurred on by ancient tradition the 43rd annual Kincardine Christmas Bird Count (KCBC) took place on December 19th, 2024.

Participants enjoyed favourable weather, and the 56 species they identified is average. However, the overall number of birds recorded was notably low. Several factors contributed to this, including the heavy early snowfall. Many birds can handle the cold temperatures, but once the ground is covered with snow and water bodies freeze over, it becomes nearly impossible to find food. This forces birds to migrate south earlier in search of better foraging conditions. But this was an atypical season and the recent trend is for birds to stay here longer.

After four decades of KCBC’s, one would think that every possible species would have been identified. Yet, new species continue to be spotted; a fact that can partly be attributed to climate change. As global temperatures rise, birds are shifting their ranges, on average wintering 2 km farther north every year. For example, during the first decade of the count, Canada Geese were a rare find, today however, hundreds of geese winter here.

A new addition to the count this year was the Surf Scoter, a sea duck that migrates from the Arctic to the East Coast, some frequenting the Great Lakes. The male Surf Scoter is particularly striking, with a bright, colourful beak.  With the addition of the scoter the KCBC has recorded 133 species in its 43 year history.

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Meaford CBCer’s,

Here is a summary of the Meaford Christmas Bird Count, along with the attached draft Tally Sheet. Final results, along with time and travel data will be posted on the Birds Canada Christmas Bird Count website in the next week or so.

The 54th annual Meaford Count on Saturday December 28th featured unseasonably warm temperatures, 5°-10°, and limited snow cover. Light misty drizzle persisted throughout parts of the day.  Georgian Bay and running waters were mainly ice-free, ponds were frozen over, but with melt-pools of water sitting on top, and a few narrow openings.

The combined efforts of five teams resulted in the 7th highest total – 54 species – in the 54 years of the Count.  This total continues the trend of the past 10 years of finding over 50, and increasingly, over 55 species in the Meaford circle. Prior to that, the long-term average was 46 species. The top 5 species totals have been: 61 in 2021, 60 in 1975, 59 in 2020, 58 in 2012, and 57 in 2023.

No new species were added to the all-time cumulative total for this count. However, Trumpeter Swan and Snow Goose made their second Count appearance, an encore from last year, 2 Harlequin Ducks were welcome for the 3rd time Count birds, after 2011 and 2012,  and a Pine Warbler continued at my peanut feeder for the Count, making it’s second Count record (2019 previously).   The all-time cumulative total remains at 129 species.

Four new Highs were recorded – the 2 SNGO topped last year’s 1, 4 TRSW topped last year’s 2, 37 COME topped 2012’s 35, and 21 GCKI topped 2016’s 20.

Total individuals were on the low side at 2938 birds, undoubtedly a reflection of the weather.

Overall it was a decent count.   Thanks very much to everyone, and happy, birdy, New Year to all!

Lynne Richardson – Compiler.

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The Saugeen Shores Christmas Bird Count was held on January 2, 2025 and faced weather challenges all day, in the form of lake effect snow squalls and high winds (gusting to 60kph or more). Due to this, we had a lower turnout of counters and less species than normal, though considering the weather I think we did quite well.

The 50 species recorded was below the all time average of 54 (and well shy of last year’s 65), but we recorded far more individual birds than average (14,057, average 8,051). This was mostly due to Snow Buntings, with 7,243 recorded across the count circle.

A Surf Scoter seen in Southampton was a first for the count, and 3 all time high counts were set (Iceland Gull – 3, Lapland Longspur – 5, Horned Grebe – 11).

An all time low was recorded for Black-capped Chickadee (166), and a lot of other forest birds were seen in much lower numbers than usual. This was likely almost entirely due to the high winds, which make observing these small birds a challenge.

Other interesting species seen on count day included 1 Golden Eagle, 2 Northern Harriers, 9 Long-tailed Ducks and a single Snowy Owl.

A big thanks to the 25 participants who braved the weather to help with the count!

Kiah Jasper – Compiler

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The OSFN Young Naturalists had clever birding quizzes, and tips for feeder arrangements, and observing to keep learning over the holidays. Their next outing, 2-4 p.m. Sunday January 26 will feature tracking and developing those keen observation skills. To learn more, please email Amanda at youngnaturalistsos@gmail.com

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Along with many others in our community, I was saddened to learn of the recent passings of three well known naturalists, all of whom left amazing legacies, through their skill sets, dedication, volunteering, initiative and leadership.

Some memorable snapshots for me include:

Jim Hastie – I will always remember skiing out to the edge of the Bognor Marsh to where Jim Hastie and his team of volunteers were doing their annual checking and cleaning of the wood duck/merganser nesting boxes there. Just one of so many contributions he made.

Bill Klein – an amazing naturalist (and dentist) I first met at the Huron Fringe Birding Festival in 2001 and who also contributed to OSFN wildflower publications, had a double knee replacement in his early 90s, went downhill skiing that winter, and shared with me his joyous tale of his then recent visit to New York City for a week of opera and broadway shows.

Ron Reid – Originally from Chesley, I only knew Ron slightly, having met him at an NCC event in Lion’s Head, and spoke to him on the phone about three years ago. Widely respected as an elder statesman of Natural Heritage Protection in Ontario, he was very proud of having co-founded the Couchiching Conservancy, a local Land Trust that preserves wild areas for future generations. An avid canoeist with his wife Janet, Ron travelled dozens of northern rivers. Together they co-authored Canoeing Ontario Rivers.