Lord love a duck: Christmas bird count brings big surprises

The 34th annual Fort St. James Christmas Bird Count was held on Dec. 28 and a record total of 43 species and 2549 birds were observed.

  • Jan. 13, 2016 6:00 p.m.
The rare Long tailed-duck was observed at the 34th Annual Christmas Bird Count in Fort St. James.

The rare Long tailed-duck was observed at the 34th Annual Christmas Bird Count in Fort St. James.

Barbara Latkowski

Caledonia Courier

The 34th annual Fort St. James Christmas Bird Count was held on Dec. 28 and a record total of 43 species and 2549 birds were observed.

Eleven field observers and 14 feeder watchers took part in the event this year.

Joanne Vinnedge is the compiler for the Fort St. James Bird Count and has held this position for over 30 years.

We observe from dusk till dawn. Record numbers were counted this year and I am so grateful to all of the volunteers,” Vinnedge said.

The Christmas Bird Count is part of a North American citizen science-wide project in which observers tally the total number of birds seen on a chosen day within a two week period surrounding Christmas every year.

Results are analysed nationally by Bird Studies Canada and used to determine multi-year trends in bird populations.

In FSJ, the survey area includes a 15 mile circle with the post office being in the centre.

Two duck species, the Long-tailed duck and the Ring-necked duck were new to the count area as well as a Hooded merganser that had only been recorded once before.

Decent Trumpeter swan numbers were seen as well as a record number of Ruffed  grouse and Northern goshawks.

Seed-eating Grosbeak and common Redpoll numbers have improved this year. These birds in particular tend to be irruptive and follow cone and seed crops around the country.

Invasive Eurasian collared-doves appear to be well adjusted in Fort St. James. Ten were observed.

With a very mild fall and most of Stuart River being open on count day, a higher number of species and individual birds were observed.

“Thanks are due to the talented and dedicated birders who join us every year travelling from Prince George and Vanderhoof to participate,” Vinnedge said.

 

Complete species list:

Trumpeter swan 180

Mallard 36

Common goldeneye 65

Barrow’s goldeneye 2

Hooded merganser 1

Common merganser CW (count week – bird not seen on count day but within 3 days of count day)

Long-tailed duck 1

Ring-necked duck 1

Ruffed grouse 44

Spruce grouse 1

Bald eagle 4

Northern goshawk 4

Belted kingfisher CW

Downy woodpecker 23

Hairy woodpecker 31

Northern flicker 5

Brown creeper 4

Pileated woodpecker 1

Northern shrike 1

Eurasian collared-dove 10

Gray jay 3

Steller’s jay 13

Black-billed magpie 16

American crow 58

Common raven 164

Black-capped chickadee 449

Boreal chickadee 1

Mountain chickadee 1

Red-breasted nuthatch 12

American dipper 4

Golden-crowned kinglet 1

Eurasian starling CW

Bohemian waxwing 38

Song sparrow 1

Dark-eyed junco 22

Brewer’s blackbird 6

Pine grosbeak 354

White-winged crossbill 90

Red crossbill 9

Common redpoll 640

Pine siskin 14

Evening grosbeak 136

House sparrow 103

Total Individuals 2549 birds

Total number of species 43

 

 

Caledonia Courier