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Sponsored by the Muskoka Field Naturalists
Held on Sunday December 19, 2021
19 Observers in 9 groups travelled 509 km by car and 24 km on foot.
Temperature -10 to -7 C, AM clear PM clear, Wind Chill -15 to -11C
Snow depth 0 to 2 cm, ponds and lakes open
COUNT NOTES
Again our Christmas Bird Count was curtailed by the Covid 19 global pandemic. We travelled in our own cars, kept our distance when on foot. The potluck was cancelled and the end tally was done by zoom meeting. The weather was nice and sunny but colder than it looked because of the wind chill. But the birds were still out there and many good ones were found. The total number of species was 40, above the 38.1 average of the last 10 years and the number of individuals was 2100, slightly below the 2296 average. Most of the birds were found close to feeders but the number of active feeders seemed to be lower than usual (seems like we always say this). We greatly missed two long time participants this year. After leading the Gravenhurst team for 25 years Dan Burton has passed the job to Janice House. Bill Dickinson who passed away in 2021 was a long-time group leader who knew where every bird was in his section west of Bracebridge. Cyril Fry missed the count for the first time in decades but reports that he expects to be back next year. Thanks to all the participants for helping keep the count going in difficult times.
Al
PARTICIPANTS
Gravenhurst Team
G1-Gayle Carlyle, John Challis
G2-Mara Smelters Wier
G3-Oscar Righetti
G4-Janice House
G5-Mary Powers, Krista & Matt Oswald
Bracebridge Team
B6 & 10-Stephanie Lehman, Janet & Chris Freeland
B7-Linda Boon, Will Lockhart, Al Sinclair
B8-Dale Wenger, Aaron Rusak
B9-David, Regan, & Mara Goodyear
Feeder Watchers 4
COUNT SUMMARY
Total Count Species: 40 (last 10 yr average 38.1)
Total Count Individuals: 2100 (last 10 yr average 2296)
Total Individuals: Gravenhurst 1013 Bracebridge 1087
Total Species: Gravenhurst 28 Bracebridge 33
Additional Count Week Species: 4 marked CW on the species list (species not found on count day but seen 3 days before or after)
NEW COUNT SPECIES
1 White-crowned Sparrow found and photographed at a feeder at the east end of Pine Street in Bracebridge. This brings the total species for all 42 counts to 96.
HIGH NUMBERS
Hooded Merganser set a new count hi with 44 (prev 5) High numbers were seen during migration this fall.
LOW NUMBERS
Wild Turkey set a new high last year of 163 but was only found in count week. First time missed on count day since 2001.
Northern Cardinal: crashed from record 35 last year to 8
Ruffed Grouse: no more than 1 in the last 4 years
Hawks: Red-tailed missed last 2 years, 1 Sharp-shinned, 1 Cooper’s
Owls: a Barred Owl was feeder watching in Bracebridge the day after the count
House sparrow: missed for the 3nd year in a row.
UNUSUAL SPECIES
Great Black-backed Gull: 1 at the Bracebridge Landfill
Glaucous Gull: 2 at Bracebridge Landfill in count week
Bald Eagles: 6 at the Gravenhurst composting site and 1 at Bracebridge Landfill
Red-bellied Woodpecker: Feeder on Doe Lake Rd
Bohemian Waxwing: 19 at Kahshe Lake
Trumpeter Swan: 1 was found again on the Muskoka River at Muskoka Falls. Likely R89 but tags lost since last year.
Snow Buntings: 152 at Muskoka Airport
Red and White-winged Crossbills: both species seen east of Hwy 11.
FINCH SPECIES
Pine Grosbeak 2, American Goldfinch 148, Pine Siskin 4, Evening Grosbeak 5, Red Crossbill 2, White-winged Crossbill 11, Purple Finch count week
SPECIES LIST
Canada Goose 3
Trumpeter Swan 1
Mallard 49
Common Goldeneye 17
Bufflehead 1
Hooded Merganser 44
Common Merganser 35
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 7
Ruffed Grouse 1
Wild Turkey cw
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 32
Glaucous Gull cw
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 173
Mourning Dove 79
Barred Owl cw
Red-Bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 22
Hairy Woodpecker 25
Pileated Woodpecker 5
Blue Jay 284
American Crow 36
Common Raven 99
Black-capped Chickadee 417
Red-breasted Nuthatch 25
White-breasted Nuthatch 57
Brown Creeper 3
Bohemian Waxwing 19
European Starling 244
Northern Cardinal 8
American Tree Sparrow 22
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 62
Snow Bunting 152
Pine Grosbeak 2
Purple Finch cw
Red Crossbill 2
White-winged Crossbill 11
Pine Siskin 4
American Goldfinch 148
Evening Grosbeak 5 Replies: There have been no replies.
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