State Game Area CBC Results from Wednesday

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As I wait for all the submissions from the participants of the Muskegon Wastewater Christmas Bird Count on December 14, 2011, I thought I'd share my personal results from the day. My section comprises the trails and backwoods of the Muskegon State Game Area, and I have been walking the same general route for the last several surveys. Unlike the other Wastewater CBC zones, coverage here aims to better sample certain species that are insufficiently encountered by birders working from their vehicles. Moreover, because bird feeders and human dwellings are absent, we can better measure usage of natural forage and habitats.

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I hiked 3.0 miles in the morning (green) and 4.2 miles in the afternoon (red), as shown in the image below.
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This year, a complete lack of snow, little ice, and the constant rain made for quite unusual conditions. The rain definitely reduced detections, and it may have reduced bird activity as well. I ended the day with 242 birds of 23 species (somewhat below the previous averages of 283 birds and 25 species).

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Highlights included Red-headed Woodpecker (first since 2005), 10 Northern Flickers (new high tally), Red-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-rumped Warbler (rare away from the Muskegon River), and Song Sparrow. Misses (birds seen on at least five of the previous nine counts) comprised Bald Eagle, Mourning Dove, Brown Creeper (present every previous year), and Golden-crowned Kinglet. Interestingly, numerical fluctuations among several species this year coincided well with banding results from Muskegon Lake (e.g., low numbers of Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch versus high numbers of Blue Jay and Tree Sparrow).

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In the evening, a short owling foray at a few dependable stops produced one each of Eastern Screech-Owl, Great Horned Owl, and Barred Owl.

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The complete list (with pertinent past averages):

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Mallard - 1

Red-tailed Hawk - 2

Eastern Screech-Owl - 1

Great Horned Owl - 1

Barred Owl - 1

Red-headed Woodpecker - 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker 5

Downy Woodpecker - 7 (average 12)

Hairy Woodpecker - 4 (average 4)

Northern Flicker - 10 (average 4)

Pileated Woodpecker - 3

Blue Jay - 23 (average 8)

American Crow - 3 (average 7)

Black-capped Chickadee - 32 (average 46)

Tufted Titmouse - 15 (average 5)

Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1

White-breasted Nuthatch - 6 (average 13)

Yellow-rumped Warbler - 7 (average 8)

American Tree Sparrow - 96 (average 75)

Song Sparrow - 2

Dark-eyed Junco - 4 (average 13)

Northern Cardinal - 12 (average 13)

American Goldfinch - 5 (average 10)

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- Brian

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