Wastewater CBC Results

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The 2011 Muskegon Wastewater Christmas Bird Count was conducted on Wednesday, December 14. Although held annually on an unofficial basis since 2000, this was the seventh sanctioned census for this location. Centered at the intersection of White and Ravenna Roads, the count circle (15 miles in diameter) mostly encompasses private farmland and forest parcels, but it also includes two large tracts of public land - the Muskegon State Game Area (MSGA) and the Muskegon Wastewater Treatment Facility. Fifteen birders from west Michigan met at the Wastewater administration building in the morning, grouped into eight parties, and began censusing their assigned areas.
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As is customary, most of survey was accomplished by vehicle. Feller DeWitt covered the NNW slice of the circle; Ric Pedler handled the NNE segment; Joseph, David, and Michael Lautenbach took the NNE area; Charlie DeWitt worked the ESE portion; Carolyn Weng, Kathryn Mork, and Kathy Neff hit the SSE section; James Ponshair and his crew (Joe Hitchings, Dave Kromer, Otto Nemecek) surveyed the Wastewater and adjacent lands; Dayle Vanderwier birded the WNW roadsides; and I spent the day hiking thru the MSGA. At noon, the group met and compared notes at Morrow’s Restaurant. While some participants headed home immediately following lunch, some (Lautenbachs, Charlie, Carolyn, Kathryn, Dayle) continued into the afternoon, and the last observer (myself) left the field at 6:30pm after a bit of owling. Combined, observers accrued 39.5 hours (6.5 on foot, 33 by car) and 375.5 miles (7.5 on foot, 368 by car) of daytime coverage.
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The weather prior to the CBC had been abnormally mild. Only 0.4 inches of snow had fallen in Muskegon during the preceding weeks, and none remained on the ground. Ice was restricted to patches on still water, and the large sewage lagoons at the Wastewater were mostly open. Winds were fairly light from the south, and count day temperatures were the highest in the history of this census. Unfortunately, such otherwise pleasant conditions were offset by a steady rainfall (ranging from light to hard) that likely reduced bird detections. A total of 15,773 individuals, representing 53 species, was recorded on this year's CBC. The individual total, considerably above the historical mean of 10,867 birds, was the third highest on record, but the species count fell one below the previous average. Compositionally consistent with past years, the four most abundant species were Canada Goose, Northern Shoveler, Starling, and Herring Gull, which together comprised 81% of the total individuals seen (versus 72% historically).
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Due to the unusual availability of open water, waterfowl were numerous this year. Nine species accounted for 77% (average 43%) of the all the individual birds recorded on the census. This was the highest ratio of waterfowl in the history of this CBC. Notable sightings included 2 Cackling Goose (third occurrence on this survey, 7179 Canada Geese (second highest), 4333 Northern Shoveler (second highest), 8 Green-winged Teal (second highest), and 4 Common Goldeneye (new high count).
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Five species of diurnal raptors accounted for 35 individuals. While these totals are lower than the past means (36.3 birds of 6.8 species), both Northern Harrier (5) and American Kestrel (14) set new records. Rough-legged Hawks (2) were unusually scarce. However, owls were well represented. All five species that have ever been recorded on the Wastewater CBC were found this year. Three Snowy Owls tied the previous record, a Short-eared Owl was the first since 2007 (habitat mismanagement at its preferred Wastewater haunts have reduced numbers in recent years), and one each of Screech, Great Horned, and Barred Owl were found at MSGA.
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Among landbirds in general, winter visitors were collectively less frequent than usual and diversity was near average. Juncos and Tree Sparrows provided the vast majority of these sightings, and no incursive species (e.g. winter finches) were encountered. Permanent residents exhibited a similar pattern, although Mourning Doves were found in record numbers. Red-headed Woodpecker had only been recorded during one previous year, so one at MSGA was most welcome.
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Summer residents (these generally comprise facultative migrants) can substantially boost CBC totals when warm weather does not impel them to migrate south. Diversity was average in this regard, as six such landbird species were detected this year. However, the individual count of 72 was particularly high and was only surpassed by the large irruption of frugivores in 2007. Highlights included 1 Belted Kingfisher, 39 Eastern Bluebirds (second highest ever), 7 Yellow-rumped Warblers, and 2 Song Sparrows. In addition, 18 Northern Flickers set another record tally.
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Of all 53 species recorded this year, 22 exhibited totals reduced from previous historical means, yet 31 matched or exceeded those averages. The biggest misses were Cooper's Hawk, seen on ten prior counts, and Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Ring-necked Pheasant, each seen on nine prior counts. Absent for the three of the last four years, the latter species has also likely suffered from the recent grassland mismanagement at the Wastewater. Gulls and grassland passerines (Horned Lark and Snow Bunting) were significantly below average. Conversely, six species tied or established record highs. Since no new species were recorded on the Wastewater CBC, the cumulative total remains 99.
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The following table details this year’s results by participant. Data from the Muskegon Wastewater and the approximately 2,000 other Christmas Bird Counts are submitted to the National Audubon Society, where they can be accessed at their website (birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count). Many thanks to all those that participated this year, and we encourage all interested birders to join us next December.
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Brian Johnson
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SPECIES - COUNT (PREVIOUS MEAN)
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Cackling Goose - 2 (0.5)

Canada Goose - 7179 (2924.1)

Gadwall - 46 (98.6)

American Black Duck - 79 (161.9)

Mallard - 529 (545.5)

Northern Shoveler - 4333 (943.7)

Green-winged Teal - 8 (2.5)

Common Goldeneye - 4 (0.5)

Ruddy Duck - 4 (22.0)

Ruffed Grouse - 1 (1.2)

Wild Turkey - 57 (134.1)

Great Blue Heron - 1 (1.0)

Bald Eagle - 1 (4.9)

Northern Harrier - 5 (0.7)

Red-tailed Hawk - 13 (16.7)

Rough-legged Hawk - 2 (9.9)

American Kestrel - 14 (6.6)

Ring-billed Gull - 57 (134.5)

Herring Gull - 611 (2363.6)

Rock Pigeon - 168 (153.2)

Mourning Dove - 608 (263.2)

Eastern Screech-Owl - 1 (0.5)

Great Horned Owl - 1 (0.5)

Snowy Owl - 3 (0.6)

Barred Owl - 1 (0.4)

Short-eared Owl - 1 (0.8)

Belted Kingfisher - 1 (0.6)

Red-headed Woodpecker - 1 (0.4)

Red-bellied Woodpecker - 15 (15.5)

Downy Woodpecker - 29 (27.5)

Hairy Woodpecker - 8 (6.3)

Northern Flicker - 18 (6.0)

Pileated Woodpecker - 5 (3.4)

Northern Shrike - 1 (1.4)

Blue Jay - 103 (71.0)

American Crow - 144 (204.4)

Horned Lark - 1 (50.4)

Black-capped Chickadee - 119 (109.8)

Tufted Titmouse - 24 (26.9)

Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1 (1.7)

White-breasted Nuthatch - 15 (22.1)

Eastern Bluebird - 39 (16.5)

European Starling - 624 (1495.0)

Cedar Waxwing - 143 (78.7)

Snow Bunting - 2 (116.6)

Yellow-rumped Warbler - 7 (6.4)

American Tree Sparrow - 195 (161.2)

Song Sparrow - 2 (1.3)

Dark-eyed Junco - 171 (146.6)

Northern Cardinal - 80 (57.7)

House Finch - 26 (57.7)

American Goldfinch - 193 (177.5)

House Sparrow - 77 (162.9)

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