The 2012 Muskegon Wastewater Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was conducted on Wednesday, December 19. This is the eighth consecutive year that we have participated on the official CBC program (coordinated by the National Audubon Society), although results have been submitted to Michigan Audubon since 2000.
The Wastewater count circle (15 miles in diameter) mostly encompasses private farmland and forest parcels, but it also includes large tracts of public land managed by the Muskegon State Game Area (MSGA, red in map below) and the Muskegon Wastewater System (MWS, orange). To promote consistent coverage, the circle has been split into eight pie-shaped zones.
This year, fifteen volunteers divided into eight parties as follows: Feller DeWitt (NNW); Ric Pedler and Jim Zervos (NNE); Ken Sherburn, Roger Sherburn, and Greg DeWeerd (ENE); Charlie DeWitt (ESE); Ken Sapkowski and Glenda Eikenberry (SSE); Jonathan, Joseph, and David Lautenbach (MWS and SSE); Dayle Vanderwier and Connie Peoples (WNW); and Brian Johnson (MSGA). Six of these observers (the Lautenbach trio, Dayle and Connie, and Brian) continued well into the afternoon. Combined, observers accrued 38 hours (8 on foot, 30 by car) and 320 miles (8.2 on foot, 312 by car) of daytime coverage.
As in 2011, weather prior to the CBC had been abnormally mild. Only 3.7 inches of snow had fallen at Muskegon during the preceding weeks (only 2011 experienced less) and almost none remained on the ground by count day. Conditions were particularly pleasant on the 19th. Winds were the lightest we have had, no precipitation fell, and temperatures were consistently above freezing. Skies were overcast to mostly cloudy.
The excellent weather yielded a bonanza of diversity. A total of 12,156 individuals, representing 67 species, was recorded on this year's CBC. The individual total surpassed the historical (2000-11) mean of 11,276 birds, but the species count was particularly exceptional. By beating the total of 64 from 2006, this established a new record for the Wastewater CBC and was nearly 10 species higher than the previous average.
Of the species recorded this year, 22 exhibited totals below previous historical means, whereas 45 matched or exceeded those averages. Impressively, 23 species set or matched record high counts. Consistent with the past 12 years (though with a varying order), the four most abundant species were Northern Shoveler, Canada Goose, European Starling, and Herring Gull. Together, they comprised 67% of the total individuals seen (slightly reduced from the historical ratio of 72%). Our total of 3,505 Northern Shovelers should easily be the highest in the state.
Open water, particularly at MWS, significantly boosted waterfowl numbers, and 16 species of ducks, geese, and swans set a new high. Altogether, waterfowl comprised 53% of the birds seen this year. Six species of diurnal raptors accounted for 45 individuals, and five species of owls tied the record from last year. Five species of gulls also established a new peak for diversity.
Among landbirds, winter visitors were collectively more frequent than usual. Dark-eyed Juncos, Tree Sparrows, and Common Redpolls provided the vast majority of these sightings. The redpoll total produced another new high record, but only one other irruptive finch (Red Crossbill) was encountered. Six Northern Shrike, a very impressive total for any Michigan CBC, also set a new high count.
A few Eastern Bluebirds and American Robins were found, but frugivores were otherwise poorly represented. No Cedar Waxwings or Yellow-rumped Warblers were encountered. Ruffed Grouse, a species that has declined significantly, was not seen on count day. As with 2011, most grassland species were again scarce. Horned Lark was missed entirely, and only 13 Snow Buntings were counted. Lingering migrants included Northern Harrier, Northern Flicker, Song Sparrow, and Brown-headed Cowbird.
Seven new species were recorded on the 2012 Wastewater CBC, and this raises our cumulative total to 106.
Breakdowns of all the birds encoutered this year are presented below:
Snow Goose - 1; seen by Lautenbachs
Canada Goose - 1995; historical average 3279
Mute Swan - 25; new high count; 20 seen by Ken, Roger, and Greg
Wood Duck - 1; first CBC record, seen by Lautenbachs
Gadwall - 28; all at MWS
American Black Duck - 105; all at MWS
Mallard - 328; historical average 544
Northern Shoveler - 3505; third highest total; all at MWS
Green-winged Teal - 1; seen by Lautenbachs
Ring-necked Duck - 34; first CBC record, seen by Lautenbachs
Greater Scaup - 1; at MWS
Lesser Scaup - 21; new high count, seen by Lautenbachs
Bufflehead - 30; new high count, seen by Lautenbachs
Common Goldeneye - 2; at MWS
Red-breasted Merganser - 1; first CBC record, seen by Lautenbachs
Ruddy Duck - 330; new high count, seen by Lautenbachs
Ring-necked Pheasant - 1; seen by Charlie
Wild Turkey - 97; 32 seen by Dayle and Connie
Great Blue Heron - 2; 1 seen by Ken, Roger, and Greg; 1 seen by Brian
Bald Eagle - 4; 2 seen by Ric and Jim
Northern Harrier - 3; 1 each seen by Ken, Roger, and Greg; Ken and Glenda; and Brian
Cooper's Hawk - 1; seen by Ken and Glenda
Red-tailed Hawk - 22; 9 seen by Lautenbachs
Rough-legged Hawk - 3; 2 seen by Ric and Jim; 1 seen by Ken, Roger, and Greg
American Kestrel - 12; 5 seen by Lautenbachs
American Coot - 1; first CBC record, seen by Lautenbachs
Ring-billed Gull - 197; historical average 128
Herring Gull 1935; historical average 2218
Thayer's Gull - 1; first CBC record, seen by Lautenbachs
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1; seen by Lautenbachs
Glaucous Gull - 2; new high count, seen by Lautenbachs
Rock Pigeon - 163; 65 seen by Ken, Roger, and Greg
Mourning Dove - 328; 169 seen by Charlie
Eastern Screech-Owl - 3; found by Brian
Great Horned Owl - 2; found by Lautenbachs
Snowy Owl - 1; seen by Lautenbachs
Barred Owl - 1; found by Brian
Saw-whet Owl - 1; first CBC record, found by Lautenbachs
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 12; 3 seen by Ken and Glenda
Downy Woodpecker - 37; 10 seen by Lautenbachs
Hairy Woodpecker - 13; new hight count; 9 seen by Brian
Northern Flicker - 3; 1 seen by Charlie; 2 seen by Brian
Pileated Woodpecker - 7; 4 seen by Brian
Northern Shrike - 6; new high count; 1 seen by Dayle and Connie; 1 seen by Ric and Jim; 1 seen by Charlie; 2 seen by Lautenbachs; 1 seen by Brian
Blue Jay - 45; 10 seen by Ken, Roger, and Greg
American Crow - 144; 33 seen by Dayle and Connie
Black-capped Chickadee - 221; new high count; 74 seen by Lautenbachs
Tufted Titmouse 74; new high count; 25 seen by Lautenbachs
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 4; 1 seen by Ken, Roger, and Greg; 3 seen by Lautenbachs
White-breasted Nuthatch - 27; 7 seen by Ken and Glenda; 7 seen by Brian
Brown Creeper - 1; seen by Dayle and Connie
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 3; 2 seen by Ken, Roger, and Greg; 1 seen by Lautenbachs
Eastern Bluebird - 16; 5 seen by Feller; 5 seen by Charlie; 6 seen by Ken and Glenda
American Robin - 4; 1 seen by Dayle and Connie; 1 seen by Lautenbachs; 2 seen by Ric and Jim
European Starling - 698; 418 seen by Lautenbachs
Lapland Longspur - 1; seen by Lautenbachs
Snow Bunting - 13; seen by Lautenbachs
American Tree Sparrow - 291; 128 seen by Brian
Song Sparrow - 3; 1 seen by Ric and Jim; 2 seen by Brian
Dark-eyed Junco - 287; 182 seen by Lautenbachs
Northern Cardinal - 127; 37 seen by Lautenbachs
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1; seen by Dayle and Connie
House Finch - 161; new high count; 70 seen by Ken and Glenda
Red Crossbill - 1; first CBC record, seen by Brian
Common Redpoll - 399; new high count; 250 seen by Ken, Roger, and Greg; 129 seen by Lautenbachs
American Goldfinch - 150; 36 seen by Charlie; 35 seen by Ken and Glenda
House Sparrow - 218; 81 seen by Lautenbachs
Results from the Muskegon Wastewater and the approximately 2,200 other Christmas Bird Counts are submitted to the National Audubon Society, where they can be accessed online (birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count). Many thanks to those who participated this year, and we encourage all interested birders to join us next December.
Brian Johnson
No comments:
Post a Comment