Cold and windy. Not the forecast you would want to hear when getting ready to spend the next 24 hours out in the elements counting birds, but that’s just what the participants of the Buzzards Bay and Outer Cape Christmas Bird Counts experienced on December 19 and 20th. Coming on the heels of almost a month of above normal temperatures, the cold felt colder and the gusty winds only added to the overall experience for the birders.
The unseasonably warm weather of late has undoubtedly allowed various moths, spiders, earth worms and other creepy crawlies (what I like to call bird food) to remain active much later into the season than in most years. This coupled with the bonanza of fruits and berries evident all over the Cape and Islands even now has most certainly allowed birds relying on such foods to survive long past the time they would have normally migrated south for the winter or perished. The up to now mostly mild weather and the added “food and fuel” made for some record setting bird sightings for these two counts.
Within the 15 mile wide diameter count circle centered in Buzzards Bay a Mountain Bluebird was a first ever for any count in Massachusetts. This western version of the familiar Eastern Bluebird had been seen in the days leading up to the count , but all were no doubt delighted to be able to see it on the day and add it to the record books.
Another very unexpected sighting was that of a male European Goldfinch! This bird was found in a flock of American Goldfinches and although there is some discussion as to whether or not this bird is an escaped pet bird or perhaps came from a small population of these birds from near Lake Michigan it was a great find .
Other highlights included 9 Orange –crowned Warblers, 2 Yellow-breasted Chats, 27 Palm Warblers, a House Wren, 3 Snowy Owls, a Redhead, and a male Eurasian Wigeon.
Not to be outdone the Outer Cape Count tallied some terrific birds within their count circle. 2 Manx Shearwaters were the first ever recorded on this particular count. A Pacific Loon, 20 Greater Shearwaters, a Laughing and Glaucous Gull, 3 Iceland Gulls, a Barrows Goldeneye , and 2 Semi-palmated Plovers were also seen.
An amazing 8 species of warblers were found including Yellow-rumped, 6 Pine,3 Orange-crowned,2 Palm, a Wilson’s, a Northern Parula, a Nashville and 3 Yellow-breasted Chats. The Northern Parula was also a new bird for the Outer Cape Christmas Count. A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, an Eastern Phoebe, and 11 Baltimore Orioles (including one flock of 8 individuals) were tallied. No doubt these birds have benefited from the mild December weather and abundant food sources this year.
Additionally one lucky group of birders reported watching a Snowy Owl chasing and being chased by as many as 4 Peregrine Falcons. What a sight that must have been!
The thrill of the “hunt” and the camaraderie of those participating in Christmas Bird Counts all across the country, Canada and in a number of other countries is only a portion of the story. The birds tallied since the Christmas Bird Counts first begun in 1900 have become an amazing mine of data used by organizations in this country and elsewhere to inform many conservation decisions. In 2014 well over 71,000 participants tallied over 66 million birds of 2,403 species within 2,408 count circles. This “snap shot” of birds found within prescribed dates in December and January represent a monument of “citizen science”.
A dear birding friend of mine always used to say “if you don’t look you don’t see!” so if not this year, plan to join a group of like minded birders in 2016 and contribute to our growing wealth of knowledge of our feathered friends.
And of course as Vern always advises, “until next week keep your eyes to the sky”
