Reflections on the Christmas Bird Count
by Herb Wisner


We have, on past bird count days, been visited by rain, snow, ice, cold, fog but this past December 21st saw none of that sort of stuff. The day could hardly have been nicer for the last day of the year. Sunny, temperature in the 50_s by the end of the day.

Now, what effect did this have on the numbers and variety of birds encountered by the 90 people out in the field or the 29 home counters attempting to assess the avian population? It seems to have been variable. Some teams remarked that the numbers seemed low, that they were basking somewhere in the sunshine and not making themselves apparent. A few home counters said the same thing. My yard was better than usual however. And so it went.

Let's go down the list and see. Water or wetland species were well below record numbers except tor the 2 White Pelicans, which we have come to consider as permanent residents at Fern Ridge Reservoir, and (who can doubt it) Canada Geese.which came in at nearly 20000 more than last year. It's difficult to decide on how to count such birds since several teams working in adjacent areas may be counting the same flocks if they fly over. If the birds would just stay on the ground during the day life would be easier for we human counters. The same holds true for Cormorants. These were mostly along the Willamette River and rather mobile flying either up or downstream and thus showing off to more than one team.

Revising numbers downward is mostly a guessing game. Great Egrets were around in good numbers but short of last years 166. No Cattle Egret this year. Turkey Vultures were around again. Historically these should have gone south long ago. Perhaps a few of them believe the global warming news and figure why go all that way just to have to come back again in March? They must be making a satisfactory living here during the winter. Although who can honestly say the style of living of vultures is satisfactory? Although their were 4 Ospreys reported by different teams we decided that two was the real number. They, like the vultures, have stayed north for several years now in contrast to history.

Those of you who would be interested in seeing White-tailed Kites should know that there is a pretty good chance of finding them in the area around Fern Ridge. Goshawks don't come easily in our count circle at any time of year but one put in an appearance in one of our southern quadrants. The record stands at 2 seen in 1994. Expectable hawk species checked in with one team or another, even a Peregrine Falcon. We bombed on Mt. Quail but they are kind of iffy anyway, though they do exist not far from our circle boundary. Among the shorebirds Semi-palmated Plovers appeared for only the third time. and Greater Yellowlegs far exceeded any previous number.

Further down the list there was nothing much to comment on until we get to the owls. Thank goodness for the people who get out early enough in the morning (well before dawn) to check them out. All the species generally likely were tallied with Saw-whets exceeding the previous record of 4 by 1. Still further along the Black Phoebe seen along Lorane Highway southwest of town was unusual though not completely unknown, having been seen on 3 previous occasions.

The Marsh Wren in Alton Baker Park is worthy of comment since these usually show only in the Marshes at Fern Ridge. Others deserving comment include the Dipper during count week, the Mockingbird adjacent to the Reservoir as was an American Tree Sparrow. To backtrack a bit to remind those who feed birds at home that a Hummingbird feeder is not inappropriate in the winter since Anna's Hummers may well show up and be regular all season. If possible, put a reflector lamp under the feeder to turn on should freezing weather arrive.

Finally, the coordinator of the CBC (Herb Wisner) is once again forever grateful to all the team leaders and volunteers who accompanied them as well as the home counters for their continued dedication to making Eugene's count a succerssful one. They deserve many more than just 3 cheers. Anyone wishing to look at any Christmas count in the country can log on to
http://www.birdsource.org

If anyone has further questions about the count call Herb at 344-3634.

Eugene Christmas Bird Count December 31, 2000

Pied-billed Grebe73
Western Grebe 12
Double-crested Cormorant 374
Great Blue Heron 184
Great Egret 123
Tundra Swan 527
Canada Goose 70139
Greater White-front Goose 5
Wood Duck 49
Mallard 983
N. Shoveler 345
Gadwall 203
American Wigeon 1030
Northern Pintail 2876
Am. Green-wing Teal 745
Canvasback 4
Ring-necked Duck 141
Lesser Scaup 97
Bufflehead 59
Hooded Merganser 17
Common Merganser 119
Ruddy Duck 138
Turkey Vulture 4
Osprey 2
White-tailed Kite 11
Bald Eagle 8
N. Harrier 62
Sharp-shinned Hawk 16
Cooper's Hawk 10
Northern Goshawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 5
Red-tailed Hawk 111
Rough-legged Hawk 2
Am. Kestrel 60
Merlin 3
Peregrine Falcon 1
Ring-necked Pheasant 19
Wild Turkey 25
California Quail 99
Virginia Rail 2
American Coot 139
Killdeer 799
Semipalmated Plover 2
Greater Yellowlegs 99
Spotted Sandpiper 3
Western Sandpiper 8
Least Sandpiper 122
Dunlin 4401
Long-billed Dowitcher 208
Common Snipe 84
Mew Gull 159
Ring-billed Gull 1494
California Gull 84
Herring Gull 7
Glaucous-winged Gull 199
Rock Dove 888
Mourning Dove 72
Barn Owl 9
Western Screech Owl 15
Great Horned Owl 14
N. Pygmy-Owl 1
Short-eared Owl 5
Northern Saw-whet Owl 5
Anna's Hummingbird 27
Belted Kingfisher 22
Acorn Woodpecker 17
Red-breasted Sapsucker 13
Downy Woodpecker 51
Hairy Woodpecker 11
Northern Flicker 256
Red-shft x Yellow shafted 1
Pileated Woodpecker 7
Black Phoebe 1
Northern Shrike 2
Hutton's Vireo 2
Steller's Jay`` 161
W. Scrub-Jay 684
Am. Crow 1328
Common Raven 70
Black-capped Chickadee 1057
Mountain Chickadee 10
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 82
Bushtit 410
Red-breasted Nuthatch 164
White-breasted Nuthatch 6
Brown Creeper 40
Bewick's Wren 103
Winter Wren 47
Marsh Wren 36
Golden-crowned Kinglet 716
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 484
Western Bluebird 45
Hermit Thrush 12
Am. Robin 945
Varied Thrush 50
Wrentit 7
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 12700
Am. Pipit 3
Cedar Waxing 111
Yellow-rumped Warbler 144
Townsend's Warbler 63
Spotted Towhee 276
American Tree Sparrow 1
Chipping Sparrow 3
Savannah Sparrow 31
Fox Sparrow 205
Song Sparrow 889
Lincoln's Sparrow 46
White-throated Sparrow 13
Golden-crowned Sparrow 3374
White-crowned Sparrow 212
Dark-eyed Junco 1874
Slate-colored Junco 3
Red-winged Blackbird 5890
Western Meadowlark 193
Brewer's Blackbird 944
Brown-headed Cowbird 13
Purple Finch 42
House Finch 678
Pine Siskin 311
Lesser Goldfinch 67
Am. Goldfinch 102
House Sparrow 485


126 total species seen on count day

plus the following seen during count week:

Black-bellied Plover
American Dipper
Glaucoous-winged Gull x Western Gull


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