Birders thanked for participating in annual Christmas Bird Count

Mississauga.com
January 14, 2014
By Phyllis Graydon

On Dec. 15 the Kleinburg Counters set out for the 33rd annual Christmas Bird Count in the Vaughan/Kleinburg/Caledon/ Brampton areas.

The weather was cold with heavy snow cover and icy conditions throughout the count area. Unfortunately, there was little or no open water. Consequently the number of gulls and water fowl was reduced. As a result our 52 species during the day was below our average of 55. Total number of birds counted was 8,763 down considerably from our count average of 12054.

No new species were found this year. Counts were low for owls, finches and waxwings. Missing were Horned Larks, Great-horned Owl and Ruffed Grouse. On a brighter note we had high counts for Pileated Woodpeckers, Common Ravens and Northern Shrikes. We had 25 field observers during the day beating the bushes as well as seven feeder watchers.

Some of the good birds we found included Merlin, Short-eared Owl, Carolina Wren, Northern Goshawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Harrier and Red-winged Blackbird. Unfortunately the weather hampered several counters from joining us, but we hope to see them in 2014. Our day ended at the Kline House with Joan Love and Hannah Mizuno serving pizza delivered by Cliff (Joan’s husband) salad and hot apple cider.

A big thank you to all who participated and especially to my feeder watchers. Isabel Chalmers from Columbia Way was surprised to see a small flock of Starlings bathing in her bird bath a week ago. Joan Love from Kleinburg also had visitors in her bird bath - a flock of Robins and Cedar Waxwings.  They drank and filled up on the Juniper berries in her yard, and then flew away.

Earlier in the week, Nadia Oreskovic from Ridge Rd. reported a flock of about 12 robins on her property. Most were hunkered down in the woods, but a few came to the heated bird bath and were treated to some fruit.   

Readers are invited to call (905) 857-1978 or e-mail nightjar33@yahoo.ca.