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> This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. --Boundary_(ID_icCzHUgGyG09PbtnWRtzTw) Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Subject: Christmas bird counts shows species are down -- Warm December made it difficult to spot birds -- C. Stevens column, Daily News, Dec. 31, 2006 Daily News, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006 COLUMNS Sunday, December 31, 2006 Christmas bird counts shows species are down Warm December made it difficult to spot birds By Clarence Stevens The Daily News Each year during the Christmas season thousands of birders right across North America take part in Christmas Bird Counts. In Atlantic Canada, the largest of those counts is known as the Halifax/Dartmouth CBC. This count circle includes all of Dartmouth and most of Halifax and stretches from the Chebucto Head area to the popular Lawrencetown Beach. Last year, the Halifax Dartmouth CBC recorded more species than any other count in eastern Canada, and even came close to beating out the Canadian champs in British Columbia. This year, although all the reports are yet to be tallied up, it is clear that despite excellent participation, recorded bird species are down. Thus far the official total is 112 species, and that number is unlikely to raise by more than a species or two. Heat troubles Warmer than normal weather so far this December was definitely the major contributing factor to these lower numbers. Warm weather made it harder for counters to find birds in a number of ways: 1. It meant that many of our normal winter birds had not yet returned to the metro area. 2. Many of those that had returned were not concentrated at feeders 3. So much open water contributed to water related species really being spread out. At the same time, however, all that open water allowed the count to set three new waterfowl records. Most years, one or two Eurasian Wigeons are a nice rarity for the count. This year, like many, two were found feeding in Sullivans Pond. However, the real surprise was five additional Eurasians at West Lawrencetown Marsh. Most years we are lucky if we find a Ruddy Duck for the CBC, but this year an incredible 21 Ruddy Ducks were found in Bisset Lake. A few Green Winged Teals and Northern Pintails are to be expected, but never have such numbers of these two species been recorded on the CBC. The reports are still being tallied, but thus far we know that at least 55 Green Winged Teals were observed and more than 40 Northern Pintails. Other rare ducks for the count included three Gadwalls in Dartmouth and a Northern Shoveler on the Little Salmon River. Large numbers of Alcids Along the more exposed sections of the coast birders were delighted to find large numbers of Alcids including normally hard-to-find Razorbills and Common Murres. Surprisingly, one of the Alcids that we normally find, the Atlantic Puffin, was missed all together. Other misses included Saw Whet Owl, Black Backed Woodpecker, Bonaparts Gull, Common Redpoll, Pine Grosbeak, and Spruce Grouse. Feeder owners were be pleased to know that a new record was also set for Northern Cardinal. There are still a number of feeder reports to come in, but thus far we know that more than 20 cardinals are kicking around the Metro Area. The most prominent species at feeders were Black Capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, House Sparrows and American Goldfinches. Only one Evening Grosbeak was seen during the entire day and only a measly eight Purple Finches could be found. Clarence Stevens operates Natural Wonders, a nature interpretation company, and is the author of Birding Metro Halifax. To pass along your bird reports, contact Clarence at dnbirder@yahoo.ca. --Boundary_(ID_icCzHUgGyG09PbtnWRtzTw) Content-type: text/html; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT <HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Christmas bird counts shows species are down -- Warm December made it difficult to spot birds -- C. Stevens column, Daily News, Dec. 31, 2006</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <BR> <B>Subject: </B>Christmas bird counts shows species are down -- Warm December made it difficult to spot birds -- C. Stevens column, Daily News, Dec. 31, 2006<BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="Arial">Daily News, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006<BR> </FONT></FONT> <BR> <B>COLUMNS</B> Sunday, December 31, 2006<BR> <B>Christmas bird counts shows species are down</B> <BR> <FONT SIZE="5"><BR> </FONT><B>Warm December made it difficult to spot birds</B> <BR> <FONT SIZE="5"> <BR> </FONT><BR> <B>By Clarence Stevens<BR> The Daily News<BR> </B><FONT SIZE="5"><BR> </FONT>Each year during the Christmas season thousands of birders right across North America take part in Christmas Bird Counts. In Atlantic Canada, the largest of those counts is known as the Halifax/Dartmouth CBC. This count circle includes all of Dartmouth and most of Halifax and stretches from the Chebucto Head area to the popular Lawrencetown Beach.<BR> <BR> Last year, the Halifax Dartmouth CBC recorded more species than any other count in eastern Canada, and even came close to beating out the Canadian champs in British Columbia. This year, although all the reports are yet to be tallied up, it is clear that despite excellent participation, recorded bird species are down.<BR> <BR> Thus far the official total is 112 species, and that number is unlikely to raise by more than a species or two.<BR> <BR> <I>Heat troubles<BR> </I><BR> Warmer than normal weather so far this December was definitely the major contributing factor to these lower numbers. Warm weather made it harder for counters to find birds in a number of ways:<BR> <BR> 1. It meant that many of our normal winter birds had not yet returned to the metro area.<BR> <BR> 2. Many of those that had returned were not concentrated at feeders<BR> <BR> 3. So much open water contributed to water related species really being spread out.<BR> <BR> At the same time, however, all that open water allowed the count to set three new waterfowl records. Most years, one or two Eurasian Wigeons are a nice rarity for the count. This year, like many, two were found feeding in Sullivans Pond.<BR> <BR> However, the real surprise was five additional Eurasians at West Lawrencetown Marsh. Most years we are lucky if we find a Ruddy Duck for the CBC, but this year an incredible 21 Ruddy Ducks were found in Bisset Lake. A few Green Winged Teals and Northern Pintails are to be expected, but never have such numbers of these two species been recorded on the CBC.<BR> <BR> The reports are still being tallied, but thus far we know that at least 55 Green Winged Teals were observed and more than 40 Northern Pintails. Other rare ducks for the count included three Gadwalls in Dartmouth and a Northern Shoveler on the Little Salmon River.<BR> <BR> <I>Large numbers of Alcids<BR> </I><BR> Along the more exposed sections of the coast birders were delighted to find large numbers of Alcids including normally hard-to-find Razorbills and Common Murres. Surprisingly, one of the Alcids that we normally find, the Atlantic Puffin, was missed all together.<BR> <BR> Other misses included Saw Whet Owl, Black Backed Woodpecker, Bonaparts Gull, Common Redpoll, Pine Grosbeak, and Spruce Grouse. <BR> <BR> Feeder owners were be pleased to know that a new record was also set for Northern Cardinal. There are still a number of feeder reports to come in, but thus far we know that more than 20 cardinals are kicking around the Metro Area.<BR> <BR> The most prominent species at feeders were Black Capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, House Sparrows and American Goldfinches. Only one Evening Grosbeak was seen during the entire day and only a measly eight Purple Finches could be found.<BR> <BR> <I>Clarence Stevens operates Natural Wonders, a nature interpretation company, and is the author of Birding Metro Halifax. To pass along your bird reports, contact Clarence at dnbirder@yahoo.ca.</I> <BR> <BR> </BODY> </HTML> --Boundary_(ID_icCzHUgGyG09PbtnWRtzTw)--
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