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 Jackson Audubon Society

 The Audubon Society of Jackson County, Michigan

2020 Christmas Bird Count

2020 Christmas Bird Count Summary
by Gary Siegrist

Overcast skies greeted this year’s count with temperatures staying in the mid-to-upper 30’s. Even with the Covid-19 issues we had 13 parties, including three feeder watchers for a total of 25 participants. Time spent compiling in the field totaled 82.55 hours including 3.5 hours watching feeders. Start time for some was 5 a.m. with the last group heading in at 7:30 p.m. Miles traveled was a total of 447.1; by car (432 miles) and walking (15). Miles and hours recorded for owling is kept separate with a total of 7 hours and 56 miles.

Bird species numbered 67 for the CBC. Including the additional 2 count week species, we had a total of 69 species. Individual birds totaled a healthy 12,349 birds. High numbers for species count included Sandhill Crane (5508), Bald Eagle (8), Pileated Woodpecker (5), Red-breasted Nuthatch (16), Carolina Wren (15), and Golden Crown Kinglet (10). There were low numbers recorded for a couple of species, Wild Turkey (24) and House Sparrow (235). Count week species were Northern Mockingbird (1) and Northern Harrier (1).

These next categories are always a favorite of mine. I would classify these bird species to be great finds any year. This year’s group include Short-eared Owl (1), Golden Eagle (1), Trumpeter Swan (4), Red-shoulder Hawk (3), Rough-legged Hawk (3), and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Unusual for any year, sighting the following were cause for celebration Red Crossbill (7), Common Redpoll (41), Virginia Rail (1), and Merlin (1).

Disappointing was the fact that we had with no sighting of Evening Grosbeak. In late fall we had numerous sightings of them in and around the Waterloo area but none on CBC week. Another bird normally seen or heard is the Great Horned Owl, but they were silent this year for the hearty souls listening for them in the early morning. In recent years we have had no luck finding Rough Grouse around their traditional wintering areas. I wonder what has happened to them?

Next year CBC is scheduled for December 18, 2021. Remember to mark it down on your calendar and join us in getting outdoors counting the birds.  

Species Number
Canada Goose 2,069
Mute Swan 9
Trumpeter Swan 3
American Black Duck 4
Mallard 351
Bufflehead 5
Hooded Merganser 4
Wild Turkey 24
Great Blue Heron (Blue form) 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Golden Eagle 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 4
Accipiter sp. 1
Bald Eagle 8
Red-shouldered Hawk 3
Red-tailed Hawk 28
Rough-legged Hawk 3
Virginia Rail 1
Sandhill Crane 5,508
Ring-billed Gull 417
Herring Gull 102
gull sp. 200
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 163
Mourning Dove 641
Eastern Screech-Owl 6
Barred Owl 1
Short-eared Owl 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 39
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 52
Hairy Woodpecker 14
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 17
Pileated Woodpecker 5
American Kestrel 13
Merlin 1
Northern Shrike 4
Blue Jay 95
American Crow 190
Horned Lark 2
Black-capped Chickadee 228
Tufted Titmouse 80
Red-breasted Nuthatch 16
White-breasted Nuthatch 100
Brown Creeper 7
Carolina Wren 15
Golden-crowned Kinglet 10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Eastern Bluebird 59
American Robin 46
European Starling 219
Cedar Waxwing 162
American Tree Sparrow 337
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 178
White-throated Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 23
Swamp Sparrow 7
Northern Cardinal 147
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Common Grackle 1
House Finch 70
Purple Finch 35
Common Redpoll 41
Pine Siskin 136
American Goldfinch 170
House Sparrow 235

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