Welcome!

Attention all bird lovers! Please mark your calendars for Sunday, December 14, 2008 and plan to join us for another “CBC” outing. This year marks the 109th consecutive year that the NAS has conducted the largest single citizen science event in the world. Your participation will help contribute to the most comprehensive, longest-running database in ornithology, which provides valuable information regarding the distribution and abundance of early winter bird populations all over the Western Hemisphere. Whether you’re a novice, or the next Roger Tory Peterson your presence will be greatly appreciated and valued.

What is the CBC and Why is it important?

What is the CBC? – It is the largest conservation effort known to mankind! Over 50,000 observers across the Western Hemisphere count and record as many individuals and species over a 24-hour period (Midnight to Midnight).

Why is it important? – The count period of December 14 to January 5 each marks the end of the fall migration and provides an opportunity to monitor trends in early winter bird populations.

When?

The Monroe CBC will be held Saturday, December 15, 2007. The official period is 12am to 11:59pm but we usually quit at 5pm.

Count week for the Monroe CBC will be 12/15 to 12/21. During this period any additional species not seen on count day can be added to the totals. PLEASE document WHEN and WHERE. Make sure to include a rare-bird form if the species requires it!

Monroe, MI (MIMO) Count Circle

Monroe ? – The count has been conducted in Monroe County for 39 years and ESBA has hosted the count for the last 20 years (including this year).

Where is the Count Circle? – The center of the Monroe count area is the junction of M-125 and Woodchuck Creek near LaSalle. The count circle is 15 miles in diameter (~177 sq. miles) and is divided into 8 Areas.
Area 2 - Consumers Power Plant and Erie Gun Club to I-75
Area 3 - Wood Road on the north east to US-125. US-125 south to Erie Rd. Erie Rd. east to I-75; I-75 south
Area 4 - LaPlaisance Rd east to North Otter Creek Rd to Lake Erie. Telegraph south to Wood Road and Wood Road east to US-125. US-125 south to Erie Rd. Erie Rd. east to Lake Erie
Area 5 - Front St. along S side of River Raisin Rd. from Telegraph Rd. to Lake Erie. Telegraph Rd. S to LaPlaisance Rd. E to North Otter Creek Rd. to Lake Erie
Area 5a - Monroe Power Plant
Area 6 - Front St. along S side of River Raisin from Telegraph Rd. to Lake Erie. Telegraph Rd. N to Nadeau Rd.
Area 7 - Dunbar Rd to Telegraph Rd. Telegraph Rd. N to Nadeau Rd.
Area 8 - Dunbar Rd. to Telegraph Rd. Telegraph Rd. S to Wood Rd. then W on Wood Rd.

How do we compare? – Last year the Monroe Count produced 79 species, third in the State! Each year we rank among the top 2-3 counts in terms of numbers of species and individuals.

Objective

Objective? – Participants try to cover as much of the circle as possible within a 24-hr. period, counting indivdual birds and species within their assigned section. At the end of the day results are tallied and compiled into a master list, which is then sent to the national database.

Yesterday and today!

On Christmas Day 1900, Ornithologist Frank Chapman proposed a “Christmas Bird Census” as an alternative to the annual Christmas Side Hunt, where people engaged in contests to see who could shoot the most birds and bring in the largest pile of feathers. Thanks to his efforts, the first CBC was conducted among 27 birders in 25 count circles ranging from Toronto, ON to Pacific Grove, CA. Total species for the entire count = 90.

Today? – In 2006 over 57,581 birders participated in 2052 counts in North, Central and South America, The Caribbean and Pacific Islands. Fifty-five counts had 100 or more participants. Eighty-four count circles in the United States alone tallied 150 species or more. All told, 69,354,406 birds from 1894 species were recorded. Of these totals the United States recorded 65,109,503 birds of 643 species. Our neighbors to the north, Canada, recorded 3,658,278 birds of 289 species. The State of Michigan recorded 971,482 birds of 147 species. 393,992 of those birds were recorded in Monroe.

So, which count had the most number of observers? Edmonton, AB (475) followed by Concord, MA (323) and Calgary, AB and Oakland, CA (223 ea). The Monroe, MI count had 29 observers.

Which count recorded the most species? Corpus Christi, TX (238) edged out perennial leader Matagorda County-Mad Island Marsh, TX (233) and Santa Barbara, CA (224). Our Monroe, MI count recorded 82 species, the highest in the state! Anchor Bay (81) and Berrien Springs (81) were close behind. Want to try a CBC south of the border? Mindo-Tandayapa, Ecuador recorded a whopping 417 species!!!!

How about species trends? – Nationwide some interesting trends were observed during the 107th CBC. Waterfowl numbers were extremely good in the Midwest and in Canada, with near record numbers probably due to the extremely mild December month. Winter finch numbers were low last season despite bumper seed crops in the boreal forests of the north, with Evening Grosbeak numbers of most concern. Eurasian Collared-Doves appear to be expanding in numbers across the South, Midwest, and West. Corvid species (crows, jays and magpies) still appear to be affected by West Nile Virus as their numbers were down from previous counts.
Locally, Black-billed Magpie (Eagle Harbor, MI) and Gray-crowned Rosy Finch (Keewenaw, MI) were two new species seen in Michigan. Other interesting sightings include a Boreal Owl (Little Bay de Noc, MI), Green-tailed Towhee (Marquette, MI) and Indigo Bunting (Marquette and Houghton). Of concern were Bobwhite and Pheasant numbers (record lows). Wilson’s Snipe were not seen for the first time in 40 years, and no rails were found. Sparrow numbers were low State-wide. On the upside, Double-crested Cormorants (301) were found in record numbers, as were Bald Eagles (357), Merlin (11), Sandhill Crane (1810), Black-backed (6) and Pileated Woodpecker (162). Common Grackles (50,348) were 7X its average, and Red-winged Blackbirds (25,473) were 4X its average (both seen in Monroe).

Cost and dinner afterward

Cost? - $5.00 per person – please give the money to your section leader.

Where do we meet afterward? – We’ll meet up at the Michigan Bar and Grill, 1140 S. Monroe Street, Monroe, 48117 (734) 243-6690 @ 5 pm.

We’ll tally results and have dinner (your expense). Everyone is invited! ESBA members and guests!

Acknowledgements

Thanks go to the people who’ve made the CBC what it is today. The participants, of course! And the compilers. Also the count circle leaders. Special thanks to Geoff LeBaron, Director, Christmas Bird Count and Editor-in-Chief, for the seemingly impossible task of summarizing all the generated data. Locally, thanks go to Doug McWhirter for summarizing the data from all of the Michigan Counts. And to Bob Pettit for organizing the Monroe, MI count for the past 20 years