109th NAS Christmas Bird Count-Monroe, 14 Dec 2008

CBC Data Analysis 2009 - 24 Mar 2009

2009-03-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

A new report has been issued by the National Audubon Society based on data gathered by our Christmas Bird Counts. An exerpt:

"We were able to look at the winter distribution of 305 species to see if their winter range had shifted over the last 40 years. We discovered that 177 of these species showed a significant shift north and this northward shift was correlated with an increase in mean January temperatures in the contiguous 48 states of almost 5 degrees during that time."

Check out the Audubon Website for more details and to download the report (in PDF form).

Birds Movements Reveal Global Warming Threat in Action

2009-02-10T10:06:00.001-08:00

WASHINGTON, DC, February 10, 2009-The northward and inland movement of North American birds, confirmed by thousands of citizen-observations, provides new and powerful evidence that global warming is having a serious impact on natural systems, according to new analyses by Audubon scientists. The findings signal the need for dramatic policy changes to combat pervasive ecological disruption.

Analyses of citizen-gathered data from the past 40 years of Audubon's Christmas Bird Count (CBC) reveal that 58 percent of the 305 widespread species that winter on the continent shifted significantly north since 1968, some by hundreds of miles. Movement was detected among species of every type, including more than 70 percent of highly adaptable forest and feeder birds. Only 38 percent of grassland species mirrored the trend, reflecting the constraints of their severely-depleted habitat and suggesting that they now face a double threat from the combined stresses of habitat loss and climate adaptation.

Population shifts among individual species are common, fluctuate, and can have many causes. However, Audubon scientists say the ongoing trend of movement by some 177 species-closely correlated to long-term winter temperature increases-reveals an undeniable link to the changing climate.

"Birds are showing us how the heavy hand of humanity is tipping the balance of nature and causing ecological disruption in ways we are just beginning to predict and comprehend," said report co-author and Audubon Director of Bird Conservation, Greg Butcher, Ph.D. "Common sense dictates that we act now to curb the causes and impacts of global warming to the extent we can, and shape our policies to better cope with the disruptions we cannot avoid."

Movements across all species-including those not reflecting the 40 year trend-averaged approximately 35 miles during the period. However, it is the complete picture of widespread movement and the failure of some species to move at all that illustrates the potential for problems.

Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, and Boreal Chickadee have retreated dramatically north into the Canadian Boreal, their ranges moving an estimated 313, 246, and 211 miles respectively over 40 years. Continuing warming and development are predicted to have adverse impacts on the Boreal forest and the species that depend on it.

Red-breasted Merganser, Ring-necked Duck, and American Black Duck, normally found in southern-tier states, have all taken advantage of warmer winter waters and have shifted their ranges north by an estimated 244, 169, and 141 miles. Still, they are likely to be negatively impacted by the increased drought expected in many parts of North America as global warming worsens.

Only 10 of 26 grassland species moved north significantly, while nine moved south. Species such as Eastern Meadowlark, Vesper Sparrow, and Burrowing Owl were likely unable to move despite more moderate northern temperatures because essential grassland habitat areas have disappeared, having been converted to intensive human uses such as row crops, pastures, and hayfields. In combination, global warming and ongoing overuse of grasslands by humans will doom grassland birds to continued population declines.
"Experts predict that global warming will mean dire consequences, even extinction, for many bird species, and this analysis suggests that that the process leading down that path is already well underway," warned Audubon President John Flicker. "We're witnessing an uncontrolled experiment on the birds and the world we share with them."

Butcher explains that many birds move great distances to find suitable food and habitat, but questions how far they will be able to move in the face of climate change before they run out of habitat, food or even luck. "The long term picture is not good for many species, and even in the short term, a single harsh winter could have a devastating impact on birds that have moved too far," he adds.

New forward-looking research from Audubon California reinforces the national findings, predicting that about 80 of that state's native bird species will experience significant climate-driven reductions in their geographic range over coming decades.

Scientific models indicate that the magnitude of losses in California depends largely on steps taken now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The California Gnatcatcher could lose as much as 56 percent of its range, or as little as 7 percent, depending on how climate change is addressed. Projected range losses for the Bay area's popular Chestnut-backed Chickadee vary from 49 percent to as little as 16 percent.

Detailed GIS maps produced using the California research project where the birds are likely to be in 50 to 100 years. Findings will help policymakers and land managers augment efforts to mitigate the severity of global warming impacts with better habitat conservation investments to address changes that can't be avoided.

"The birds are giving us yet another warning that it's time for urgent action," added Flicker. "People hear about melting glaciers and changing weather, but now they can witness the impact global warming is having with the birds they see or don't see right outside their doors. These birds are our 'canaries in the coal mine' and they're telling us that we'd better do something fast to curb global warming and to protect habitat."

Scientists say bold action is needed to overcome threats from global warming. Audubon calls on Congress and the administration to advance policies that will drastically reduce global warming pollution, cut oil dependence in half, and invest in a clean energy future and the economic benefits it offers. Americans can sign a petition at http://www.birdsandclimate.org/ to demand aggressive federal policy action.

Habitats already under siege from development, energy production, agricultural expansion and other human uses will require enhanced protection and restoration to sustain bird populations and provide ecological benefits essential to human health, economic prosperity and quality of life. Conservation efforts based on forward looking projections such as those from Audubon California are essential.

Audubon anticipates that the new avian evidence will help attract attention and spark action among more than 40 million U.S. bird-watchers, including tens of thousands who contributed to the Christmas Bird Count data on which the studies are based. The 109-year-old census provides the world's longest uninterrupted record of bird population trends. "Citizen Science is allowing us to better recognize the impacts that global warming is having here and now. Only citizen action can help us reduce them," said Butcher.
###
Now in its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. Our national network of community-based nature centers, chapters, scientific, education, and advocacy programs engages millions of people from all walks of life in conservation action to protect and restore the natural world.

Reporters may join in a live, telephone briefing on the findings at 1 p.m. (Eastern) on February 10. To participate, dial 1-866-710-0179. Give the operator the pass code: Audubon 1

Here is the direct link to the technical report http://www.audubon.org/news/pressroom/bacc/pdfs/Report.pdf

This is the homepage for technical report, which includes links to figures, table, and appendix:
http://www.audubon.org/news/pressroom/bacc/techreport.html

TOP WAYS TO COMBAT GLOBAL WARMING
AND ITS IMPACT ON BIRDS

All of us have a role to play in reducing the worst impacts of global warming. As individuals and engaged citizens, we can all take steps to reduce our energy use, switch to cleaner sources of power, conserve habitat and encourage our leaders to take immediate action. Here's a short list:

1. Be an Active Citizen
Join Audubon's activist team and urge our elected official to make global warming a top priority by signing our petition at http://www.birdsandclimate.org/ Voice your support for new approaches to help solve global warming, move us toward a 100 percent clean energy future, reduce our dependence on oil, and protect our environment. Stay informed, write letters to your leaders, and support candidates who promise to take the aggressive and farsighted actions necessary to curb global warming.

2. Get Involved in Your Community
Support conservation efforts that protect and restore essential bird habitat, keeping it healthy to better withstand global warming. Visit http://www.audubon.org/ to learn how the Important Bird Areas program is building a national network of conservation stewards. And join in "Citizen Science" efforts like the Christmas and Great Backyard Bird Counts http://www.audubon.org/bird/citizen/index.html

3. Determine Your Energy Profile and Carbon Footprint
An energy audit assesses how much energy you consume. A carbon footprint shows how much greenhouse gas you emit into the atmosphere. These figures can help you determine steps you can take to make your home, school, or office more energy efficient. Many footprint calculators are available online.

4. Reduce Energy Consumption
Save money and energy by switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs and maximize the use you natural sunlight for daytime lighting needs. Reduce excessive use of home heating and cooling and weatherize your home. Buy energy efficient appliances such as those that are "Energy Star" compliant.

5. Eat Locally Grown and Organic Produce
The fewer miles your products travel, the less energy is used for refrigeration and transport. And buy organic. That reduces the use of pesticides that kill the organisms which help keep carbon in the soil.

6. Shop Smarter
Manufacturing, packing, transporting, and selling goods not only use huge amounts of energy but also release excessive amounts of greenhouse gases. When shopping, always ask, "Do I really need this? Does the Earth really need this?" You'll probably save money as well.

7. Save Gas and Money
Use public transportation, ride your bicycle, walk, carpool, and drive a more energy-efficient vehicle. Keep tires properly inflated to increase fuel efficiency-it will lower your fuel costs.

8. Plant More Trees and Buy Good Wood
An average tree absorbs ten pounds of pollutants from the air each year, including four pounds of ground level ozone and three pounds of particulates. So, plant leafy trees around your house to provide windbreaks and summer shade. When shopping for wood, ask about certified wood to support sustainably managed forests that are bird-friendly.

9. Switch to Green Power
Power plants are the single largest source of heat-trapping gases in the United States, but in some states you can switch to utilities that provide 50 to 100 percent renewable energy. You may also want to consider installing solar panels on your home.

© 2009 Snow Geese in sunrise (Chen caerulescens) Lonoke, Arkansas Photo/Kelly Chitwood

Embargoed for Release: Contacts: Nancy Severance: (212) 979-3124
February 10, 2009 Tony Iallonardo: (202) 861-2242 X-3042
Delta Willis: (212) 979-3197

Monroe, MI CBC - 14 Dec 2008

2008-12-18T05:10:00.001-08:00

Awake at 3 am! Dressed for the forecasted sleet, rain, clouds and wind, and out the door to participate in the National Audubon Society's 109th Christmas Bird Count. First stop, however, is Pt. Mouillee to try out my 'owling' camera.

I had velcroed a fisherman's flashlight to the top of my Sigma 400 mm f/5.6 APO lens with the idea of illuminating an owl in the dark enough to focus and photograph using the Nikon D300 and SB800 flash w/ a Better Beamer attachment. Stopping along Roberts Rd. at Pt. Mouillee I quickly called in a pair of Screech Owls. Unfortunately, my flashlight was too dim to see any owls, and they flew off before I could spot them. So, I decided to stop at a gas station and pick up a pair of batteries for my regular flashlight and use it.

Stopping at Sterling State Park in Monroe (Area 6 in the Monroe count circle) I drove down to the woods next to the boat launch. No sooner had I stepped out of the car did the rains come. After a few minutes of getting wet and not hearing any owls, I got back into the car to have a cup of coffee. At about 5:30 am the rain/sleet let up enough for me to get back out and try again. A quick play of the BirdJam brought an immediate response from a Screech Owl. Grabbing the camera and flashlight I continued calling the bird in using my impression. The cloudy skies were bright enough for me to see a shadow sail over my head and land in a tree about 15 feet away. Placing the flashlight between my legs I focused the beam on a lovely red-phased bird and got a quick couple of images w/ the camera and flash! The little owl stayed put for only a moment and flew to another branch, then to a stump, across the road into the phragmites, back into the trees, and back to a nearby stump. Each time I managed to see it but was too slow to get the camera on it. Finally, I was able to capture a couple frames with the flash set to repeat mode (RPT at 1/8 power, 1/320 sec. at ISO 800). Satisfied, I quickly left the little guy be and got back into the car. Excellent start to the day!

At 7 am I met up w/ Will Weber and Allen Chartier at the Whiting Plant (Area 2). We parked down near the beach and headed down to the shoreline bordering the Consumers Energy Plant. It was still too dark to see anything, and the Lady of the Lakes woods were now fenced-in and locked, so we waited for Mike Sefton to arrive. As light began to increase we quickly saw hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls and dozens of Great Black-backed Gulls flying and swimming in the rough Lake Erie waters. I grabbed a quick photo of the guys for posterity. Except for a few Mallard, and the occasional Lesser Scaup, Hooded Merganser, or Bufflehead we saw no ducks. A lone deer hunter farther down the shoreline scared up the flocks of gulls, so we headed up to the service road above the disharge canal.

Walking along the service drive we managed a Carolina Wren, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal and Tree Sparrow, but passerines were visibly absent. Will managed a lone Ring-necked Pheasant as we walked the mowed fields while the rest of us dipped. We finally found a couple of Winter Wrens and several Golden-crowned Kinglets, but not before scaring up a hundred or so Great Blue Herons. On one of the inland ponds we spotted a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Red-tailed Hawk, and a fly-over Bald Eagle.

Returning to the beach we spotted a small raft of Gadwall, Goldeneye, and Common Mergansers. The fenced-in discharge canal held several Black-crowned Night Herons, a Belted Kingfisher, and more Winter Wrens. Saying my good-byes, I left the guys and headed back to the car for lunch w/ Robin and an afternoon at the Monroe Power Plant. I stopped along the beach just long enough to attempt a digiscoped image of one of the immature GBB Gulls.

I arrived at the foot of Front Street (Area 5a) a few minutes before noon and found a flock of 20 Hooded Mergansers in the creek north of the power plant. A scan of the discharge canal yielded a Great Egret near the bridge, and 18 Bald Eagles (13 adults) in the trees between the bridge and the trestle farther downstream. As the egret flew off I snapped a few pics for record, and headed back to meet w/ Tim Walsh and Matt Shackelford.

We headed down the canal and promptly spotted another 9 Great Egrets, dozens of Great Blue Herons, and more eagles. This time 18 immature and 8 adults. Included were the first of many Double-crested Cormorants. And don't forget the Ring-billed Gulls! Between the discharge canal and the coal piles we tallied hundreds. No Bonaparte's Gulls were seen, however, and we also dipped on white-winged gulls.

I attempted a few digiscoped images of the Great Egrets and the Bald Eagles across the canal, but rising steam and high winds made photography difficult. I only managed a few record shots.

Much of the Edison property along the River Raisin was fenced in, and construction equipment kept us from stopping, but things looked pretty quiet. We saw a few more Bald Eagles in the distance. At the lakefront we stopped to check out the fish dump and count hundreds of Herring Gulls along the shoreline. A large ice drift carried dozens of Great Black-backed Gulls (80+) and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull. Ducks were again absent. A few eagles floated on the drifts, as well.

As we neared the mouth of the discharge canal we spotted a pair of immature Bald Eagles roosting in a dead snag overlooking the road ahead. Slowing the car I jumped out and got several images of one bird before and after lifting off, circling, and returning. Most of the time, however, it appeared to be a dark silhouette against the overcast and drizzling skies. We spotted several White-tailed Deer along the way, and even spotted a late-season Pied-billed Grebe swimming in the calm waters near the mouth. Another Great Egret posed nicely for a long-distance photo.

We then headed over to the Onsite to check out the fly-ash pits. Deer were plentiful over there, but passerines were unusually absent. We managed a few Blue Jays, Dark-eyed Juncos, Cardinals, and Downy Woodpeckers, but it wasn't until we got to Matt's restored, Blue-stem Grassland did we find any significant numbers of Tree Sparrows. Hundreds, in fact! As we waded into the 6-foot tall field we flushed dozens of birds, including a few American Goldfinch and the stray Song Sparrow. Afterward, I took several pictures of his field and stitched together five of them to produce this panorama:

Driving back along the west side of the discharge canal we counted hundreds of Great Blue Herons and more clusters of Bald Eagles. Out on the ice we found one group of 43 Bald Eagles, and hundreds of Tundra Swans and Canada Geese. A nice, 8-10 point buck ran along the top of the burm as we headed out and back to the power plant. Sadly, no Peregrine Falcons were seen this year at the plant.

At 5 pm we all met up the Michigan Bar & Grill to tally our results. The consensus among all was the total lack of birds today. So few passerines and ducks! However, there were some highlights from other areas: Lee Grover saw a Northern Goshawk. Cheryl Kehrer, Jan Morrow and Mollie Wood had a possible Eastern Kingbird near LaPlaisance and Knap Rd just north of Otter Creek! And 14 Great Egrets and 202 Bald Eagles were most impressive for the day! Here are totals for the entire count, including totals by individual areas. Thanks to all who participated!

Poem - Christmas Bird Count

2008-12-01T17:33:00.000-08:00

The Christmas bird count is getting near
All birdies will be counted, have no fear.

With binoculars and bird books in hand
We'll cover all of Monroe County's land.

It's as easy as one two three.
We'll count birds on land, in the sky, even in a tree.

Fill out your cards and give them to Jerry.
Lots of participation will make his face merry!

December 14, 2008 is the date.
Those counting owls will be first out the gate.

If you want to part of this exciting day
$5.00 is all you'll have to pay.

Gas tanks full, we're ready to drive.
ESBA is still alive!

At the end of the day and there's no more sun
We'll meet at Michigan Bar for the count, food and fun.

Birding is really a fun sport!
To Jerry your bird numbers you must report.

So if you're a true birder with a heart
This Christmas Bird count you must take part!
--- Mollie Wood

CBC Monroe, MI - 14 December 2008

2008-09-17T10:24:00.000-07:00

The CBC is held during the same period each year: December 14 to January 05!

This year the Monroe, MI Christmas Bird Count will be held on Sunday, December 14, 2008.

If you happen upon this site, and are interested in participating, please let me know.
Send an e-mail to jourdaj@gmail.com

Jerry

Monroe, MI CBC - 15 Dec 2007

2007-12-17T19:04:00.001-08:00

Saturday, 15 December 2007 marked the first day of the 108th National Audubon Christmas Bird Count, which runs through January 4th of each year. The Monroe, MI count circle celebrated this year’s count with mostly dark, overcast skies and high winds. But we managed to dodge the snow storm that would hit the rest of the state with a fury. In all we tallied 27,609 birds and 79 species. Overall numbers were way down from last year’s 395,615 birds, but this could be attributed to the lack of late afternoon black bird swarms and lack of lake ducks (mostly Scaup sp.). Our 79 species almost matched last year’s total (82) that put us #1 in the State of Michigan. The following is a summary of my day, with stories overheard from other participants. I wish I could share more of others’ stories, but I was too busy compiling results at dinner time to listen more intently…

0600 Hrs. Cloudy, overcast, windy. Temperature 27ºF, winds ENE 10-20 mph. I was supposed to meet Allen Chartier, Will Weber, Chuck Owens, Ted Harms, and Karl Overman at the Whiting Power Plant in southern Monroe Co. at 7 am, but was in Monroe a bit early. So I made a quick stop at the boat ramp in Sterling State Park and decided to try to a bit of owling. Not five minutes went buy before I heard a Screech Owl calling from a short distance away. I called back to the bird for the next 10 – 15 minutes, but could not see it against the dark skies. It’s amazing how ‘bare’ the tree branches appear against the dark skies until you try to shine a flashlight. The owl flew around me a few times, as I could hear it from different directions, but I failed to see it. Still, a great way to the start the day!

0700 Hrs. The wind was really blowing this morning. A major storm warning was in effect for the entire state and you could sense that it was only a matter of time before it’d be snowing. After meeting w/ site security we headed down to the Lake Erie shoreline start counting gulls. It was still dark when reached the water, so Chuck, Karl and I headed into the woods to look for owls. We had no luck – it was too windy to hear anything. We did pick up a pair of White-throated Sparrows, Cardinals, and Tree Sparrows. A fly-by Bald Eagle was one of the first birds we saw over the lake. Heading back to the beach we caught up with Allen, Will and Ted, who had already seen an Eastern Bluebird, two Bald Eagles, and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Scoping the discharge of the power plant we spotted several Great Black-backed Gulls among the mostly Herring and Ring-billed Gulls. A single Bonaparte’s Gull was also spotted. A few Common Goldeneye were flying across the horizon, but otherwise the lake was surprisingly empty. With white-caps and and the strong winds we expected as much. The GBBG’s were aggressive toward each other and to the smaller Herring Gulls, which they physically drove away by flying directly into them with their chests bared and wings-a-flappin’.
Hiking up the bank we scoped the discharge canal and spotted numerous Mallards, a possible Hooded Merganser, and a pair of Black-crowned Night Herons roosting along the shoreline.
Heading south along the service road we spread out across the open field hoping to scare up some Horned Larks, or better. Nada. I heard a Carolina Wren along the shoreline, and attempted to call it in w/ the iBirdPod, but had no luck.
Down around the corner we flushed some Canada Geese, Great Blue Herons, Black Ducks, and Mallards. A small flock of Northern Shovelers were a nice surprise.
Returning to the lake, we watched a pair of immature Bald Eagles soaring in the distance. As we hiked the beach southward toward Woodtick Peninsula Allen spotted a Rough-legged Hawk off in the distance, and moving this way. I would get the chance to put my brand new Nikon D300 into use with my favorite hawk flying toward me. Firing away at 6 fps I managed several keeper shots of the light-phase bird as it passed overhead against the heavily-overcast skies. Failing to see any birds as far as we could see, we turned around and headed back toward the power plant.
Walking back along the service road we saw the Rough-legged Hawk again, this time hunting the open grass out to the west. A Red-tailed Hawk and another Bald Eagle passed by in the distance before we returned to the cars. Karl and I took our leave of the group and headed off toward the Monroe Power Plant.

1200 Hrs. Arriving at the Power Plant I met up with Tim Walsh, Tom Gere, and Jerry Olson. Tom quickly pointed out the pair of roosting Peregrine Falcons up on the plant roof. One bird was roosting out in the open on a railing, while a second bird was barely visible a few feet higher on a protruding girder. Tim pointed out a Belted Kingfisher roosting along the warm-water discharge canal, and while I attempted to digiscope it the bird flew off. An immature Herring Gull was quietly resting a few feet away from us, and made for an ok consolation prize. Once Matt Shackelford arrived, we piled into the company Suburban and headed down the road alongside the canal. Karl had come hoping to see a Great Egret, and quickly spotted three birds flying south along the canal. A bit farther down the road we spotted one egret on the far bank, and stopped to digiscope it for the records committee. It was too windy to get a decent digiscoped image, so I took a 30-second video of it through the scope.
The canal hosted mainly Herring Gulls, but we soon came upon flocks of Bonaparte’s Gulls, roosting Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons and Double-crested Cormorants. At one point I counted 54 Great Blue Herons roosting along the far bank in a hundred-yard stretch.
Bald Eagles were a bit more difficult to count, but we managed to see eight birds flying together at the end of the canal. While Karl counted Bonaparte’s (2) and Ring-billed Gulls , Matt pointed out some of the features of the canal and wildlife habitat being developed there to Jerry and Tom. Tim would be retiring from DTE in just 5 days, so we think he was relishing his last ‘official’ CBC count.
We then headed back out to the lake along the Raisin River, where we counted 17 Hooded Mergansers and more Bald Eagles. One adult bird made a nice flyover, and allowed me to get full-frame images from a variety of different poses, (2). The mouth of the river was active w/ dozens of Great Black-backed Gulls (mostly immature birds) flying along the shoreline. The waves crashing against the shoreline (2) reminded me of the north shore of Hawaii (just a lot colder). In some locations ice covered everything!
Scoping the lake yielded few ducks. A single Bufflehead and six Common Goldeneye were the only birds we saw. A fly-by Hooded Merganser was a nice consolation. As we headed eastward along the lake we continued to be amazed by the numbers of GBBG’s, Herring and and Ring-bills.
Back at the mouth of the discharge canal we watched 70+ Great Blue Herons flush from across the Lotus marsh.
As Tim and I reached the mouth of the canal on foot, we spotted a Forster’s Tern flying low over the water. The tern landed on the shore for a rest, and gave us great looks through the scope. I took dozens of digiscoped images and a couple of short videos. A great bird for this late in the year!

1500 Hrs. Tim, Tom and Jerry had to end their day, so Matt, Karl and I drove over the fly-ash onsite. As the snow began to fall, we arrived at the gate along Dunbar Rd. and I quickly spotted a Northern Harrier at the top of the burm directly in front of us. We drove up the bank to look for it, but did not see it. Phragmites covered a large portion of the 500+ acres of restored habitat, but open water allowed us to see a couple dozen Canada Geese, Mallard, and more gulls. Driving back down the hill Matt took us to his new ‘native grassland’. The three of us waded into the shoulder-tall grass and scared up a minimum 300 Tree Sparrows. Karl and I both saw Field Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows, Song Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos among the hundreds of Winter-Chippies. Wishing we had a few hours to bird this area, we had to leave as darkness and snow was now upon us. Leaving the area we re-spotted a Harrier, and I managed to get a few flight shots from below the burm where it hunted. Our last stop along the fence yielded a couple dozen Tundra Swans, Mute Swans, Mallards, and at least 250 Bonaparte’s Gulls!

1700 Hrs. Dinner at the Michigan Bar and Grill. As folks started to drift in for dinner, so did the stories! Lucy Pentz, husband Gary and Marje Achinger (along w/ Kathy and Dennis Rohmeyer) happily reported 33 Horned Larks and 50 Snow Buntings in Area 3 among their highlights. Jack and Janet Volker, along w/ Dan Schwab counted a whopping 54 Bald Eagles at Sterling State Park! Tom and Maureen Lakin, Anne Smith, and Jackie Copeland had a Northern Shrike, and reported a Red-necked Grebe in the Raisin River across from St. Mary’s Academy (Area 5). Bob Pettit showed me a photo he had taken of an immature Northern Goshawk just south of Raisinville Bridge, west of the County Library between N. and S. Custer (Area 7). They also saw 60 Cedar Waxwings at Monroe County Community College. Jan Morrow, Jeanine Roberts and Mollie Wood had 240 Snow Buntings on Victory Rd and Summit St. in Area 4. Barb Liedel and Diana Meyer had a banner raptor day: 9 American Kestrels, 2 Bald Eagles, 2 Northern Harriers, 1 Cooper’s Hawk and 2 Red-tailed Hawks in Area 8. Allen Chartier, Will Weber and Ted Harms had 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Northern Shrike in Area 2. Allen managed a nice photograph in the late afternoon low light!

Despite the dark and windy day we had a most successful day! Special thanks to the good folks at Michigan Bar and Grill for being such gracious hosts, to Matt and the folks at DTE for permission to bird the power plants, and to my Area Leaders for helping me coordinate this year’s count.

Here are totals by Area, and overall (below):

Welcome!

2007-11-07T21:48:00.000-08:00

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?

2007-11-07T21:30:00.000-08:00

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?

2007-11-07T21:25:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-07T18:02:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-07T18:00:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-11-07T17:53:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-06T18:07:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-05T17:59:00.000-08:00

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