{"id":2135,"date":"2025-03-20T09:24:45","date_gmt":"2025-03-20T13:24:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ausablevalleyaudubon.org\/?page_id=2135"},"modified":"2025-12-27T19:51:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-28T00:51:25","slug":"annual-christmas-bird-count","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ausablevalleyaudubon.org\/?page_id=2135","title":{"rendered":"Annual Christmas Bird Count"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christmas Bird Count 2025 Results:<\/h2>\n

Christmas Bird Count 2025 \u2013 Tawas Circle<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) for Tawas was held on Wednesday, December 17th.\u00a0 There were 14 total participants.\u00a0 Eleven participants counted from four cars; one participant counted from a home feeder and two participants were involved in the planning process.<\/p>\n

Most team miles were driven, but one team traversed 2.16 miles at Tawas Point State Park on foot and 0.55 miles at the Harbor.\u00a0 Section 4 contained the all-time top three E-Birders in the county; it was the first year that two of them participated in the CBC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSection 1<\/td>\nSection 2<\/td>\nSection 3<\/td>\nSection 4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Team<\/td>\nAmy, MaryAnn, Nan<\/td>\nLarry, Jill, Patsy<\/td>\nBill, Sarah<\/td>\nGary, Tess, Sam<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
# Species<\/td>\n21<\/td>\n22<\/td>\n29<\/td>\n35<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
# Miles<\/td>\n67<\/td>\n22<\/td>\n45<\/td>\n(2.71 on foot)53<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
# Hours<\/td>\n5.5<\/td>\n3.3<\/td>\n5.5<\/td>\n7.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Weather Conditions<\/strong><\/p>\n

The day was overcast and started out at 34 degrees, slightly climbing during the day.\u00a0 The wind was out of the NW at 17 mph.\u00a0 We had six to eight inches of snow on the ground with drifts almost waist deep.\u00a0 Backroads were plowed and snow covered, whereas well-traveled roads were mostly plowed and safe for travel.\u00a0 Ice cover was partially present on surface waters, as well as out on Lake Huron so waterfowl counts were a lower than usual.<\/p>\n

Species Count <\/strong><\/p>\n

Participants found a total of 48 species.\u00a0 While there weren\u2019t any rare species for the area, there were several species that were rare for this time of year.\u00a0 Those unusual species included Northern Flicker, Sharp Shinned Hawk, and Pied Billed Grebe. Oddly, no party reported any Canada Geese.<\/p>\n

There were a few species that are within range, but hard to find or usually don’t come down this far each winter.\u00a0 This year, a Red Crossbill was found in this circle.\u00a0 In addition, two owls were found, which is interesting because both were found during the day.\u00a0 The two owls found were Barred (Section 3) and an Eastern Screech Owl (Section 4).<\/p>\n

Participants:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Sam Burckhardt<\/li>\n
  • Dawn Hooper (Sr. coordinator)<\/li>\n
  • Stu Hooper (Asst. to Sr. coordinator)<\/li>\n
  • Sarah Humphreys<\/li>\n
  • Amy Kohlhepp (Jr. coordinator)<\/li>\n
  • Jill Laidlaw<\/li>\n
  • Jan Modrok (home feeder)<\/li>\n
  • Patsy Mortimer<\/li>\n
  • Tess Nelkie<\/li>\n
  • Gary Nelkie<\/li>\n
  • Bill Roth<\/li>\n
  • Larry VanWagoner (f\/k\/a Sr. coordinator)<\/li>\n
  • MaryAnn Wojahn<\/li>\n
  • Nan Ulman<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    APPENDIX, Total Count per Species<\/p>\n

    13 Trumpeter Swan
    \n54 Mallard
    \n7 Redhead
    \n5 White-winged Scoter
    \n22 Long-tailed Duck
    \n1 Bufflehead
    \n28 Common Goldeneye
    \n87 Common Merganser
    \n10 Red-breasted Merganser
    \n163 Rock Pigeon
    \n1 Wild Turkey
    \n163 Mourning Dove
    \n3 Ring-billed Gull
    \n14 American Herring Gull
    \n1 Pied-billed Grebe
    \n10 Bald Eagle
    \n1 Sharp Shinned Hawk
    \n2 Red Tailed Hawk
    \n2 Red-shouldered Hawk
    \n1 Eastern Screech Owl
    \n1 Barred Owl
    \n13 Red Headed Woodpecker
    \n12 Red-bellied Woodpecker
    \n9 Downy Woodpecker
    \n8 Hairy Woodpecker
    \n8 Pileated Woodpecker
    \n1 Northern Flicker
    \n2 Northern Shrike
    \n116 Blue Jay
    \n41 American Crow
    \n14 Common Raven
    \n93 Black-capped Chickadee
    \n29 Tufted Titmouse
    \n2 Golden-crowned Kinglet
    \n16 White-breasted Nuthatch
    \n4 Red Breasted Nuthatch
    \n257 European Starling
    \n4 Eastern Bluebird
    \n4 American Robin
    \n21 Snow bunting
    \n3 Cedar Waxwing
    \n1 Red Crossbill
    \n42 House Sparrow
    \n4 House Finch
    \n21 American Goldfinch
    \n12 American Tree Sparrow
    \n17 Dark-eyed Junco
    \n12 Northern Cardinal<\/p>\n

    ADDITIONAL TAXA
    \n5 Common\/Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus merganser\/serrator<\/p>\n

    <\/h2>\n

    Christmas Bird Count 2025 \u2013 Oscoda Circle<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) for Oscoda was held on Saturday, December 20th<\/sup>.\u00a0 There were 22 total participants.\u00a0 Seventeen participants counted from five cars and five participants counted from home feeders.\u00a0 Most team miles were driven, but one team traversed 0.66 miles at Lower Landing and 0.26 miles at Clark\u2019s Marsh by foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    <\/td>\nSection 1<\/strong><\/td>\nSection 2 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Lakewood<\/strong><\/td>\n

    		Section 2 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Base<\/strong><\/td>\n

    		Section 3<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Team<\/strong><\/td>\nDawn, Stu, Carol<\/td>\nPeggy, Madel Jonathan, Debbie<\/td>\nLarry, Sue, Jill, Bonnie<\/td>\nAmy, Pam, Sam<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    # Species<\/strong><\/td>\n19<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n21<\/td>\n34<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    # Miles<\/strong><\/td>\n66<\/td>\n23<\/td>\n19.78<\/td>\n22<\/p>\n

    (0.92 on foot)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    # Hours<\/strong><\/td>\n6.25<\/td>\n2.25<\/td>\n3.5<\/td>\n3.75<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    \u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nSection 4<\/strong><\/td>\nDee Morand<\/strong><\/p>\n

    (Feeder)<\/strong><\/td>\n

    		Pattie Fraser<\/strong><\/p>\n

    (Feeder)<\/strong><\/td>\n

    		Konnie Spenceley<\/strong><\/p>\n

    (Feeder)<\/strong><\/td>\n

    		Judy Cook (Feeder)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Team<\/strong><\/td>\nGary, Tess, Bill<\/td>\nDee and Tim<\/td>\nPattie<\/td>\nKonnie<\/td>\nJudy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    # Species<\/strong><\/td>\n30<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n16<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    # Miles<\/strong><\/td>\n53<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    # Hours<\/strong><\/td>\n5.25<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Weather Conditions<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The day was overcast.\u00a0 It started out with snow and 24 degrees Fahrenheit.\u00a0 The temperature steadily climbed during the day to 36 degrees.\u00a0 The wind was out of the South at 17 mph.\u00a0 We had four to six inches of snow on the ground, with drifts up to a foot.\u00a0 Backroads and two tracks were icy and snow covered, whereas well-traveled roads were mostly plowed and safe for travel.\u00a0 Ice cover was partially present on surface waters.<\/p>\n

    Species Count <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Participants found a total of 44 species.\u00a0 There were no rarities in terms of species. Yet, there were a few birds that were still present, and unusual for this time of year.\u00a0 Those included American Pipits and White-Throated Sparrows. This year, we found more Common Goldeneye and American Black Duck than any other year. While Canada Geese are usually reported, this year we only found one.<\/p>\n

    As mentioned, we found more Common Goldeneye and American Black Duck than any other year.\u00a0 This is probably because one team spent time two-tracking into upper stretches of the Ausable River, which are not always accessible in winter.\u00a0 The team wanted to access some of the Trumpeter Swan wintering area, (those within the circle).\u00a0 The team went to Forest Service Camp Area called Lower Landing, which contains a large impoundment and an oxbow (camp sites 88 and 89).\u00a0 The Lower Landing accounted for most of the Trumpeters, American Black Duck, and Common Goldeneye in the count.\u00a0 If the circle went further West (Upper Landing), then we would have had much larger counts for swans and waterfowl.<\/p>\n

    Participants:<\/strong><\/p>\n