2007 YFBTA BIRD COUNT BUZZINGS by Rob Wilson
Churchbridge - Saltcoats - Esterhazy

2007 Annual Christmas bird count held in Yorkton by Kathy Morrell
Reprinted from Yorkton This Week - Wednesday, January 2, 2008

2006 Christmas Bird Counts in December  2006
Saltcoats, Esterhazy, Yorkton, and Good Spirit Lake

2005 Annual Bird Count Records a Decrease in Bird Numbers This Winter (2005)

Walter Farquharson

This year again members of the Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association participated in Nature Saskatchewan's annual Christmas Bird Count. On January 4, seven members drove and walked many kilometers within the Town of Saltcoats and in an area seven miles out from the Town in each direction.Other members and friends participated through keeping track of the birds showing up in their yards and at their feeders.

Probably due to the mild winter weather, fewer birds were counted than last year. We did count 7 ruffed grouse, 15 sharp-tailed grouse, 1 bald eagle (actually seen and noted December 25) 10 rock pigeons, 2 great horned owls, 12 downy woodpeckers and 9 hairy woodpeckers. Eight blue jays were spotted, 49 black-billed magpies, 78 common ravens, 66 black-capped chickadees, 4 white-breasted nuthatches. On January 2 a robin was seen at several feeders in town and 1 dark-eyed junco was identified. Over 300 snow buntings were seen and these were in different flocks different directions from Saltcoats. Eight purple finches were noted and a pine siskin. Members tallied 122 house sparrows. Members have also seen a boreal chickadee and a red-breasted nuthatch but these were sightings outside the specified dates.

In addition to birds there were sightings of 2 red foxes, 3 snowshoe hares, many signs of badger diggings, 5 striped skunks, 6 whitetailed deer, 1 long-tailed weasel, 5 red squirrels, places where porcupine had stripped bark from trees very recently..

These counts are always an adventure. Birders and nature enthusiasts are always eager to compare notes and challenge possible sightings of rarer species - or unusual feathered visitors. The records help scientists track species declines and increases and measures the effect of ever changing habitats.

Readers are invited to share their sightings and their questions. Contact Rob Wilson at (306) 744 8140 or Jim Jowsey at (306) 744 2246.

Published in Saltcoats Grade 5/6 Gazette - January 12 / 2006