Results of some of the Christmas Bird Counts - 2009 conducted in The Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail (YFBTA) region: compiled by Rob Wilson
Article and photos: Rob Wilson on behalf of YFBTA
Members of The Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association (YFBTA) have noted a growing interest in Christmas Bird Counts. 2009 results in our region reveal interesting anomalies. Robins, while not unique to the 2009 surveys, appear to be in greater abundance in our area. One report was received (outside the count period) indicating a shrub with over fifty robins in it. An increase in numbers was also noted for mallards. More than one community discovered Horned Larks.
Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association (YFBTA) Christmas Bird Count Results
Togo: submitted by Doug Elsasser
Ruffed Grouse 00
Sharp-tailed Grouse 00
Rock Pigeon 26
Snowy Owl 00
Downy Woodpecker 12
Hairy Woodpecker 13
Pileated Woodpecker 01
Northern Shrike 01
Blue Jay 24
Black-billed Magpie 04
American Crow 01
Common Raven 18
Horned Lark 00
Black-capped Chickadee 66
Red-breasted Nuthatch 02
White-breasted Nuthatch 09
American Robin 02
Cedar Waxwing 45
Dark-eyed Junco 00
Snow Bunting 136
Pine Grosbeak 44
Purple Finch 00
Common Redpoll 24
Pine Siskin 72
Evening Grosbeak 89
House Sparrow 00
Total individuals on count day: 589
Species on count day 19
Additional species 00
Mammals: 1 Snowshoe hare; 4 Red Squirrels; 2 Coyotes; 7 White-tailed Deer
Saltcoats: submitted by Shirley Jowsey
Ruffed Grouse 07
Sharp-tailed Grouse 04
Rock Pigeon 07
Snowy Owl 01
Downy Woodpecker 06
Hairy Woodpecker 10
Pileated Woodpecker 02
Northern Shrike 00
Blue Jay 12
Black-billed Magpie 19
American Crow 00
Common Raven 37
Horned Lark 05
Black-capped Chickadee 39
Red-breasted Nuthatch 13
White-breasted Nuthatch 08
American Robin 03
Cedar Waxwing 06
Dark-eyed Junco 10
Snow Bunting 17
Pine Grosbeak 00
Purple Finch 02
Common Redpoll 03
Pine Siskin 35
Evening Grosbeak 00
House Sparrow 117
Total individuals on count day: 363
Species on count day 22
Additional species 03
Additional species: 01 Great Horned Owl; 01 Northern Shrike; 01 Brown Creeper
Mammals: 1 Snowshoe hare; 2 White-tailed Jackrabbits; 4 Red Squirrels; 0 Coyotes; 01 Porcupine; 4 White-tailed Deer
Canora: Submitted by Thom Carnahan
Ruffed Grouse 00
Sharp-tailed Grouse 00
Rock Pigeon 00
Snowy Owl 00
Downy Woodpecker 00
Hairy Woodpecker 02
Pileated Woodpecker 00
Northern Shrike 00
Blue Jay 04
Black-billed Magpie 01
American Crow 00
Common Raven 03
Horned Lark 00
Black-capped Chickadee 13
Red-breasted Nuthatch 04
White-breasted Nuthatch 00
American Robin 00
Bohemian Waxwing 03
Cedar Waxwing 02
Dark-eyed Junco 00
Snow Bunting 00
Pine Grosbeak 00
Purple Finch 00
Common Redpoll 00
Pine Siskin 00
Evening Grosbeak 00
House Sparrow 45
Total individuals on count day: 77
Species on count day 09
Additional species 00
Mammals: 00
Yorkton: Submitted by Geoff Rushowick
YORKON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT 2009
This year 12 people and 6 feeding stations took part. Participants traveled approximately 43 Km over the course of 7 hours. A total of 19 species and 1048 individuals were recorded.
WEATHER CONDITIONS:
· Overcast in both the morning and afternoon.
· Temperature -140 Celsius
· Winds from the SE at 9 Km per hour
· Snow on the ground 8 to 12 cm.
OBSERVERS:
Bill Anaka, Pat Fletcher, Cheryl Fraser, Joyce Gardner, Harley Large, Marge McKay, Gloria Rathgeber, Dorothy Riesz, Ray Riesz, Geoff Rushowick, Patrick Rushowick, Dorothy Skene.
SPECIES LIST:
Mallard 68 Black-capped Chickadee 44
Red-breasted Nuthatch 18
House Finch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 5
European Starling 28
American Robin 2
Common Redpoll 20
Rock Pigeon 4
House Sparrow 323
Cedar Waxwing 66
Black-billed Magpie 9
Downy Woodpecker 10
Evening Grosbeak 17
Hairy Woodpecker 10
Pine Siskin 141
Blue Jay 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 6
Common Raven 124
Number of Species count period but not count day:
Slate colored Junco 3
Tracks:
Grouse - type unknown 1
Fox 3
W.T. Jack Rabbit 1
W.T. Deer 3
Animals:
Red Squirrel 2
Thanks to all the participants who drove and walked or called in their observations and counts.
Churchbridge Bird Count : Submitted by: Walter Karau
CHURCHBRIDGE 2009
The day chosen to conduct the 2009 Bird Count in the Churchbridge Area was the 30th December. The weather turned out to be overcast with periods of light snow , the temperature was not all that cold, -14 to -17 degrees C, but a good breeze made it feel much colder. Not a perfect day for spotting a lot of birds.
Our Bird count was conducted by having Ron and Elin Johnson, Phyllis Kaeding, John and Elaine Pollock and Gloria Wirth observing the activity on their respective Rural Farm Yards as well as Martha Karau keeping an eye on a urban feeder. In the mean time Ed Wirth and Wally Karau covered the Count Area by Truck, following a similar route covered in previous years.
The results of the Count was 207 individual birds of 15 different species. Nine persons participated for a total of forty nine hours and 101 kms .were covered by truck. The Churchbridge Count area comprises approximately 100 square miles.
Of note was the sighting of a Robin at two of the farm sights. Also of note was the lack of a single Red Pole sighting on that day.
Prepared by Wally Karau