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Preliminary Results of the 2007 D.C. Christmas Bird Count
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Peregrine falcons, like this one near the Wilson Bridge, seem to be increasing in the area.
Photo by Ed Eder. |
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The DC Christmas Bird Count (CBC), which
kicked off the CBC season in our area, was conducted on December 15, 2007. The
survey area is a circle that includes Dyke Marsh in the south, Arlington County
and Fairfax County east of 495 in the west, the C&O Canal and Rock Creek Park in
the north, and Kenilworth Gardens and the National Arboretum in the east. The
count circle consists of seven sectors. I was asked to lead the sector that
includes Dyke Marsh in 1999 and then was “promoted” to count compiler in 2004.
As compiler, I am responsible for the entire count
circle and am trying to bird in a different sector every year. It will help me
develop a familiarity with the circle and the personalities in all seven
sectors. Alas, it precludes my participation at Dyke Marsh. But Paula Sullivan,
Dorothy McManus and Ed Eder all have participated in the count almost on a
yearly basis for the past decade. And of, course there is Kurt Gaskill, who
leads the team that covers the area north of Dyke Marsh from Hunting Creek to
Dangerfield Island. Also, I have to give credit to Larry Meade and Rich Rieger
who recruited the volunteers and organized the count for the Dyke Marsh sector,
aka Sector 4. The CBC would not be a success without their help.
Although I have not completely
analyzed the data, I can make a few preliminary statements about the results.
Waterfowl numbers still are low, a trend that has been evident for several
years, while Peregrine Falcons and Merlins seem to be steadily increasing. Small
songbirds like Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches
and Eastern Bluebirds apparently have recovered from the effects of the West
Nile virus. The most interesting birds reported were a Rufous Hummingbird
observed at the feeders at Potomac Overlook Park in Arlington, and an apparent
family group of Pine Warblers consisting of an adult male, adult female, and
three youngsters at the LBJ Grove. Now that’s odd that they would be together so
late in the year!
And what about Sector 4?
Although waterfowl numbers were low consistent with the rest of the count
circle, the participants tallied an impressive 1,209 American Coots. Numbers for
this species haven’t been that high in years. Red-bellied Woodpeckers are doing
well, with a total of 68 observed, and we added a Red-headed Woodpecker to the
sector tally. Other highlight birds include a Peregrine Falcon, a Purple Finch
and a Pine Siskin. - - Larry Cartwright
2007 Fort Belvoir Christmas Bird Count Summary
Having gotten over 90 percent of the reports on species’ presence for
the Fort Belvoir Christmas Bird Count (CBC), I can make the following
summary:
A cool, overcast morning met the field counters; this turned to drizzle by
mid-afternoon and outright rain near 3:30 p.m. Although I will not know the
final participant total until the final lists are given to me by the 10
Sector Leaders, initial reports indicate a less than average turnout of
volunteers. Yet the count tallied 117 species and one Count Week species.
This is above the 20-year average, after discounting the “inflation years”
period. Many observers reported above-average diversity of species,
although absolute numbers of many species were down from last year. For
example, I am sure the total scaup count will be half or less of last year’s
28,000!
The highlights were dominated by eight unusual species tallied in the
count. Unusual means these species have been tallied in the circle 1 to 5
years in the last 20 years. These were Forster’s Terns (2 diving in Pohick
Bay, 1 record in 20 years), Long-eared Owl (Sandy Run Park, 1 in 20),
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Fountainhead Park, 2 in 20), Common Raven (2 in the
Lorton area, 2 in 20), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Accotink Bay area, 3 in 20),
Yellow-throated Warbler (coming to a feeder in Maryland, 2 in 20), Lincoln’s
Sparrows (Huntley Meadows and Accotink Refuge, 1 in 20) and Baltimore
Oriole (3 to a Maryland feeder, 3 in 20).
The rare, but regular species found (in 6-10 counts out of 20) were: Great
Egret (8 in 20, Little Hunting Creek), Merlin (9, Huntley Meadows and near
Belmont Bay) and Marsh Wren (6, Great Marsh of Mason Neck).
Species that are rare to uncommon and often local in late December in
Northern Virginia (found 11-15 counts out of 20) were: Horned Grebe (15,
finally after a long drought), Double-crested Cormorant (increasing in the
last 15 yrs), Blue-winged Teal (12, Jackson Abbott Refuge), Black Vulture
(increasing in the last 15 years), King Rail (Occoquan Bay National Wildlife
Refuge), Greater Yellowlegs (Mason Neck), Laughing Gull (100+, high count,
Neabsco Creek), Common Yellowthroat (Jackson Abbott Wildlife Refuge and
Huntley Meadows), Chipping Sparrow (near Burke Lake) and Pine Siskin
(several locations; it’s an irruption year).
Other species of interest that were found: Common Loon (off Leesylvania
State Park), Northern Bobwhite (in a power line cut near Henderson Road,
this is a 17 out of 20 year species), American Woodcock (present in a few
locations such as Mason Neck State Park), Red-headed Woodpecker (Hallowing
Point at Mason Neck and in Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge),
Red-breasted Nuthatch (nearly all sectors, significant irruption year), Gray
Catbird (Leesylvania State Park), Brown Thrasher (Lorton area), Fox Sparrow
(various locations), White-crowned Sparrow (Lorton, Burke and Fort Belvoir
areas) and Rusty Blackbird (only at Jackson Abbott Wildlife Refuge).
Initial reports suggest that Red-breasted Nuthatch, Purple Finch and Pine
Siskin were in several places in the count circle in historical significant
numbers.
Many, many thank yous to the observers who came out and counted the birds!
I don’t have all your names but you are the heart and soul of the count.
And heart-felt gratitude to the sector leaders who organized their
respective territories: Mary-Carroll Potter, Georg Morduch, Larry Meade,
Sherman Suter, Greg Fleming, Bart Hutchinson, Rich Rieger, Larry Brindza,
Bob Klarquist, Marc Ribaudo, Carol Ghebelian and Carmine Bishop. Also,
special thank yous to Larry Cartwright, Ben Jesup and Jay Keller for various
strategic and logistical help in the count. And additional thank yous to
Larry Meade, Rich Rieger and Carmen Bishop for volunteering to lead their
areas just a few weeks before the count.
And lastly, let me acknowledge the sponsorship of the Fort Belvoir CBC by
Charles Studholme of One Good Tern.
After receiving all the reports, I will post a more complete summary.
Wishing Everyone A Very Birdy New Year!
- - Kurt Gaskill, compiler, Fort Belvoir Christmas Bird Count.
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