CBC Sault Ste. Marie - Thu, 10 Jan 2002

Hi All,

I am forwarding the results of the Sault Ste. Marie Christmas Bird Count
on behalf of our compiler Don Wilshire. We should all be thankful to Don
for his hard dedicated work in being able to provide us with a fun day
and a good compilation.

Bob Knudsen
jknuds@soonet.ca

102nd Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count, December 15, 2001

Winter came very late this year to the twin Soos area. So, although the
temperature on the count day was below zero, there was very little snow
on the ground and very little ice on the water throughout the circle. A
light breeze made the windchill factor negligible. The balmy weather of
the previous weeks made usual migrants linger much later in the area
than they might have, increasing numbers for the count, both in terms of
individuals and species. Moreover, food cover in the wild was poor
-perhaps due to a drier than usual summer - so some boreal species moved
south to our area, looking for food.

Increased numbers are evident in the counts for the following birds:
Canada Goose (this year 154; last year 21), American Black Duck (51; 7),
Common Merganser (176; 47), Bufflehead (30; 1), Ring-billed Gulls
(55;1), Herring Gulls (2483; 547), Rough-legged Hawk (14; 4), Rock Dove
(1036; 668), Black-capped Chickadee (859; 466), and Common Redpoll (311;
7). Some of these increased numbers can be directly attributed to the
abundance of open water and the mild weather. Chickadee and Redpoll
numbers are probably high because a reduced wild food crop is
encouraging small seed-eaters to come into feeders.

Reduced numbers are evident among Bohemian Waxwings. Last year we
tallied 1,594; this year we could only find 162. The berry crop in this
area is poor, so it is likely they have moved to areas (south?) that
have more food.

Surprises this year included late migrants Tundra Swans (5), a Lincoln’s
Sparrow at a feeder during count week, a Northern Flicker on Sugar
Island, a female Belted Kingfisher hunting in the waters west of Sugar
Island, 3 Northern Harriers  and 4 Red-tailed Hawks (still able to hunt
the open fields due to very limited snow cover). Other surprises
included a Black-backed Woodpecker (spotted by our intrepid hiker
group), 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 25 Lesser Scaup, a Ring-necked Pheasant (in
count week), a Peregrine Falcon, and 2 Merlins (one of which was
enjoying a breakfast of Bohemian Waxwing).

Old favourites included 20 Glaucus Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 13
Bald Eagles, 3 Snowy Owls (counted by 2 groups on the Canadian side, and
1 Michigan group), a Golden-crowned Kinglet, a single Gray Jay, 5
Northern Shrikes, an American Robin west of the city, 3 Hoary Redpolls
at a feeder, 4 Boreal Chickadees (2 at a feeder in the east end, 2 in
the woods near Hiawatha), and 12 Pileated Woodpeckers. Last year,
numbers for nuthatches were roughly even: 17 Red-breasted and 15
White-breasted. This year, White-breasted Nuthatches (66) more than
doubled the population of Red-breasted Nuthatches (30).

Unfortunately missing from this year’s count were Common Loon,
Red-breasted Merganser, Hawk Owl, Great Gray Owl, Gyrfalcon, Tree
Sparrow (last year, 56), Cardinal, and both Crossbills. The Harlequins
were not seen on the Count Day, but a pair were seen the day after, in
the rough waters of the St Mary’s rapids.

Birders, both in the field and at feeders, did a tremendous job of
finding both good species and good numbers and are to be congratulated
for their hard work and dedication.

The total number of species was 53 (plus 3 more for Count Week species)
and the total number of individuals on Count Day was 9,321 (compared to
7,133 last year). Also in good numbers were the participants in this
year’s count: 60 in the field and 16 at feeders!

Species and numbers

“A” List - (usually seen on Count)

Mallard Duck     811
Black Duck       51
Common Merganser    176
Common Goldeneye    117
Canada Goose     154
Snowy Owl         3
Bald Eagle (6 adult + 7 imm)     13
Herring Gull              2483
Ruffed Grouse         4
Sharp-tailed Grouse        6
Rock Dove              1036
Mourning Dove      89
Common Raven    278
American Crow    494
Hairy Woodpecker      15
Downey Woodpecker      28
Pileated Woodpecker      12
Black-capped Chickadee   859
Common Redpoll    311
White-breasted Nuthatch     66
Red-breasted Nuthatch     30
Evening Grosbeak      14
Pine Grosbeak       95
European Starling             1471
Bohemian Waxwing    162
Snow Bunting       57
House Sparrow      48
American Goldfinch    110
Blue Jay     124

“B” List - (not usually seen on Count)
Tundra Swan         5
Hooded Merganser      13
Bufflehead       30
Long-tailed Duck        3
Lesser Scaup       25
Great Black-backed Gull       2
Ring-billed Gull      55
Glaucous Gull       20
Red-tailed Hawk        4
Rough-legged Hawk      14
Peregrine Falcon        1
Merlin          2
Northern Harrier        3
Belted Kingfisher        1
Northern Flicker        1
Black-backed Woodpecker       1
American Robin        1
Gray Jay         1
Dark-eyed Junco        5
Golden-crowned Kinglet       1
Pine Siskin         4
Northern Shrike        3
Boreal Chickadee        4
Hoary Redpoll         3
Lincoln Sparrow (count week)      1
Harlequin Duck (cw)        2
Ring-necked Pheasant (cw)       1

Border Birder Hotline Update - Thu, 10 Jan 2002

The extended January thaw we have been experiencing has brought reports
of several southern bird species over-wintering much farther north than
usual. The Western Meadowlark reported on Jan. 1st was found frozen to
death the following morning. It will be residing in the Royal Ontario
Museum’s bird collection.

On Jan.3rd, a female Merlin was seen hunting over a feeder on Walls Rd.
east of the Sault. On the 5th, a Brown Creeper was seen with a flock of
a dozen Black-capped Chickadees along Whitefish Creek at the Sault
Ontario Locks. The first American Robin for the year was reported in the
backyard of 432 Boundary Rd. on Jan. 6th. That same day a Brown Thrasher
was seen on Sunnyside Beach Rd. Also on the 6th, behind the Plummer
Hospital, an adult male Harlequin Duck was diving for food beside a
female White-winged Scoter. On Jan. 7th, an Eastern Towhee was reported
visiting a feeder in the backyard of 96 Nino Dr. On Jan. 8th, a Hermit
Thrush perched on a deck at 71 Fairmount Dr.

During the Christmas holidays a Red-bellied Woodpecker visited a
backyard on Talon Ave. in the Queen St. East and Fournier area. On
January 3rd, a Gadwall was observed flying from the steel plant pond to
the headrace, nearby 2 Long-tailed Ducks were diving for food in the
stronger currents.

The Bewick’s Wren that has been visiting a feeder periodically at 405
King St. in the town of Massey, has not been seen since January 8th. 10
white-winged Crossbills, both species of Grosbeaks, 2 Gray Jays and 8
Northern Cardinals are still regular visitors.

From the Sault Ste. Marie Michigan side, 1 Iceland Gull at the Sault
Locks, 1 Gyrfalcon at 3 Mile Rd. and Gardenville Rd. and 1 Northern
Shrike along Ten Mile Rd. on the 6th. Near Brimley Michigan, 2
Rough-legged Hawks were south of town on 221 at Mills Rd., 150 Snow
Buntings on Irish Line 1.5 miles north of M-28 with American Goldfinch,
Common Redpolls and dozens of Pine Grosbeaks visiting a feeder there. On
the 5th, at the feeder behind the gift shop at Whitefish Point, 2 Hoary
Redpolls were seen. At the harbour on Whitefish Point there was 1
Glaucous Gull and 1 immature Great Black-backed Gull. At the Hulbert
Bog, Gray Jays showed up but no Boreal Chickadees were seen.

Finally at a feeder behind White Pines High School on the 8th, 300
Common Redpolls and 1 Hoary Redpoll were tallied. The following day 3
Hoary Redpolls appeared.

Bob Knudsen
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
[705] 256-2790

Border Birder Hotline Update - Tue, 01 Jan 2002

The New Year has been brought in with several good birds reported in the
Sault Ste. Marie area. An adult Western Meadowlark was found on a porch
at 226 River Rd. This bird frequented that address as well as 234 River
Rd. for the afternoon of January 21st. After posing for photographs it
dined on a handful of crickets. This bird may survive for a while if it
continues to be fed.

At the Sault canal, today, the highlights seen were 1 adult Bald Eagle,
1 Cooper’s Hawk, 1 American Kestrel, 1 Northern Shrike, 2 first winter
Iceland Gulls, 5 immature Glaucous Gulls, 1 first winter Great
Black-backed Gull and a very late Bonaparte’s Gull. The Bonaparte’s was
last seen flying southeast towards the Edison Sault Power plant on the
Michigan side of the St. Mary’s River. At least 2 Long-tailed Ducks can
be seen amongst the 50 Common Goldeneyes in the headrace of the Sault
locks.

Several small flocks of Pine Grosbeak have been seen at the Station Mall
and Queen St. and Kerr Dr. feeding on American Ash and hedge maples. On
December 30th, a male Northern Cardinal visited a feeder on Fairmont Dr.
Two more are visiting a feeder on Parkdale Dr. At that same feeder a
Boreal Chickadee was seen on the 29th. Another Boreal Chickadee is
coming to a feeder on 4th Line at the ski trail across from Wishart
Park.

>From the Sudbury area, at the Sudbury dump, 27 Glaucous Gulls, 2 Iceland
Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 immature Great Black-backed
Gulls can be seen daily. An immature light phase Gyrfalcon was also been
reported in Sudbury. The Bewick’s Wren that visited a feeder at 405 King
St. in the town of Massey, has not been seen since Christmas day.
However, there are 7 White-winged Crossbills, 5 Northern Cardinals, Pine
Grosbeaks and 34 Evening Grosbeaks making daily appearances.

Bob Knudsen
jknuds@soonet.ca
Hotline # [705] 256-2790