Christmas Bird Count Results

Northwood Park Walking LoopWhen we set the date a year ago for this year's Christmas Bird Count, little did we know the challenges we would face. It may not have been exactly as we planned, but, despite adversity, Rutland County Audubon completed its 47th (National Audubon's 121st) annual CBC on January 2.

Planning was hampered by the uncertainty around the pandemic and the state’s Covid guidelines. A few regular participants could not join us due to quarantine requirements. Fortunately, volunteers stepped up to fill in the void. Past team leaders were up to the task of dividing their count areas to meet the changing Covid guidelines. All our sections were completed to varying degree. Twelve feeder watchers around the count circle, a 15-mile diameter circle centered in Center Rutland, also contributed to the effort. 

Common RedpollCount day began with inclement weather. With morning snow, sleet and rain, many participants were delayed starting the count. The roads cleared, but then fog set in around mid-day.

So how did we do? The species total was 48. This compares to 49 species in the prior two years and 52 and 53 for 2017 and 2016 respectively. Individual numbers were down with 4,335 birds counted, but not too badly compared to 4390 one year ago. CBC numbers have shown a decline in bird populations. You can track those changes in bird populations here.

This is an irruption year so fortunately all but bohemian waxwings were noted. These irruptive species included common redpoll, pine siskin, red crossbill and pine grosbeak. Fortunately, evening grosbeaks were reported as a Count Week bird (a species seen either the three days prior to count day or three days following, but not on count day itself).

Two great blue herons and one belted kingfisher, two species, sometimes gone for the season were observed.

Raptors included six Cooper’s hawks, one bald eagle, 25 red-tailed hawks, one peregrine falcon (on its usual perch on the Grace Congregational Church steeple), and one merlin in a Rutland City neighborhood.

A northern mockingbird rounded out the count as a Count Week bird seen the day following. 

A big thank you to all who organized and participated! We look forward to seeing you in a healthy and better 2021 Christmas Bird Count!

The list:

Canada Goose 54

Mallard 27

Common Merganser 9

Wild Turkey 50

Ruffed Grouse 1

Rock Pigeon 578

Mourning Dove 252

Great Blue Heron 2

Cooper's Hawk 6

Bald Eagle 1

Red-tailed Hawk 25

Barred Owl 2 

Belted Kingfisher 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker 15

Downy Woodpecker 27

Hairy Woodpecker 16

Pileated Woodpecker 4

Peregrine Falcon 1

Merlin 1

Blue Jay 153

American Crow 463

Common Raven 31

Black-capped Chickadee 386

Tufted Titmouse 123

Golden-crowned Kinglet 1

Red-breasted Nuthatch 37

White-breasted Nuthatch 101

Brown Creeper 7

Carolina Wren 6

European Starling 1360

Northern Mockingbird -count week-

Evening Grosbeak - count week-

Pine Grosbeak 22

Cedar Waxwing 110

House Finch 20

House Sparrow 140

Common Redpoll 4

Red Crossbill 28

Pine Siskin 2

American Goldfinch 56

Snow Bunting 18

American Tree Sparrow 12

Dark-eyed Junco 65

White-throated Sparrow 1

Song Sparrow 3

Northern Cardinal 76

Christmas Bird Count Results

Patch Pond, RutlandAnother Rutland Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is in the books. Our count took place on December 28, a mild and practically snowless day, comfortable for the participants, but perhaps affecting our numbers.

The count was Rutland’s 46^th and National Audubon’s 120^th. The history of the CBC is an interesting one and worth a read if you aren’t familiar with it. Click here to learn more.

Thirty-seven field team participants and five feeder watchers contributed to tally 49 species this year, the same number as in 2018. A ‘count week’ bird, ruffed grouse, was observed thanks to the Pine Hill Park team who saw fresh tracks.

Both the ruffed grouse and wild turkey numbers were low, with zero and two respectively. Our high numbers on those species in prior years were 20 and 338. Perhaps the lack of snow along with abundant acorns and beechnuts kept these species hidden in the woods.

Red-tailed hawks numbered 24, a species recorded in all of our 46 years, but with quite a variation in numbers, the high being 43. No barred owls were reported this year. Both sharp-shinned (2) and Cooper’s hawks (4) were reported, along with one peregrine falcon atop its usual perch on the steeple of Grace Congregational Church and one bald eagle.

With plenty of open water, two belted kingfishers and three great blue herons were reported. A Wilson’s snipe was seen near Otter Creek, an expected report from the team that walks that route along the river. Waterfowl numbers overall, however, were low with 54 Canada geese (high of 1444 several years ago). American black duck and mallard numbers were low with 24 and 198 reported respectively.

A yellow-bellied sapsucker, becoming a more common occurrence in winter in Vermont, was reported (although no more than one has been recorded on any of our CBCs). Seven northern flickers were, a new record. Although red-bellied woodpeckers have been increasing in numbers in the state, only ten were seen this year as opposed to 17 last year.

Some species are quite cyclical. As expected, no redpolls, pine grosbeaks or Bohemian waxwings were seen. Red-breasted nuthatches were low (25), our high being 112. Golden-crowned kinglets at 20 were half our high. Only one purple finch was seen. Two red crossbills were seen in Mendon.

Two gray catbirds were seen, not an expected species, and are new to our CBC.

American tree sparrow numbers were low, with some teams reporting none, and the total coming to 32. Our highest number was 362. Song sparrows, high while not a record, came in a 16. One chipping sparrow was observed.

The CBC concluded with our traditional potluck supper at the Proctor Library (with many delicious dishes as usual) and a countdown of the day’s numbers.

Christmas Bird Count data is important! If you are interested in learning more about how the data is used and what it is telling us, click here.

Walking a Christmas Bird Count Route

We'll be posting a summary of this year's Christmas Bird Count soon, but in the meantime you may enjoy reading about one CBCer's experiences. While many of us retreat to the comfort of our cars during the count, seventy-year old C. J. Frankiewicz and his team walk their route, no matter the weather:

On these past stormy days while I continue my over-a-week old cold, I have compiled some history and records about our CBC off the Alfrecha Road, aka, Sector 8.

My first count was in 1981 when it was 23 below zero. I had originally been assigned to an area along Otter Crick or Furnace Brook in Proctor or Pittsford that I was totally unfamiliar with. My car’s antifreeze froze on the way there.  After returning to my home on Forest Street in Rutland, I walked down to the Alfrecha Road and back, an area I was familiar with. My mother thought I was crazy and I am 'still crazy after all these years.' Except for 1984, 1989, and 1996 when I did not count, I continued the CBC there mostly alone…until Bryan Palfey joined me in 2000.  We both missed counting in 2009.

The low number of species came in my first year (1981) at 13; Bryan and I counted a low of 14 in 2000, our first year together.  The high number came in 2005 at 33 when we were joined by a young Henry Wilton (who has the ability to hear!).

Our average is 23 species, but the 10-year rolling average is 27, and the post-Bryan average is 26.  We thought this year’s count of 27 was average and it is.

Over the years we have counted 68 species plus one more, a Bohemian Waxwing, during count week, the three days before and the three days following count day. 

Bird sighting highlights are numerous: Great Blue Heron, Northern Pintail, Common Goldeneye, Northern Harrier, Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Ring-necked Pheasant, Wilson’s Snipe (a regular), Short-eared Owl (the absolutely most exciting and surprising), Carolina Wren, Northern Shrike, Common Yellowthroat (CBC and count week), Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Lapland Longspur, Rusty Blackbird (32 in one flock one of many times), Pine Grosbeak, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Graylag Goose. Walter Ellison helped us ID the last from an immature Greater White-fronted Goose; we certainly weren’t familiar with Graylag. A number of these were firsts for the Rutland CBC.

Had my hand within inches of a wing-crippled hen Wood Duck and saw a metal band on the outstretched leg of a landing American Black Duck.

The non-bird highlight occurred in 2001 with Bryan and his niece Grace Robin. We saw a mink pursue and hold its bite on the throat of a muskrat. They rolled over and over in Cold River not 12 feet from us with muskrat blood a-coloring the water. Grace wrote a terrific story The Murder at Cold Creek based loosely, but quite imaginatively, on this incident. Roy wouldn’t accept my count of one for Robin! We have also seen deer, coyote, red fox, gray and red squirrels, mink, and muskrats, and plenty of gashawks (being near the airport). 

This year Joel’s phone clocked his walking miles at 8.1. Some of us did more, and we skipped two areas due to time and tiredness. Over all years, all miles have been walking miles; no cars for us.

Participants have been the regulars Bryan Palfey, Steve Waite, and Henry Wilton, plus Grace Robin, Dwight Cargill, Linda Shelvey, Shelly Lutz, John Yates, Mike Blust, Theresa Waite, and Joel Tilley. For whatever reason, seems like some don't come a second time.

We have had a 100% success rate at having fun. And I’m sure I forgot some things noteworthy.

Christmas Bird Count Results

Another Christmas Bird Count is in the books, Rutland County Audubon’s 45^th and National Audubon’s 119^th.

A total of 48 birders, consisting of eight field teams and 12 feeder watchers, tallied 46 species. Two additional species, great blue heron and peregrine falcon, were sighted during Count Week (the three days before count day and three days following when species not seen on count day may be included in the tally).

The day started in the low 40s and was mostly cloudy, and ended in the low 30s, with some light rain and snow, but virtually no snow cover. Whether this is what affected the lower number of birds is hard to tell. Although this is time of year when the lowest number of species is expected, most of the field teams and feeder watchers noted exceptionally low activity.

Our average count for the past 10 years is 51 species with a high count of 58 in 2011 and a low count of 43 in 2009.

Bohemian WaxwingsWe had several new participants this year with two coming from as far away as Georgia. Two teams had seven participants and two teams achieved 35 species for their areas. And more territory was covered on foot this year. There were a few new feeder watchers and they did an excellent job, including one who had the dubious privilege of counting the American crows as they came in to their evening roost.

But there were highlights despite low species numbers!

Several bird species have irrupted from the north this season. An irruption is defined as a “dramatic, irregular migration of large numbers of birds,” usually in response to food supply. Two of these species were observed on the count: pine grosbeak seen by three field teams and Bohemian waxwings by two teams. Hopefully we will see more of them as the winter progresses. Ornamental crabapples are the place to look for these.

Two other irruptive species being seen in Vermont this season were not recorded on our count – common redpolls and evening grosbeaks. The pine siskins seen this fall seem to have moved on.

Two new species had a record high of individuals for the count: eastern bluebirds, with 51 observed, and 14 red-bellied woodpeckers, a species that has been increasing rapidly in the state over the past 15 years or so.

There were some unusual species that were not new, but are never guaranteed. Two Wilson’s snipe were spotted along Otter Creek by the same team that also saw a winter wren.

MerlinOverall raptor numbers were low, 22 red-tailed hawks were spotted, about half our high which occurred in 2017. Three sharp-shinned hawks and five Cooper’s hawks were seen, contrasting with a high of nine in 1995 and eight in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Only one barred owl was noted. Two of the ever-increasing bald eagles were seen. A photo of one raptor, originally thought to be a kestrel seen in poor light, turned out to be a merlin. No other raptors, other than these and the count week peregrine falcon, were observed.

Some misses included no belted kingfishers, despite all the open water; no-snow no-show snow buntings; and no golden-crowned kinglets.

On a non-avian note, a green frog was seen at Rocky Pond at Pine Hill Park in Rutland and reported to the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas.

Of course, the highlight of the count is the potluck supper where we countdown the day’s results and enjoy everyone’s best potluck contribution. We had a high number of birders attend the supper – 35! Although bird numbers were down, spirits were high!

Thanks to Kathleen Guinness for organizing a successful count! It’s a lot of work, but it comes together year after year.

Species List:

Canada Goose                                     
Mallard                                    

American Black Duck              

Common Merganser                

Ruffed Grouse                                             

Wild Turkey                             

Rock Pigeon                           

Mourning Dove                       

Wilson's Snipe                        

Great Blue Heron                   

Sharp-shinned Hawk               

Cooper's Hawk                         

Bald Eagle                                

Red-tailed Hawk                       

Barred Owl                                

Red-bellied Woodpecker           

Downy Woodpecker                   

Hairy Woodpecker                      

Pileated Woodpecker                

Northern Flicker                                

Merlin                                         

Peregrine Falcon                    

Northern Shrike                       

Blue Jay                                   

American Crow                    

Common Raven                       

Black-capped Chickadee           

Tufted Titmouse                        

Red-breasted Nuthatch            

White-breasted Nuthatch          

Brown Creeper                           

Winter Wren                                

Carolina Wren                            

Eastern Bluebird                        

American Robin                          

European Starling                       

Bohemian Waxwing                    

Cedar Waxwing                          

Pine Grosbeak                            

House Finch                                

American Goldfinch                    

American Tree Sparrow              

Dark-eyed Junco                        

White-throated Sparrow              

Song Sparrow                             

Red-winged Blackbird                 

Northern Cardinal                        

House Sparrow                            

Christmas Bird Count

What better way to celebrate the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019 than by participating in the Christmas Bird Count (CBC)? This year marks the 119^th annual count for National Audubon and the 45^th for Rutland County. The Rutland count will be held on Saturday, December 29.

What is the Christmas Bird Count? Many years ago, it was the custom to go out during the Christmas season and shoot birds for sport. In 1900, as people began to realize that bird populations were in decline (and some species going extinct), ornithologist Frank Chapman decided it would be better to COUNT birds instead of shooting them. The idea began to spread and today there are over 2,500 counts throughout the U.S., Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Pacific Islands.

The Rutland Christmas Count area is a circle centered at the falls in Center Rutland and encompasses a 15-mile diameter around that. That includes all of Rutland City, Rutland Town, portions of Proctor, West Rutland, Ira, Pittsford and Clarendon. Participants go out to cover assigned portions of the circle, counting as many birds as possible, as well as noting weather conditions and mileage covered. Others count from home.

The Christmas Bird Count is fun! And it’s a great way to get out in the fresh air and enjoy nature after the excesses of the holidays. You join other bird enthusiasts to take on the challenge of identifying and counting as many species and individual birds as possible. If you don’t feel your skills are up to par, don’t worry, we’ll pair you with a team. It can be an opportunity to meet new friends and learn more about birds and citizen science, the real point of the CBC.  

Citizen science, the idea that non-professional people can contribute to a body of data, important to furthering scientific study, is what the Christmas Bird Count is all about. With over a century of data, the CBC is one of the oldest citizen science projects. Data has been used by researchers, conservation biologists, wildlife agencies and other interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America.

So now you know why you should participate here is how:

Join a field team! We have eight teams, seven that cover a portion of the circle and travel by car, getting out at promising spots. One team walks along Otter Creek and is definitely for the hardier among us. Contact Kathleen Guinness at birding@rutlandcountyaudubon.org to join the count.

Not a fan of going out in the cold weather? Feeder watchers within the count circle are also needed. If you aren’t sure if you live within the circle, contact us at birding@rutlandcountyaudubon.org and we can help you figure it out.

The day ends at the Proctor Library with a potluck supper and a countdown of the species seen. Attendance at the supper isn’t mandatory (we know this is a busy time of year), but it’s a lot of fun and the food is always abundant and good. The supper starts at 6 p.m. with beverages and utensils to share. Just bring your favorite dish to share!

2017 Christmas Bird Count Results

Red-tailed HawkRutland ‘s Christmas Bird Count is over. All that is left to do is review the final results and learn from them. Before going on, let’s recognize our faithful leader, Roy Pilcher for his many years of chairing this event and writing this summary. Roy accepted this responsibility for many years and inspired most of the present RCAS board members and friends to keep the tradition alive. Thank you, Roy, for all you have done. We know your efforts have enriched our lives and appreciate all the help you continue to provide. Once again Roy participated in the count as a team leader.

Last year Kathleen Guinness took over organizing the count and the potluck supper held at the Proctor Library. Thanks to Kathleen for carrying on this important tradition!

To help me get started I read some of the previous summaries on our website journal. It’s shocking to read ‘weather was more like April,’ ‘the meadows were green’ and ‘ponds and rivers were free of ice.’ This year my team started its count at 7:30 with the thermometer reading minus 10. We were dressed for the weather and did our best to perform the count despite the bone-chilling weather.

This year our CBC field teams and feeder watchers counted over 7,000 individual birds representing 52 species. Considering the minus temperatures (the day’s high rose to only about 11), this is quite an accomplishment.

Here are a few points of interest starting with regular species that show up year after year.

Mallard: 178

This is down from the 25-year average of 251. Still water was completely frozen, but the small streams was partly open giving them the necessary food and shelter.

Mourning Dove: 329

Down from the average of 523. Fortunately, doves have been flocking to feeders, but perhaps some were missed due to the difficulty in counting in such extreme cold.

Red-tailed Hawk: 23

Our average. This is a positive sign since a stable raptor population may indicate stability of other species lower down on the food chain

Red-bellied Woodpecker: 14

Up from the average of 3. This species has expanded throughout the state in the past 15 years. None were reported in the early years of the count.

American Crow: 2,663

Up from an average of 1,090. Our record high was 1,809 in 2003. To get an accurate count, volunteer Tracy Busony started weeks ahead of time watching the crows as they came to roost at various locations around Rutland City. With help from a neighbor on count day they counted the whole flock, one by one.

Black-capped Chickadee: 453

Down from an average of 1,014. Sadly chickadees, our beloved feeder birds, are in decline. Hopefully some of this year’s low number can be attributed to the difficulty in counting due to the extreme cold weather.

How about some surprises?

Wilson’s Snipe: 1  

This is a surpise to many, but not to the team that leads this section of the count along Otter Creek. This is a species that migrates, but a few may stay behind if they find open water and a food supply. They are hard to spot so maybe more are around than we know.

Red-shouldered hawk: 1

Most have departed, but like the snipe, occasionally one or two can remain. Not a first for the Rutland CBC, our first in 25 years. There are more reports of over-wintering Red-shouldered Hawks in Vermont than in the past.

Eastern Bluebird: 24

Our average of 17. Many people think bluebirds always migrate, but if the food is here, some may stay (even if it is minus 10!)

American Robin: 14

This is down from an average of 23. Many folks think of the robin as our symbol of spring, but it really isn’t. The number of robins remaining is dependent on the food supply. We had just over a dozen this year year, but have recorded many more in prior CBCs.

Red Crossbill: 3

We don’t always get crossbills as they are known to follow cone crops. This is one of those years. Keep a lookout for them as winter wears on!

Snow Bunting: 162

Up from an average of 85. It’s hard to say what a normal year is because it can range from none to several hundred. They do migrate here from farther north looking for food. If you haven’t seen Snow Buntings then watch the cornfields for a burst of white wings and a swirling flock. It’s a wonderful sight.

Dark-eyed Junco: 1,352

Up from an average of 267. Many of us expected to see more juncos this year because we have had so many at our feeders. Fortunately, one of our volunteers has knowledge of them. Normally many more would be farther south in areas like Maryland. The CBC results from those areas (so far) have shown lower than normal numbers. The birds are still here so now we’ll watch to see if they pack their bags or hang around our feeders all winter.

What was missing?

There are numerous species that we see one year, but not the next. That is a normal pattern. No American Kestrels or Northern Harriers were reported. Wild Turkey numbers were way down, but they are probably still in the woods. Only one Belted Kingfisher was reported. A look around the frozen ponds and streams tells you why.

Many of us would love to see a Snowy Owl here in Rutland County, but we’re still waiting for that. They have been reported in Vermont in a few places this year. 

It is amazing we have completed this same count for 44 years in spite of the holiday rush. The data is important. One year may not tell us anything, but the sum of many years is valuable information. That is why we eBird all of our sightings year-round as well as participate in as many citizen science projects we can. We are always looking for volunteers to join our teams, do a feeder watch at home or participate in various projects. Our Christmas Bird Count data will be available in a final form within a few weeks on the National Audubon web site so you can explore it further. If you have any questions please let us know by email from birding @rutlandcountyaudubon.org.

christmas bird count - january 2

Count #42, count #116 – those are impressive numbers for Rutland County Audubon and National Audubon respectively as they represent the number of years the local and national Christmas Bird Count has taken place. This year’s count will take place on Saturday, January 2. What better way than to kick off the new year than with a day of birding?

Field observers and feeder watchers are always needed (feeder watchers must live within the 15-mile count circle centered in Rutland).

If you haven’t participated in a CBC now is your chance! Click here to read the report from last year’s count to get a feel for how the day goes. As tradition goes we will gather at the Proctor Library at 6 p.m. for a potluck supper and the countdown of the day’s species. Bring a dish to share. Utensils and beverages will be provided 

Contact Roy Pilcher at 775-3461 or email birding@rutlandcountyaudubon.org for more details.

rcas's 41st christmas bird count

Red-tailed Hawks were well-represented during the CBCTraditionally the Rutland County Annual Christmas Bird Count takes place on the last weekend of December or the first weekend of January depending as to when Christmas day lands. Saturday, December 27 was the designated day for this year’s count, count number 41 for Rutland County and count number 115 for National Audubon since the first bird count was inaugurated by Frank Chapman as an alternative to the “side hunt," a Christmas tradition of shooting birds.

The 15-mile diameter count circle, once delineated, remains the same from year to year. Participation and effort seem to follow an even pattern so “weather” is left as the great arbiter. If one had misplaced the calendar, field observers this year may well have imagined that they were out during the first week in April. Meadows appeared lush and free of snow, streams were flowing strongly and ponds were mostly free of ice. Temperatures were in the 32° to 43° F. range. Some roads and fields were flooded adding to some interruption in coverage.

A reasonable assumption would be that under such weather conditions birds both waterfowl and song would disperse more widely as compared to an immediate frozen and snow covered habitat. And so it was to be. Individual bird numbers came in at 5,705 as compared to a running ten-year average of 8,638. That is almost a 34% decrease! The species count was not so depressed with 50 species tallied just one less than the running ten-year average of 51.1 species.

CBC field formTwo previous species records were equaled, namely the sighting of two Peregrine Falcons and the sighting of three Great Blue Herons.  A new record of 10 individuals was set for Red-bellied Woodpecker. Looking back over the past 40 years of Rutland’s Christmas Bird count records, a single Red-bellied Woodpecker was first observed in 1990, then two in 2003, four in 2004, five in 2010, six in 2011 and finally 10 in 2014. Quite a progression and a nice illustration as to why the collection of all this data is so important!

Thanks is due to the 21 field observers who drove 333.7 miles and walked 20.15 miles, spending a total of 65 party-hours on the beat. Thanks is also due to the seven feeder watchers who spent 37.5 hours at home tallying the birds at their feeders.

At the conclusion of the day, 25 weary but content participants enjoyed a great spread at the traditional pot luck supper and count-down at the Proctor Free Library.

Next year’s Christmas Bird count is set for Saturday, January 2, 2016. 

two Barred Owls were observed on the countThe numbers:  Great Blue Heron [3], Canada Goose [140], Wood Duck [1], American Black Duck [21], Mallard [133], Common Goldeneye [1], Common Merganser [6], Sharp-shinned Hawk [1], Cooper’s Hawk [2], Red-tailed Hawk [32], Peregrine Falcon [1], Merlin [1], Wild Turkey [84], Wilson’s Snipe [1], Rock Pigeon [305], Mourning Dove [417], Barred Owl [2], Belted Kingfisher [2], Red-bellied Woodpecker [10], Downy Woodpecker [67], Hairy Woodpecker [47], Northern Flicker [2], Pileated Woodpecker [13], Blue Jay [366], American Crow [1063], Common Raven [21], Black-capped Chickadee [697], Tufted Titmouse [69], Red-breasted Nuthatch [17], White-breasted Nuthatch [123], Brown Creeper [9], Carolina Wren [12], Golden-crowned kinglet [1], Eastern Bluebird [35], Hermit Thrush [1], American Robin [4], Northern Shrike [1], European Starling [1027], Common Yellowthroat [1], Northern Cardinal [102], American Tree Sparrow [97], Song Sparrow [6], White-throated Sparrow [2], Dark-eyed Junco [141], Red-winged Blackbird [16], Brown-headed Cowbird [2], House Finch [105], Pine Siskin [29], American Goldfinch [158], House Sparrow [308].

Roy Pilcher begins the countdown

 Thana McGary and Lana and Fred Bates help with cleanupLarry Booker tallies the numbers

2013 christmas bird count results

a Barred Owl peers at a field team in Rutland TownOn Saturday, December 28, Rutland County Audubon completed its 40^th annual consecutive Christmas Bird Count. On the national level it marked the 114^th Christmas Bird Count.

Recognition and credit is due to the 22 dedicated field observers and eight faithful home feeder watchers who participated. Two dozen participants rallied later in the evening at the Proctor Free Library for a pot-luck supper and count down. To the four team members from outside Rutland County who joined the local teams, thank you for your enthusiasm and contributions. 

Weather conditions were mostly favorable with partly cloudy skies in the morning becoming more intense in the afternoon while a biting westerly wind at times gusted up to 15 mph. Temperatures for most of the day were above freezing and remained in the 30° to 38° range. Small ponds were frozen but streams were open, a contributing factor to the record number of Belted Kingfisher tallied. Snow cover varied from open ground to approximately 4 inches. Roads were clear, well sanded and drivable, an important consideration with the field teams covering 386.5 miles by car.

With 8,674 individual birds counted the number was within 2% of the ten year running average of 8832. The species count of 51 closely reflected the ten-year running average of 51.2.

In spite of the apparent ordinariness of the above numbers several records were established. The sighting of a single Bald Eagle and three Rough-legged Hawks matched previous records for the species. A Red-tailed Hawk count of 42 exceeded the previous record of 37 established 15 years previously. For many years only a single Peregrine Falcon had been sighted, now the record is two. It was a good year for Belted Kingfisher with a tally of six. The previous record of four goes back 25 years. The Carolina Wren total of 16 birds increased the record by one.

partly open water attracted geese and Belted KingfishersA new species was added to the count as species number 101 for the forty years Rutland County has undertaken the Christmas Bird Count. The new species is none other than the Vermont State Bird, the Hermit Thrush. Not one but two Hermit Thrush were documented! One bird was heard and the other bird was seen, each bird by a separate field team. Well done!

Count Numbers:

Canada Goose (705), American Black Duck (43), Mallard (74), Common Merganser (4), Bald Eagle (1), Sharp-shinned Hawk (1), Cooper’s Hawk (5), Red-tailed Hawk (42), Rough-legged Hawk (3), Peregrine Falcon (2), Ruffed Grouse (2), Wild Turkey (30), Rock Pigeon (609), Mourning Dove, (388), Barred Owl (1), Belted Kingfisher (6), Red-bellied Woodpecker (4), Downy Woodpecker (57), Hairy Woodpecker (32), Pileated Woodpecker (8), Horned Lark (10), Blue Jay (359), American Crow (1045), Common Raven (18), Black-capped Chickadee (858), Tufted Titmouse (67), Red-breasted Nuthatch (16),

White-breasted Nuthatch (78), Brown Creeper (7), Carolina Wren (16), Winter Wren (2), Golden-crowned Kinglet (13), Eastern Bluebird (25), Hermit Thrush* (2), American Robin (60), Cedar Waxwing (511), Northern Shrike (1), European Starling (1956), Northern Cardinal (110), American Tree Sparrow (237), Song Sparrow (4), White-throated Sparrow (20), Dark-eyed Junco (263), Snow Bunting (3), Red-winged Blackbird (4), Rusty Blackbird (10), Brown-headed Cowbird (4), Purple Finch (8), House Finch (68), American Goldfinch (475), House Sparrow (307).

Bold → Record Number    * New Species to the count.

christmas bird count feeder watchers needed!

Downy WoodpeckerCalling all Feeder Watchers!

This year’s annual Christmas Bird Count marks the 114th for National Audubon and the 40th for Rutland County Audubon. The information collected for over 2,300 counts in Canada, Mexico and the USA is combined into a single data set that constitutes the longest and most extensive Citizen Science bird monitoring exercise ever!

Count protocol dictates that the count area be a circle 15 miles in diameter and once designated remains constant. The local count circle is centered where Route 4 west crosses the Otter Creek in Center Rutland.

If you have a feeding station at home that attracts a “countable” number of birds and, if you live in Rutland City, Rutland Town, West Rutland or Proctor and would be willing to identify and tally your birds on count day, Saturday, December 28, please contact Roy Pilcher at shamwarivt@aol.com and he will take it from there.

Christmas bird count results

Bohemian Waxwings graced us with their presence during the CBC With nearly a foot of snow on the ground, the forecast of another day of snow on Saturday, December 29, while welcomed by ski enthusiasts, was of some concern to those who had planned and committed themselves to Rutland’s 39^th annual Christmas Bird Count. Despit snow all day as forecast, the full roster of 8 teams nevertheless took to the field while 5 feeder watchers from the comfort of home tallied all and every bird bold enough to show itself or be heard.

Under the circumstances it was to be expected that relatively fewer miles would be traveled on foot in comparison to miles traveled by car.  However, a nice diversity of species was observed, 49 to be exact, only two species less than the running ten year average of 51. Six thousand four hundred seventy-one individual birds were tallied, a significant decrease from the 8,884 running ten year average.

Two new numerical records were set for the count, namely 78 Common Raven and 775 Common Redpoll.  The former was attributed to a carcass upon which the ravens were feasting on the Clarendon Flats and the latter reflecting the predicted implosion of the species into Vermont this winter. Unusual, but not unique to the Rutland CBC, was a single Great Black Back Gull at the Rutland transfer station, two Wilson’s Snipe in a drainage ditch, a single Rusty Blackbird and a single White-winged Crossbill observed at a feeder.

At day’s end several brave souls made it to the countdown gathering and potluck supper at the Proctor library, and, more importantly, safely home again!  An elegant sufficiency of food appeared for a balanced meal while all 8 teams each had a representative to report the day’s observations! 

Well done, Rutland! Here’s to next year’s fortieth count. 

christmas bird count 2012

Common Redpolls are here this yearFirst, a look back at Rutland County Audubon’s past participation in the Christmas Bird Count tradition. By way of keeping track, RCAS designated last year’s count as #112/38.  The numbers indicate that it was the 112^th national count and the 38^th local count. That’s right - Rutland County Audubon supporters have undertaken 38 local Christmas Bird Counts while on the national level counts have been undertaken all the way back to Christmas Day 1900. The first count was an alternative to the post-Christmas “side hunt” tradition of  wanton slaughter. The Christmas Bird Count phenomenon of data collection is both the longest running and most broadly based citizen science project in this country. Data already collected continues to drive legislation and policies that designate, protect and sustain birds in general and those in crisis in particular.

Christmas Bird Counts must occur between December 14 and January 5. Count circles of a 15-mile diameter once designated remain constant. The center of our local circle is where Route 4 crosses the Otter Creek in Center Rutland. The area covered radiates 7.5 miles all around from there. There are 19 counts scheduled to take place this year in Vermont.

Over the 38 years the Rutland count has tallied 98 species. Results from count 112/38 indicate that 8,744 individual birds were counted and 60 species were observed. New records continue to be set and last year was no exception with counts of 819 Canada Geese, 1 Eastern Screech-Owl, 6 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 136 American Robin and 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers. These observations were collected by 34 field observers and 6 feeder watchers. 

Count # 113/39 will take place this year on Saturday, December 29. Field teams will be assembled and field captains will be in touch with their members who will cover their designated area. As always feeder watchers located within the count circle are very welcome.  Note a major change this year: There is NO PARTICIPATION FEE. Results both national and international will be available when compiled on the internet and not in print form.

An important tradition of most counts is the “countdown pot luck dinner” and that of the Rutland count is no exception. We will gather at the Proctor Free Library following the count at 6 o’clock. Participants and spouses/family are asked to bring a hot dish, a salad or a desert.  Beverages, flatware and utensils will be provided.

If you participated last year you will be contacted, if not please give Roy a call at 775-3461. More eyes looking, more birds tallied, the end result is more fun!

For a list of all the CBCs in Vermont, click here.

For prior years' summaries, click here.

rcas 38th christmas bird count results

Why, you ask, give up eight or nine hours of your time to participate in an annual count of the birds?

Tufted TitmouseCould it be because there are birds out there to be counted and birds are part of our natural world? And the more one knows about them the more one appreciates them and the greater the wonderment? Or is it because there are those fellow enthusiasts whose addiction and concentration may rival your own and whose company is to be enjoyed?

However, striking a more rational stance, don’t forget there is a tradition now stretching back one hundred and eleven years of generations of birders who were similarly motivated to record and to contribute their time and their efforts to an ever expanding database of information of which the local contribution is a mere miniscule, nevertheless essential part! With the enormous capabilities of computers to store data, Christmas Bird Counts have now gone global expanding beyond the U.S.A and Canada to many countries of the Western Hemisphere. 

Saturday, December 31, was the appointed day for Rutland County’s thirty-eighth annual count.  The weatherman’s prediction was for sleet and rain after midnight but we were spared! Intermittent light rain and a generally cloudy day were as favorable conditions as could be expected for this season of the year. Our standard 15-mile diameter circle was divided as usual into eight sectors. It was covered by eight designated teams of three to seven members each with the mandate and responsibility to record with due diligence the numbers and species of birds present. These teams totalling 38 individuals traveled 289 miles by car and another 38 miles on foot. While at home six households within the count circle maintained a watchful eye on their feeders over a combined period of 48 hours.

Following the day's efforts, and despite it being New Year's Eve, over two dozen participants gathered at the Proctor Library to enoy a bountiful potluck and to count down the day's birds.

With the last list submitted and a final tally made, the data for the local Rutland Count is ready to be transmitted electronically and gathered with between two to three thousand similar counts from across the hemisphere.

Roy tallies the day's resultsFor our Rutland County count, 58 bird species were observed on count day with two additional species not seen on count day but during count week (three days prior and three days following the actual CBC day), yielding a grand total of 60 species. As to individual birds, a total of 8,744 was tallied on count day. By way of comparison the running ten year average of species for the Rutland count is 52.3, an increase this year of 15%, and 9,200 individual birds, a decrease this year of 5%.

This year’s list:

Great Blue Heron (1), Canada Goose (819*), American Black Duck (14), Mallard (329), Hooded Merganser (1), Common Merganser (7), Northern Harrier (2), Sharp-shinned Hawk (1), Cooper’s Hawk (2), Red-tailed Hawk (24), American Kestrel (1), Merlin (CW), Peregrine Falcon (1), Ruffed Grouse (2), Wild Turkey (74), Wilson’s Snipe (3), Rock Pigeon (581), Mourning Dove (603), Eastern Screech Owl (1**), Barred Owl (3), Belted Kingfisher (2), Red-bellied Woodpecker (6*), Downy Woodpecker (65), Hairy Woodpecker (43), Northern Flicker (1), Pileated Woodpecker (10), Horned Lark (CW), Blue Jay (302), American Crow (794), Common Raven (19), Black-capped Chickadee (873), Tufted Titmouse (44), Red-breasted Nuthatch (14), White-breasted Nuthatch (97), Brown Creeper (20), Carolina Wren (8), Golden-crowned Kinglet (10), Eastern Bluebird (30), American Robin (136*), Northern Mockingbird (1), Gray Catbird (1), Cedar Waxwing (244), Northern Shrike (2), European Starling (2276), Yellow-rumped Warbler (3**), Northern Cardinal (79), American Tree Sparrow (91), Chipping Sparrow (1), Song Sparrow (3), White-throated Sparrow (7), Dark-eyed Junco (221), Snow Bunting (13), Red-winged Blackbird (73), Brown-headed Cowbird (5), Purple Finch (11), House Finch (149), Common Redpoll (29), Pine Siskin (15), American Goldfinch (195), House Sparrow (382).

BOLD       Equal to previous Numerical Record.

BOLD*     New Numerical Record.

BOLD**   New Species to the Count.

The thirty-eight local Rutland counts have now tallied 100 species!

Historical information on Rutland's counts and CBCs across the hemisphere, click here.

thirty-eighth annual Christmas Bird Count on December 31

a Bohemian Waxwing earlier this yearThe first Christmas Bird count took place on Christmas Day, 1900. It was organized as a reaction to the tradition of the Christmas Side Hunt in which participants would choose “sides” and then proceed with their guns to the fields and woods to shoot as many birds and wild creatures as possible. Ornithologist Frank Chapman decided there was the potential for a better holiday tradition, namely counting birds in a “Christmas Bird Census”! In that first Christmas Bird Census there were 27 participants who observed 90 species of birds and approximately 18,500 individual birds. In contrast, the 111^th Christmas Bird Count achieved a new all-time record with 62,624 participants representing 2,215 counts of which 1,714 were in the United States, 394 in Canada with the remainder in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands.  Of the 61,359,451 individual birds tallied, 57,542,123 were in the United States and 3,355,759 were in Canada.  In Vermont we contributed 18 local counts to the international effort. The Annual Christmas Bird Count, now in its 112^th year is both the largest and the longest running citizen science project anywhere!

Last year marked the 37^th consecutive annual count by Rutland County Audubon. Thirty-one field observers in 8 teams covered 25.5 miles on foot and 310.5 miles by car. In addition there were 6 feeder watchers. Their combined efforts tallied 9,260 individual birds across 51 species.  Record high counts were achieved for Pileated Woodpecker (16), Common Raven (41) and Bohemian Waxwing (798). For a description of last year’s count click here.

Rutland County’s 38^th Annual Christmas Bird Count is set for Saturday, December 31.  The count circle is 15 miles in diameter and is centered where old Route 4A crosses the Otter Creek in Center Rutland. Feeder watchers and field observers are always most welcome to join in this annual quest. As tradition dictates, a pot luck dinner follows at the Proctor Free Library at 6 o’clock in the evening, affording an opportunity to relax and enjoy the company of fellow birders as a tentative list of the day’s sightings is developed.  Mark your calendars to reserve the date and call Roy Pilcher at 775-3461 if you are interested in participating. 

the results are in!

I set two alarm clocks to 5 A.M., a precaution as sleep the night before the annual Christmas Bird Count is predictably fitful. By that hour I am wide-awake and ready to go! Sounds during the night were particularly ominous; the splattering of water from the roof on my patio confirmed the prediction that a light rain would persist throughout the night into Sunday morning, the day of the count. Birding in the rain is birding at its worst! Cold, snow, wind, heat, and even the annoyance of insects are preferable!

Our field team of five rendezvoused at the College of St. Joseph at 7:00 a.m. It was one of eight field teams designed to cover the eight sectors into which the 15-mile diameter standard count circle had been divided. We consolidated into two cars, equipped with a pair of radios in case we became separated. We were off, enveloped by ground fog and under a light rain.

At our first stop at the Otter Creek, mostly free of ice, we scanned for ducks but with no luck. For the next 45 minutes we confined ourselves to urban side streets, checking local feeders, preferably the ones that the homeowners had remembered to fill. The early birds did not fail us. We noted the usual feeder activity, Black-capped Chickadees, a Tufted Titmouse, an American Goldfinch, a Downy Woodpecker, a pair of Northern Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatches, and a welcome Red-breasted Nuthatch calling from a Norway Spruce besides a clutch of Mourning Doves. Leaving the city behind, we headed for Boardman Hill where a farm hedgerow yielded a large flock of Wild Turkey and, above in a gnarled maple, a Red-bellied Woodpecker. The heavily wooded Quarterline Road was good for a raucous pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, heard and then seen. It was also good for a flock of well over 100 Bohemian Waxwing and, for some of our group, the first good look at this year’s irruption of northerners. 

Turning east into Walker Mountain Road we made for Clarendon and the Otter Creek floodplain. The ground fog was still intense but lifting, the rain had ceased and above a patch or two of blue, a promise and a stimulus to press on! Press on we did and fortunately in the second car a pair of sharp eyes made out the obscure silhouette of a Great Blue Heron pacing a narrow drainage ditch seeking a morsel on which to sustain it. We would return at noon when the skies cleared to find the bird still there, an extraordinary and memorable scene.Great Blue Heron observed during the count

The day progressed under partly cloudy skies, temperatures were moderate in the 37° F to 46° range, balmy enough in fact for us to take a lunch break at a picnic table adjacent to the local firehouse. Refreshed, we continued, bird by bird, species upon species, 29, 30, 31… would we make 32?  Eyes tired, with light failing once again, it took a sharp-eyed observer to make out the silhouette of a raptor perched across the Otter Creek among the bare limbs of a tree. A quick U-turn and with the aid of a spotting scope, we had species number 32, a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Time to pack it in, freshen up, and make our way to the potluck supper and count down. 

The traditional potluck supper was held at the Proctor Free Library with 35 in attendance, representing all the eight field teams and several feeder watchers. Following an excellent spread, it was time for a provisional countdown of the day’s sightings and highlights. Final numbers revealed that 51 species had been tallied and 9,260 individual birds counted, the combined effort of 31 field observers and 7 feeder watchers. Rutland County’s thirty-seventh Christmas Bird Count was now history and part of the national record that going back one hundred and ten years (this being the one hundred and eleventh national annual count).

Here are the numbers (bold indicates species with numerical highs, along with previous high):

Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 Cooper’s Hawk 5 Red-tailed Hawk 24 Rough-legged Hawk 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 Ruffed Grouse 3 Wild Turkey 206 Rock Pigeon 364 Mourning Dove 474 Barred Owl 7 [6] Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-Bellied Woodpecker 5 [4] Downy Woodpecker 59 Hairy Woodpecker 35 Pileated Woodpecker 16 [12] Horned Lark 4 Blue Jay 261

American Crow 1,345 Common Raven 41 [25] Black-capped Chickadee 1,065 Tufted Titmouse 118 Red-breasted Nuthatch 72 White-breasted Nuthatch 140 Brown Creeper 11 Carolina Wren 15 [6] Golden-crowned Kinglet 14 Eastern Bluebird 36 American Robin 25 Bohemian Waxwing 798 [250] Great blue Heron 1 Canada Goose 571 American Black Duck 61 Mallard 318 Common Merganser 10

Cedar Waxwing 88 European Starling 1,465 Northern Cardinal 116 American Tree Sparrow 228 Song Sparrow 4 White-throated Sparrow 9 Slate-colored Junco 159 Snow Bunting 165 Red-winged Blackbird 6 Rusty Blackbird 4 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 Purple Finch 7 House Finch 221 Common Redpoll 87 Pine Siskin 3 American Goldfinch 187 House Sparrow 399

Christmas Bird Count-January 2

Red-breasted NuthatchThe catch phrase "think globally, act locally," may well apply to the annual Christmas Bird Count phenomenon now in its 111th year at the global level and the 37th year at the local level. The numbers are really quite staggering now that the count has expanded beyond the USA and Canada. Last year 2,160 counts involved 60,753 volunteers, who tallied over 56 million birds representing 2,300 species. While dwarfed by all those numbers, Rutland County's contribution amounted to 6,333 individual birds, representing 43 species, tallied by 28 volunteers. Incidentally, those numbers were well below average, something we hope to address this year with your help!

Since the results of this mammoth "citizen science" exercise form the basis of serious research, certain protocols need to be followed throughout. The count circle, 15 miles in diameter, once described, cannot be changed from year to year. The window of opportunity for undertaking the count is standardized to run from December 14 through January 5. Miles traveled by car and by foot are recorded as are the hours spent watching feeders. The high and low temperatures are recorded as are the winter, water, and precipitation conditions. Count compilers and organizers, while independent, tend to follow similar organizational methods of designating field teams to specific areas while feeder watchers may remain in the comfort of their homes.

This year's count is set for Sunday, January 2. The traditional potluck supper follows the day's activities when a tentative list of the sightings is compiled and highlights recounted. Rutland County Audubon participants have enjoyed the hospitality of the Proctor Library over the years and will do so again, gathering in time to kick off proceedings at 6 PM. Bring a dish to share; beverages and utensils will be provided.

For further information and/or express a desire to be part of this 37th Rutland Christmas Bird Count, contact Roy Pilcher at 775-3461 or shamwariVT@aol.com.

the Christmas Bird Count results are in!

The Rutland County Audubon Christmas Bird Count held on December 26 produced forty-three species and a total of 6,333 individual birds. This compares to a 10-year running average of 49.5 species and 9,103 individual birds.

This year family gatherings, work obligations and illness reduced the number of field teams from eight to seven, comprised of 19 observers. Dire predictions of sleet and rain did not materialize, but winds of 10 to 15 mph with gusts of 30 to 35 mph no doubt affected the numbers as birds, like us, dislike being out in bad weather.

Nevertheless, dedicated birders, plus nine feeder watchers, prevailed, completing RCAS’s 36^th annual CBC. 749 Black-capped Chickadees were seen during this year's CBCAnd, as in most years, new records were broken. The numbers of Mallard and Common Merganser set new highs with 474 and 16, respectively. Other species have established themselves as regulars on the annual list such as Red-bellied Woodpecker (1) and Carolina Wren (4). Bald Eagle made its second CBC appearance.

Other species, whose numbers are cyclical and tied to food sources, were in low numbers or absent altogether this year such as White-winged Crossbill (0), Common Redpoll (0), and Pine Siskin (1). Other species, sadly, seem to be observed in declining numbers as the years pass. For example Evening Grosbeak has not been observed since 2007 when 45 were counted. In 1983 there were a record 1,871 grosbeaks!

One bonus is Christmas Bird Count protocol which allows 142 Dark-eyed Juncos were countedspecies seen during the count week, but not the day of the count, to be included in the final tally. This year, thanks to keen eyes and a bit of extra effort, Cooper’s Hawk, Barred Owl, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Northern Shrike, and Pine Siskin were added during count week.

Stories of the day and a countdown of the day’s birds were shared that evening at the potluck supper at the Proctor Library. Good food and the camaraderie of fellow birders closed out the birding year for RCAS. 

Many thanks to Roy Pilcher for making sure the CBC happens, as he does every year, and to all the participants for their dedication to the Christmas Bird Count!

Information on past counts across the country can be found at the National Audubon website.  Once the final results are reviewed, the 2009 data will be available as well.

Hope to see you at the 2010 count!

local Christmas Bird Count set for Saturday, December 26

On Saturday, December 26, Rutland County Audubon will participate in the longest running Citizen Science survey in the world, National Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count. From Alaska to Antarctica, tens of thousands of volunteers will add a new layer to over a century of data vital to conservation. Armed with binoculars, local volunteers will join this Citizen Science initiative to count birds in a prescribed 15-mile diameter circle centered where Route 4A crosses the Otter Creek in Center Rutland. The Rutland count will be one of eighteen counts between December 14, 2009 and January 5, 2010 in Vermont. This will mark the 36th local count and the 110th national and international count. Last year the total number of Christmas Bird Counts exceeded 2,000 and over 65 million birds were tallied!

Last year the Rutland count fielded 29 observers in 8 teams who covered 25 miles on foot and 278 miles by car and along with the 8 feeder watchers tallied 10,533 individual birds (9,350 is the 10-year running average).

Scientists rely on gathered data to better understand how birds and the environment we share are faring. Just like canaries in the coal mine, birds serve as early indicators of problems that can eventually affect people and wildlife. 

The Christmas Bird Count began in 1900 when the founder of Bird-Lore (the progenitor of Audubon magazine), Frank Chapman, suggested an alternative to the “side hunt,” in which teams competed to see who could shoot the most game, including birds. Chapman proposed that people “hunt” birds only to identify, count, and record them. These “Binocular Brigades” often brave winter’s chill, ice and snow to record changes in resident bird populations and their ranges.

Traditionally the count day concludes with a potluck supper. It is a time to exchange stories and experiences and to establish a tentative list of the day's sightings. All participants and friends are welcome to meet at the Proctor Free Library at 6 o'clock. Tableware and beverages will be supplied and participants are encourages to bring their choice of a hot dish, salad or dessert.

New participants are always welcome as field observers or feeder watchers. This year new recruites are particularly welcome as several veteran particpants will be away over the holidays. Any new participants will be assigned to an experienced team leader! If interested, please give Roy a call at 775-3461.