The total number of birds found on the recent Bronx-Westchester Christmas Bird Count set a fifty-nine year low with less than 30,000 birds. Average for this count is 42,000. This was caused by an unusually warm late fall which failed to concentrate birds into the area and a gusty count day with northwest winds gusting to 35 mph, making many birds staying sheltered.
A total of 115 species were found which is about average for the count. But the count had something of a split personality. Nine species set a record for the highest number ever seen for that species but twelve common species had exceptionally low numbers (lowest quantity seen in last 20 years or more). The numbers for American Tree Sparrow set an all time low for the 88 years that this count has occurred
Low numbers were noted for Mute Swan, Ruddy Duck, Purple Sandpiper, Northern Flicker, American Crow (53 year low), Black-capped Chickadee (44 year low), Tufted Titmouse (34 year low), Cedar Waxwing, American Tree Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow (31 year low), Dark-eyed Junco (34 year low) and Northern Cardinal (28 year old).
About 100 people, a record high, participated in this year’s Christmas Count.
To see the detailed results of this count follow this link
http://www.hras.org/count/88thbw.html
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