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Counting birds: Enumerators encountered soggy mess during annual event

Photo courtesy of Mike and Laura Jackson Counters spotted the merlin, a sighting that has occurred only seven times in their 48-count history. This small raptor prefers to nest near water and preys mainly on birds. It used to be known as a “pigeon hawk.”

The weather was miserable for the latest Juniata Valley Audubon Society bird count, compelling the feathered creatures to hide from the volunteer enumerators.

But the results showed the continuing trend of finding more non-native than native birds in Blair County, according to Laura Jackson, society president.

“Last year’s windy day was challenging, as birds don’t fly much when it rains or is windy, but at least we counted 67 species last year, compared to this year’s low count of 51 species,” according to Jackson, who compiled the report along with her husband, Mike.

In all, only 3,602 individual birds were counted, compared with more than 5,000 last year, she said.

The count is officially known as the Culp Christmas Bird Count Circle in Blair County.

It was the 48th Christmas Bird Count (CBC) sponsored by the JVAS under the direction of the national society.

Jackson said that two-thirds, or 2,160, of the birds counted were European starlings, a non-native species “that competes with our native birds for food and nesting sites.” Along with two other introduced species — house sparrows, which numbered 132, and rock pigeons, at 117 — non-natives accounted for the top three sightings, she said.

Starlings, in particular, are unwelcome because they can be fairly aggressive, often traveling in large flocks and taking over backyard feeders. They were imported to the United States in the 19th century when the head of the “American Acclimatization Society” for European settlers wanted to introduce all birds ever uttered in the works of William Shakespeare. Starling was mentioned in his “Henry IV.”

This year’s bird count originally was scheduled for Dec. 17 — generally the Saturday before Christmas. But icy roads pushed it to Jan. 3, which turned out to be “a cold, rainy day that kept birds at home, hunkered down in any cover they could find,” Jackson said.

“Waterfowl were in short supply since Canoe Lake and many ponds were frozen,” she said.

Only nine Canada geese were counted, compared to a high count of 484 in 2008, she said. But 10 tundra swans were seen, something of a surprise since they have only been observed during 14 of the 48 counts done in the local society’s history.

“The open water in Mary Ann’s Creek in Canoe Creek State Park did provide some fishing opportunities for belted kingfishers and a great blue heron, while the Little Juniata River attracted a greater scaup, but other waterfowl were in short supply or downright missing,” she said.

The steady rain prevented raptors from flying, but counters did spot two bald eagles, one northern harrier, one sharp-shinned hawk and four Cooper’s hawks, according to Jackson. She said 12 red-tailed hawks, the area’s largest raptor, and five American kestrels, the area’s smallest, were spotted.

“One golden moment for the day was the sighting of a merlin for just the seventh time in our count history,” Jackson said. “Sinking Valley, with its broad vistas and farm fields, is a good habitat for birds of prey, as well as for the gallinaceous birds,” such as the five wild turkeys and 22 ring-necked pheasants counted.

“Sadly, our state bird, the ruffed grouse, is in decline,” according to Jackson.

Only two were found this year, compared with 31 that were recorded in 1987, but still one more than last year.

The horned lark, a common visitor to Sinking Valley, could not be found on the day of the count, although some were found that week, she said.

Common “winter birds” in the fields and at feeders included: dark-eyed Juncos (84), white-throated sparrows (94), northern cardinals (102), white-breasted nuthatches (34), black-capped chickadees (77) and blue jays (74).

“The relatively mild winter meant that many birds which might be scarce during cold winters were present,” she said. That included 19 eastern bluebirds, 10 Carolina wrens, five northern mockingbirds, but only one American robin and 790 of those were counted in 1998.

Jackson said completely covering the count circle is challenging. It is centered at Culp, a crossroads in Sinking Valley, and extends 15 miles out in diameter. This year, 20 volunteers spent a cumulative 35 hours looking for birds while driving roads, hiking fields and forests or simply counting at backyard feeders.

“Although we had slightly more counters this year (compared to last), we had fewer observers in the field, so our effort was greatly reduced,” she said.

John Orr, who founded the Juniata Valley Audubon Society in 1969, spent 10 hours with friend George Mahon in a “rainy, soggy mess.”

“Still it was a great bit of fun and, as always, a very focused, serious search,” he said. “It is an annual, non-competitive birding challenge in any sort of weather.”

Jackson said the data collected will be used by the National Audubon Society, as well as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for long-range studies of bird populations.

She said birders who are interested in joining the count later this year may call her at (814) 652-9268 to be added to the list.

“If you live in the count circle, you could count birds at your feeder and on your property,” she said. “Otherwise, expect to spend part of a day on an exciting adventure exploring parts of Blair County.”

Mirror Staff Writer Cherie Hicks is at 949-7030.

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