113th CBC Ontario Regional Summary

By Sarah Rupert

A total of 110 Christmas Bird Count Circles reported from Ontario. The Ear Falls count is included again this year after a short absence. 

A total of 3050 observers were present in the field this season, with an additional 1164 individuals at feeders, both up from last year. Many compilers noted that warmer weather brought out more people to counts and in areas where severe weather was noted on the count day, feeders became the primary location for counting. The observers logged a total of 67,397 party-kms and 7508 party-hours. Owling was conducted in 54 count circles this year, with 3829 kms (2393 miles) and 403 hours logged. A total of 185 species (plus 5 count-week species) and 1,516,553 individual birds were recorded.

Counts on the Great Lakes were the most productive as usual, with most of the counts reporting open water. Long Point tallied 112 species, followed by Kingston (108) and Blenheim (107). Other counts in this part of province had totals in the high nineties: Hamilton (99); Toronto (98); Point Pelee (97); and Oshawa (95).  Most other counts recorded average numbers of species (averaging between 50-65 species). Pickle Lake had the least number of species again this year (10).

Fall months saw large irruptions of several species of birds, including Red-breastedNuthatch, White-winged Crossbill, Pine Siskin, and Evening Grosbeak.  Some of these species lingered into the Christmas Bird Count period, while others, like Pine Siskin, were notably absent from many counts this year.  A push of redpolls into the south also resulted in much higher than average numbers reported and the presence ofHoary Redpoll as a new or unusual species on many counts. Bohemian Waxwings were also present in the province in good numbers and continued to be reported in many southern locations into the spring.

It was also an excellent year for white-winged gulls, especially on the southern Great Lakes, with many more Iceland and Glaucous gulls reported in the 113^th period than in recent years. In sharp contrast to last season, both Northern Hawk Owls and Great Gray Owls were present in very good numbers this year. In addition, Barred Owls were more widespread, being noted even in southwestern Ontario (West Elgin), where they are rarely found.

There was a great diversity of waterfowl on many counts this year, as there was much more open water available. While not a record number, there were 84,991 Greater Scaup tallied, 70% of which were found on a single count (Point Pelee – 60,200). Greater White-fronted Geese were also found on several counts this year, including well-photographed individuals at Pickering (2), a trend that was noted along the southern Great Lakes the rest of the winter.

Red-bellied Woodpeckers continue to show a winter range expansion and to be reported as new species on counts, especially in Eastern Ontario. Northern Cardinals also continue to be found farther north each year, most associated with bird feeding stations. Bald Eagle numbers were high in the northern part of the province where Thunder Bay recorded 206. Merlins were found more frequently, with a total of 55 individuals noted this year, many in areas farther north and east than they have been traditionally reported. Black Vultures (7) were reported from the same roost site in Niagara Falls for the third consecutive year.

A surprising group of songbirds was located in a 100-m section of a small ravine in the Peel-Halton Circle, with five species of warbler and one kinglet discovered and photographed (Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Orange-crowned, Yellow-rumped, Nashville, Cape May, and Bay-breasted warblers).

Thanks go to all the compilers for their dedicated work and to all those who supplied excellent (and sometimes entertaining) documentation of your counts.  I’m looking forward to seeing what warblers show up on the 114^th count.

Good Birding!