113th CBC Prairie Provinces and Northern Canada Regional Summary

By

Richard Cannings

Robert Parsons (Manitoba)

Guy Wapple (Saskatchewan)

Rainer Ebel (Alberta)

One hundred and nine counts were held in the region this year, nine more than last year—20 in Manitoba, 33 in Saskatchewan, 49 in Alberta, four in Northwest Territories, and three in Nunavut.  Four new counts came in from Alberta (Handhills, Hanna, Leduc, and Waterton Lakes National Park) and three from Saskatchewan (Broadview, Floral, and Saskatchewan River Forks).

A total of 132 species were reported:  80 in Manitoba, 80 in Saskatchewan, 114 in Alberta, 27 in Northwest Territories and five in Nunavut.  In Manitoba, Winnipeg had the most species at 54, followed by 46 at Brandon.  In Saskatchewan, Saskatoon led the way as it has for the last 11 years with 42 species, though Estevan was close behind at 41. In Alberta, the top species totals were closer than usual, with Calgary recording 65 species followed by Medicine Hat with 62 and Edmonton with 61.  In the Northwest Territories, Fort Simpson and Hay River tied for tops with 17 species, and Arviat led Nunavut with four species. 

Weather across the region was variable, temperatures ranging from 9C at Dinosaur Prov. Park, AB to -35C at Arctic Bay, NU.  Winter came early to the central prairies, with an average low temperature in Saskatchewan of -19C, 12 degrees colder than last year’s conditions; there was also significantly more snow than last year.

Waterbird numbers were down from last year due to wintry conditions.  A few swans were scattered across Alberta and Saskatchewan, with three Trumpeters at Waterton Lakes National Park Swan and two at Calgary; two Tundras at Spruce View, AB and one each at Waterton Lakes and Qu’Appelle Valley, SK.  As usual, southern Alberta counts tallied thousands of Canada Geese, with the high count at Calgary (10,475); the Saskatchewan goose count suffered from dense fog at the Estevan power plant.  Medicine Hat found the only count-day Cackling Goose; Estevan had a count-week bird.  Saskatchewan waterfowl highlights included three Gadwalls, 25 Redheads and an American White Pelican at Gardiner Dam, and a Ring-necked Duck and five Hooded Mergansers at Estevan.  Twelve Common Goldeneyes was a good total at Pinawa-Lac du Bonnet, MB.  Gardiner Dam, SK had an American White Pelican for the third year in a row, though it was just a single bird this year.

Gray Partridges were seen in good numbers with 839 on nine counts in Manitoba, 731 on 18 counts in Saskatchewan and 547 on 19 counts in Alberta; the high count was 280 at Winnipeg.  Estevan, SK counted an impressive 216 Ring-necked Pheasants.  As usual, Yellowknife, NT tallied the most Willow Ptarmigan with 148.  The only gull reported in the region was a single Ring-billed at Hanna, AB.  Eurasian Collared-Doves continue to expand both in numbers and distribution in Alberta and Saskatchewan, where 824 were seen on 26 counts, about double last year’s tally.  The species seems to be relatively static at low numbers in Manitoba, where 15 were seen on two counts. 

Snowy Owls again appeared in good numbers, the total actually surpassing last year’s excellent flight, with 170 overall (64 in Alberta, 86 in Saskatchewan and 20 in Manitoba).  Northern Hawk Owls were concentrated this year in Manitoba, where 14 were seen; Saskatchewan missed them entirely and Alberta reported eight.  Good numbers of Great Gray Owls were seen as well (Alberta 11, Saskatchewan 4, Manitoba 6).  Winnipeg birders found a single Boreal Owl, a presage of an impressive flight that occurred after the count period; the keen owlers at Edmonton found three Boreals.

A few migrants lingered into the count period, including a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Cochrane Wildlife Reserve, AB; a Red-headed Woodpecker at Oak Hammock Marsh, MB; a Yellow-rumped Warbler at Calgary, AB; single Brown Thrashers at Regina, SK and Dauphin, MB; single Chipping Sparrows at Edmonton, AB and Winnipeg, MB; a Savannah Sparrow at Denholm, SK; and a Fox Sparrow at Winnipeg.  Perhaps the biggest surprise in Manitoba was a Carolina Wren at Dauphin, this expanding species’ first foray into Western Canada Christmas counts.  A Chestnut-backed Chickadee at Hinton, AB was also unexpected.

Bohemian Waxwings poured across the Prairies (though 3 were seen in Yellowknife as well!) with over 44,000 seen; Calgary had 16,889.  Last year’s winter finch numbers were good, but this year they were close to spectacular, with sustained high numbers in Alberta and big increases in Saskatchewan and Manitoba for Pine Grosbeaks, Red and White-winged crossbills, and Evening Grosbeaks.  Large numbers of Common Redpolls were seen on almost every count in the Region, with the highest count at High River, AB (2718).