114th CBC Iowa Regional Summary

By Chris Caster

The 2013-2014 CBC included 29 counts from Iowa. Keokuk (93) and Davenport (90) were the high counts during an unusually cold count season. No other counts topped 80 species. Other high counts included Princeton, Muscatine, and Saylorville (79), Burlington (78), Clinton (76), and Ames (75). Decorah (61) led the northern counts. The species count this season was 137, which is our average. Open water was hard to find and snow was a factor in nearly all counts. Not surprisingly, waterfowl numbers were low. However it was a great year for frugiverous species and good also for sparrows and icterids.

Very surprising were the Eastern Phoebes that showed up at Green Island, Clinton, and Keokuk. Snowy Owls turned up at far corners. One was at Spirit Lake, two more at Keokuk, and a count week bird was at Shenandoah. A Townsend’s Solitaire and a Vesper Sparrow were at Saylorville. A Blue-winged Teal was at Keokuk, the second straight year for them. The only Red Crossbill was at Lost Nation. A Chipping Sparrow was a count week bird for Decorah.

The most notable miss was Glaucous Gull, just the second time in at least 25 years. And once again, Ruffed Grouse was not found at either Decorah or Yellow River Forest. 

Trumpeter Swans were in record numbers and Canada Geese wintered well. Even Cackling Geese maintained a presence. Mallards were the only dabblers in large numbers. Common Goldeneyes were found in record numbers, but normally abundant Canvasbacks were only a quarter of their average. There was a record ten Long-tailed Ducks on three counts. 

American White Pelicans were in near record numbers. Gulls were scarce this year, but five Lesser Black-backed Gulls were exciting. Wild Turkeys were the only gallinaceous birds to have good tallies. Bald Eagles were found in record numbers. Rough-legged Hawks were about double their average and Merlins were at near record numbers. Peregrines were at Davenport and Burlington. A Northern Goshawk was at Yellow River Forest.

Eastern Screech-Owls were found in very good numbers and the other owls were well counted.  Woodpeckers were plentiful, and Red-headed Woodpeckers were found in record numbers. Northern Shrikes were in good numbers with six at De Soto N.W.R. A Loggerhead Shrike was at Shenandoah. Red-breasted Nuthatches were not numerous, and Carolina Wrens counted well despite the cold.  Golden-crowned Kinglets had their best count in over a decade while Ruby-crowned Kinglets were on four counts. Eastern Bluebirds and Hermit Thrushes were in record numbers for the second straight year. Gray Catbirds were at Burlington and Rathbun.  Northern Mockingbirds were at Green Island, Keokuk, and Rathbun. Four Brown Thrashers were at Jamaica and another was at Ames. Cedar Waxwings and Yellow-rumped Warblers were tallied in record numbers.

Lapland Longspurs were found in record numbers and Horned Larks had their best count in over a decade; Snow Buntings were common also. Eleven Spotted Towhees were found with six at De Soto N.W.R. and three at Sioux City. Eastern Towhees were at Davenport, De Soto N.W.R., and Boone County. Fox and White-crowned sparrows were in record numbers. Red-winged Blackbirds had their best count in 20 years and Rustys had their best year in ten. Common Grackles were in record numbers. Two Brewer’s Blackbirds were at Rathbun. Only three Common Redpolls were reported between Decorah and Boone County. Pine Siskins were uncommon. Eurasian Tree Sparrows were again at record numbers and continue their expansion north to Clinton and west to North Linn.