114th CBC Ohio/West Virginia/Kentucky Regional Summary

By Charles Hocevar

Ohio observers had to deal with weather issues this year. Although many Ohio CBCs enjoyed pleasant weather, several fronts came through the state and a few counts had to reschedule their efforts. Several well organized counts were forced to cancel. Although several CBCs had low temperatures in the single digits, most had fairly mild mid-day temperatures which only left them to deal with the snowfall. With this in mind Ohio observers reported far fewer lingering passerines than in recent years. There were no exceptional numbers and few unusual species recorded this season. Ohio did produce 61 Christmas Bird Counts and were supported by nearly 1700 volunteers in the field.

The only rare passerine observation came from Youngstown where a Summer Tanager was observed by experienced observers. Greater White-fronted Geese were located during count week at Hoover Reservoir while small numbers of Ross’s Geese and Cackling Geese were found statewide. Trumpeter Swans continued their expansion with over 150 individuals reported from a dozen locations. Surf Scoters were observed at Lakewood and Cleveland. White-winged Scoters were located at Ashtabula and Cleveland and during count week from an inland location in Dayton. Black Scoters were the most common scoter in the state and were recorded from a number of locations. Long-tailed Ducks were observed on five Ohio CBCs this season. Duck, geese and swan species totaled a healthy 32 species this year.

Ruffed Grouse were observed at only Cadiz and Chandlersville and nearly 1100 Wild Turkeys were reported. Northern Bobwhite made a small recovery with the species recorded from four Ohio locations. A wayward Great Egret remained in the Gypsum area for this count while nearly 100 Black-crowned Night-Herons were located statewide. More than 500 Bald Eagles remained and were tallied statewide. Twenty-three Peregrine Falcons were available for observation on 13 Ohio counts. Gulls and owls were found in good numbers and variety as well as Northern Shrike which included 13 individuals on a dozen counts.  Sandhill Cranes were easily found on ten counts including nearly 500 individuals. Individual Dunlin lingered at Hamilton-Fairfield and at Ashtabula. Ten Tree Swallows remained in Toledo and the wayward Common Raven was again reported during count week at Mohican State Forest. Yellow-rumped, and small numbers of Palm and Pine warblers were located, however the only observation of Common Yellowthroat came from Ragersville. Vesper Sparrow was absent from Ohio this winter on count day but was seem during count week at Ashland.

A noteworthy report, supported by a dramatic photo, was that of a Le Conte’s Sparrow on the Cleveland CBC. Another noteworthy observation was that of a Yellow-headed Blackbird found during count week on the Quail-Hollow-Hartville CBC. Lapland Longspur and Snow Buntings appropriately were everywhere with over 9400 and 1000 individuals noted respectively. Observations of Brewer’s Blackbird came from Wilmot and Ottawa N.W.R., both of single birds. Winter finches were absent with only a few reports of Pine Siskin and two records of Common Redpoll.

As far as the overall results of this year’s efforts in the field Ohio, participants tallied 154 species on count day. Toledo and Cincinnati led this effort with species totals of 95 and 93 respectively.

In my 30 years of editing West Virginia Christmas Counts this one was as uneventful as they come. There was a little foul weather which required moving count days, but the number of species, the number of individuals and the rarity of those observed were normal. The only really rare observation came from Pendleton County where a Swainson’s Hawk was reported. The detail for this observation was not submitted to this writer, but I am told was received by the West Virginia records committee for their judgment. West Virginia participants numbered 322 individuals in the field on nineteen counts and observed 124 species statewide.

Temperatures on count day varied widely with several locations having highs in the low 70s, and yet Canaan and Inwood recorded temperatures of four below zero.

Waterfowl observations included a Trumpeter Swan during count week in Morgantown. Individual Cackling Geese were located at Morgantown and Inwood. Eight Tundra Swans were recorded on two separate West Virginia counts, and overall on count days 22 species of waterfowl were located. Ruffed Grouse were found at four locations and Wild Turkeys were common. Double-crested Cormorant and Common Loon were each observed on three West Virginia counts, 66 Bald Eagles and a half a dozen Golden Eagles were located in as many count areas. One Peregrine Falcon was observed in Parkersburg, and Charles Town had the state’s lone observations of single Bonaparte’s Gull, Virginia Rail, and Fish Crow.

Five Barn Owls were located all at Mooresfield while a Long-eared Owl was observed at Ona. In recent years we have had a few reports of Loggerhead Shrike and this year Lewisburg and Pocahantas County each found single birds. The most unusual passerine of this count period was the report of a well-documented White-eyed Vireo at Morgantown. Other lingering species such as House Wren, Brown Thrasher, Gray Catbird, and Pine and Palm warblers were recorded sparingly. Lapland Longspur was observed during count week at Morgantown. This was not a finch incursion year but 40 Red Crossbills were located on the Pocahontas County CBC, a record of a lone Pine Siskin at Canaan was the only record of that species this season.

Charles Town’s 86 species was the highest total in the state this season with Morgantown following at 81. Hampshire County rounded up the most field observers with 39 participants while the Inwood CBC provided the most party hours.

The 114^th CBC was a very uneventful season in Kentucky from the standpoint of unusual observations or unusual numbers of species or individuals. Unlike its neighboring states in this region Kentucky did not have the violent weather associated with its neighbors. All of the state’s CBCs had daily count day temperatures above freezing except for Louisville which had a high of 31 degrees. In total, 238 volunteers took to the field on 17 counts this season in Kentucky and recorded 131 species on count days.

There were interesting observations but few truly unusual reports. There was an observation of an Indigo Bunting at Somerset, but it lacked any supporting detail or documentation. Other observations included Greater White-fronted Geese and Snow Geese on three Kentucky counts. Cackling Geese were reported from the Land Between the lakes area. Several observations were turned in for Black Scoters which occurred in Ashland, Louisville, and during count week at East Allen County. Kentucky’s only record of Long-tailed Duck came from the Land Between the Lakes count and the total species of ducks, swans, and geese observed this season in Kentucky was 25.

White Pelicans were found in good numbers at Callaway County and Land Between the Lakes. Black-crowned Night-Herons were observed on several counts on count day as well as well as several count week observations. Bald Eagles were distributed widely with 70 individuals being reported from 12 locations. Merlins were found in small numbers and five Peregrine Falcons were located on four separate Kentucky CBCs. Least Sandpiper was observed this season in three individual count areas as well as another count week report. Eleven Forster’s Terns were observed in Calloway County as well as during count week at Land Between the Lakes. Eurasian Collared-Dove observations came from four Kentucky locations.

Barred Owl and Short-eared Owl observations were noted from several locations and a Selasphorus hummingbird was recorded in Somerset. Over a dozen Loggerhead Shrikes were found this year and the state‘s only observation on count day of a Gray Catbird came from Daviess County. Yellow-rumped, Pine, and Palm warbler observations were normal and the only sightings of wood-warblers reported. A record of a Lincoln’s Sparrow at Elkton and a Brewer’s Blackbird at Wayne County represented the only count day records for these species. Winter finches were mostly absent, however Red Crossbills were found count week at Lincoln’s Birthplace and a few Pine Siskins were located of the Land Between the Lakes CBC on the day of that count.

The Land Between the Lakes CBC tallied the highest species total this season with 98. Daviess County followed with 91 while Lexington organized the largest group of field observers with 39.

On a personal note, this writer will finally step down from this position after thirty-some years in order to infuse some young aggressive blood into this effort, but it is fun to recall many of the significant changes that have occurred during this period. The artificial introduction into the region’s wildlife has occurred dramatically with the accidental or purposeful increase in the numbers of Wild Turkey, Trumpeter Swans, and House Finch. Thirty-five years ago if you were lucky and persistent you might find a flock of Wild Turkey in the Hocking Hills. We marveled as House Finches were starting to share our feeders. The most dramatic change came from the banning of pesticides and the continual increases in the numbers of Bald Eagles, cormorants, Ospreys, and even bluebirds. Whereas during that period there were a few eagles remaining trying to breed in Northwest Ohio today we report over 500 individuals statewide. There was also a time when Black Vulture was in a very limited range in Southeast Ohio. Then there are the strange changes like Eurasian Collared-Doves, many more Selasphorus hummingbirds, and increased numbers of Sandhill Crane, Peregrine Falcon, and Lesser Black-backed Gull. There have been many negative changes with species like Loggerhead Shrike, Northern Bobwhite, and the status of Evening Grosbeaks. But, lastly and most important to my memories is the help, the hard work and the friendship of so many compilers and friends that I will miss my contact with. Best wishes.