The 125th Christmas Bird Count in Iowa

The 2024-2025 CBC included 35 Iowa counts reporting to Audubon.  Weather conditions during the counting period were mild.  Rain, fog and icy roads hindered counts during the first weekend. Counts in the northwest on the 21st reported single digit lows, but similar temps did not again occur until Jan 3rd.  Just eight counts reported any snow cover.  The heaviest was 4 inches at Yellow River Forest on the 19th.  Six counts on the 28th reported highs of fifty degrees or more.  The total species count was 139, which is four species below the state average.  Davenport and Saylorville had high counts with 94 species.  Other high counts were Muscatine (92) and Keokuk (88).  DeSoto NWR (79) led the western counts.  NW Clayton County (62) led the northern counts

Seventeen regular species were found in record numbers.  Frugivores, sparrows and icterids had excellent counts.  Gallinaceous birds, raptors, owls, and woodpeckers were also in good numbers.  Waterfowl and gull numbers were relatively reduced with just a few exceptions.  Over two thousand Tundra Swans were at Clinton and Princeton.  Over five thousand Trumpeters were present statewide.  Canada Geese approached average numbers, but the other geese counted poorly.  Mallards were the only dabblers found in good numbers.  Common Goldeneye happened to be in record numbers and Greater Scaup were at their average, but the other diving ducks had only modest showings.  Even Canvasbacks were well off their average.  Mergansers were exceptional though.  Hooded Mergansers had a record count for the second straight year. Common Mergansers had their second highest count ever.  Red-breasted Mergansers had their best count in over twenty years.  Single Surf Scoters were at Davenport and Keokuk.  A Black Scoter was at Spirit Lake.  Long-tailed Ducks were on five counts.  A Pied-billed Grebe was at Spirit Lake and two Horned Grebes were at Davenport.  No loons were reported.   Northern Bobwhite, Wild Turkeys, and Ring-necked Pheasants had average counts.  Twenty-two bobwhites at Dallas County were notable.  Gray Partridges were reported from Mason City and Buchanan County. The only Ruffed Grouse was at SE Clayton County.  Double-crested Cormorants and Am. White Pelicans were in record numbers along the Mississippi and at Red Rock. Sandhill Cranes were nearly all at Clinton. Wilson Snipes had their best count in fifteen years.  Ring-billed and Herring Gulls were in relatively modest numbers.  Iceland Gulls were on four counts and Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on three.  Northern Harriers established a new high count.  Accipiters were in average numbers. The only Am. Goshawk was at Mason City. Golden Eagles were on five counts.  Bald Eagles counted extremely well. Red-shouldered Hawks neared their record high.  Red-tailed Hawks did not count particularly well and Rough-legged Hawks were off their average.  American Kestrels were plentiful, and Merlin approached record numbers.  Peregrine Falcons were four counts.  The regular owls were in average numbers although it was a near-record count for Barred Owls. The only Snowy Owl was a count-week bird at Iowa City.  Red-headed, Red-bellied, and Downy Woodpeckers all had good counts.  Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, and Northern Flickers all neared record counts.  Pileated Woodpeckers were in record numbers.  Northern Shrikes were average.  Loggerhead Shrikes were at DeSoto and two other southwestern counts.  Blue Jays counted well, but Am. Crows had their lowest count in seven.  Horned Larks, Lapland Longspurs and Snow Buntings were all difficult to find.  The same was true for Red-breasted Nuthatches.  It was a typical count for White-breasted Nuthatches whose numbers seem to vary little from count to count.  Black-capped Chickadees and Tufted Titmice were somewhat off their averages.  Brown Creepers, Winter Wrens, and Golden-crowned Kinglets all had record counts.  It was a good count for Carolina Wrens.  A Marsh Wren was at Princeton.  Ruby-crowned Kinglets were on nine counts.  Cedar Waxwings were in average numbers.  For a second straight year, Eastern Bluebirds set a new high.  Hermit Thrushes and Am. Robins counted well.  Northern Mockingbirds and Gray Catbirds were on three counts.  Brown Thrashers were on five counts.  Gray Catbirds were on two.  European Starlings appear to be doing exceedingly well in Iowa. This season, Yellow-rumped Warblers counted relatively well also.  House and Purple Finches had excellent counts.  Am. Goldfinches had a fair count, but Pine Siskins were scarce.  Red Crossbills were on three northeast counts.  Redpolls were at Yellow River Forest and Green Island.  Towhees had an exceptional year, including six Eastern at Lost Nation and seven Spotted at DeSoto NWR.  It was also a good year for Fox Sparrows.  Am. Tree Sparrows were in above-average numbers, while Dark-eyed Juncos were more typical. White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows had record counts.  Harris Sparrows and Song Sparrows also counted well.  Swamp Sparrows had their lowest count in fourteen.  Lincoln Sparrows had one of their better counts as had Field Sparrows. Unprecedented numbers of Savannah Sparrows were reported.  Eastern and Western Meadowlarks combined set a new high.  Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles were found in large numbers.  Brown-headed Cowbirds were in record numbers.  Rusty Blackbird numbers were typical, but sixty were at Dallas County.  Brewer’s Blackbirds were on three counts.  Eurasian Tree Sparrows continue their expansion north to Mason City and west to Ringgold County.

Unfortunately, Ringgold County does not submit to the NAS.  This count produced the best bird this season.  Documentation was accepted by the IOU Records Committee for a count week Golden-crowned Sparrow.  Ringgold County also reported a Barn Owl which is rare anytime in Iowa.  It also had an Indigo Bunting and the only Prairie Falcon on the count this year.  Equally exciting was a Barrow’s Goldeneye at Keokuk.  Pool 19 on the Mississippi River above Keokuk annually hosts ten’s of thousands of waterfowl during December and will often produce a rarity for anyone with the patience to sort through them all.  Keokuk also reported twenty-four Turkey Vultures in two groups, one in Missouri and the other in Illinois.  Iowa City added another Turkey Vulture.  Lastly, a Great-tailed Grackle was on the Jamaica count.