The 116th CBC in Wisconsin

Wisconsin has a long history of participation in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count starting in 1900.  However, for several decades, from the 1970s until 2013 the CBC was divided. Many circles chose to not submit data to Audubon because Audubon charged a fee for every participant. This all changed four years ago.  After Audubon discontinued the participation fee, WSO decided to combine efforts with Audubon.  All of the CBC results from the period the counts were separated have been entered in the Audubon database.  Today there is a single database with 116 years of historical CBC results.  This will be invaluable for identifying trends spanning more than a century.

Since the WSO only had printed records, 40 years of data had to be entered manually. With all such efforts there inevitably are data entry errors. If you see any errors in the data on the Audubon website please contact me for making corrections.

This season the weather was extraordinarily mild during the first two weeks of the count period. Many streams and lakes were open and fields were snowless.  There were many unexpected sightings throughout the state in the early counts. Individuals of species that normally would be far south of Wisconsin, in Central or South America, stayed in the state.  White-eyed Vireo, Anna’s Hummingbird, Ovenbird, Nashville Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, Summer Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak were the most astounding to remain.  Other species that migrate to southern U.S. and Mexico stayed in greater numbers than usually seen, particularly sparrows and ducks.

There is little in the popular or scientific literature that adequately explains the presence of these species in the north at this time of year.  The most common theory is that as the cold intensifies these birds will respond to their migratory instincts and finally head south.  Geoff LeBaron, the Christmas Bird Count Director of the National Audubon Society made the following remark:

“For many half-hardy species and facultative migrants, they only move southward in the fall as conditions require.  This includes many species that need either open water, wetlands, or fields/grasslands.  When the conditions remain mild during some falls and early winters, these birds are likely to remain far northward of their “usual” (or at least formerly usual) regions.”

In an intriguing posting on Wisbirdn, Wisconsin naturalist Bill Volkert offered another possibility.  He posits that if these birds have a failed migratory instinct or are sick and will not depart when the weather turns cold, rather they will perish. The reason we found them in higher numbers this year is they remained alive longer in the mild weather instead of dying off in November.

“Since birds react to the shortening of the days as a stimulus for migration, I would assume that those birds that fail to migrate either are suffering from some sort of genetic or behavioral defect and don't get the signal to depart, or have some degree of compromised health that doesn't allow them to take off even if they know they should.  I am quite sure that there is a very small proportion of birds each year that don't depart in fall and remain here into late fall or early winter.  However, if they aren't ready to migrate when conditions are ideal, I doubt that they take off later in the season and are just hanging on for as long as they can until fate catches up with them.

In a year like this I believe that these failed migrants simply survived longer and are now being found and counted on Christmas Bird Counts.  As insectivores these species aren't drawn to bird feeders so the average homeowner won't be observing them in their backyard and it requires some time and effort in the field to actually sight them, which is just  what the CBC encourages so many people to do.  With the recent change in the weather over the past few days to a real winter season I am sure that most if not all of these birds will not make it for long, but this unusually warm stretch of weather has allowed these unfortunate individual to survive much longer than they would in most years and long enough to be found on Christmas Bird Counts.

Perhaps both are correct and each species or family fits into one or the other explanation.  Even more fascinating are the feats of survival by the birds that overwinter.  For that I highly recommend the book by Bernd Heinrich, Winter World.

Ducks, Geese and Swans

This was an astounding year for waterfowl. Even when adjusted for effort the number of ducks of many inland species were at high levels. The table shows those species with some of the highest counts in the history of the CBC program.  In addition Red-breasted Merganser set a record with the highest total in history of the Wisconsin CBC, led by Racine with 4923.  Other sea duck numbers were average or below average.  The absence of Harlequin Duck was unusual. Only once in prior 30 years has there been a season without the Harlequin.  The open waters also kept many Tundra Swans from migrating to the Atlantic coast until later in December; our total of 4342 was the third highest on record.

Galliformes

Ruffed Grouse at 157 was a low count, continuing a long decline since the 1980s.  Ring-necked Pheasant was also low. Gray Partridge was seen on only one count, Cassville (11) an infrequency that has become the norm over the last 10 years. Likewise Northern Bobwhite was seen only on Washington Island (12). Four Chukar were seen in Pardeeville. The compiler checked for the possibility of escapes from local game farmers but did not find any in the area.  Sharp-tailed Grouse was found only in Gilman (7) and Greater Prairie-Chicken in Arpin (1). Is the turkey comeback complete? Wild Turkey continues to do very well; seen on 99 counts. Perhaps this species, after a remarkable recovery over the last 30 years since reintroduction, has reached a stable population since their numbers appear to have plateaued over the past 10 years.  The Wild Turkey leading counts were in the southeast at Hartford (535) and Riveredge (512) although high numbers were reported throughout the southern third of the state.

Raptors

Turkey Vulture was not seen at all prior to the 1970s and remained rare until the last 10 years when it has become more frequent. Five CBCs reported them, four in the southern third of the state and another in Ephraim.

Bald Eagle, another species that was formerly endangered appears to have completed its comeback. Seen on 105 counts, 2895 individuals is an all-time record by a wide margin. Certainly the open waters held more here this season but over the past six seasons our national bird has been steady around an average just under 2000.  The Golden Eagle continues to show up strong, found on 12 counts. The state total of 30 is the second highest in history. Nelson led the way at 13 and all others were seen in central and western Wisconsin but Waukesha, which came up with one of their own.

Northern Harriers had their fourth highest total ever at 251 with Collins Marsh area leading the way with 25.

Twelve Northern Goshawks were found statewide, consistent with the average of the last decade but still well below historical levels. It was more usual in the 1980s and 1990s to find upwards of 60. 

Cooper’s Hawk was seen in typical numbers with the highest count coming from Madison (18). Likewise Red-tailed Hawk and Red-Shouldered Hawk were at a level normal for the last 10 years. And Rough-legged Hawk was close to its long-term average.  On the other hand Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen at the fourth highest level ever, 99 in all, led by Madison’s seven.

Osprey are always rare (only seen eight times in prior years) but if there was an early winter which might have kept more in state this should have been it. Apparently something other than the lack of open water drives these fish-eaters south because only two were found on CBCs, one each in Sturgeon Bay and Washington Island.

Loons and Grebes

Common Loons, as with the ducks, were found in remarkable numbers. Fourteen may not sound like a lot but it is the sixth highest total in Wisconsin CBC history and continues the above average trend of the last five years. The Madison CBC, which has many large lakes, found the most, eight.  Many years there are no Red-throated Loons reported but this year’s two loons in Racine and Two Rivers marks the longest RTLO streak of five years in a row. Two Rivers also discovered the only Pacific Loon seen on CBCs in the last 18 years, this is only the second PALO ever seen on a CBC.

Horned Grebes checked out of the state early and only three remained to be found, in Burlington, Hartford, and Washington Island.  Burlington also had the most Pied-billed Grebes (6) which was more than seen statewide in most years. The total PBGR seen was 25, a 15-year high.

Rails and Cranes

Virginia Rail is reliably found in winter in the south-central area and indeed again this year the four observed were split evenly between Palmyra and Poynette. This is the lowest total in the past 10 years.

Like the ducks, American Coots were plentiful, the total of 10,276 was the fourth highest in over 100 years. This number was boosted by Madison’s 4118 and Waterloo’s 3800.

Wow, 13,222 Sandhill Cranes! The next highest total was 6010 in 1998.  Clearly the warm weather and lack of snow cover allowed cranes to hang around this year in unprecedented numbers. Whooping Cranes in December were a CBC first.  Five were found between Horicon (3), Palmyra, and Racine.

Herons, Pelican and Cormorant

Before 1992 American White Pelicans were not seen on CBCs and rarely at any time of year.  In the last 10 years they’ve been observed every year, mostly in the Fox River area. This season’s 14 is the highest ever, shared between Green Bay (9), Oshkosh, and Appleton.

Double-crested Cormorant has also been increasing in winter over the last 15 years, and the 54 this year is the sixth highest total. Like the AWPE, cormorants are concentrated in the Fox River and Green Bay topped all at 17. Outside Fox River area others were seen along Lake Michigan and at Horicon.

Weather favored the Great Blue Heron; 27 stayed for the CBC, the third highest number in history.  Most were on counts near Lake Michigan or southeastern CBCs with the most in Milwaukee (6).  La Crosse had a great find, a Black-crowned Night-Heron. Surprisingly BCNH is more often seen on CBCs than Great Egret.  It has been found 20 times while Great Egret only once. But this year a Great Egret was seen in Green Bay, for the second time ever.

Shorebirds

Oddly this was one of the few years since Killdeer were first reported in 1931 that no Killdeer were seen. This has happened only four other times in 85 years.  The reliable Wilson’s Snipe was seen on six counts, with Pardeeville and Montello tallying two each.  The best find of the season was a Red Phalarope during count week in Ashland.

Gulls

The best sighting in this family was a count week Black-legged Kittiwake in Green Bay.  Bonaparte’s Gull was in the 20^th century more frequently seen in early winter but the last 15 years they have almost disappeared.  Again, this year only one count reported them, Green Lake (14).  The 18 Glaucous Gull is below average for the last 10 years but historically is still a good total.  Prior to 1995 GLGU was never found in double digits. Menchalville (Manitowoc County) led with eight, and most others were seen in the Fox River valley, Lake Superior, or Michigan coastline, though Madison also had one.  Great Black-backed Gull was rare prior to the 1990’s but the 16 this year is about average for the last 25 years. Two Rivers had five and the rest were seen in pattern similar to GLGU.  Herring Gull was found on 56 counts, and at 24,120 individuals was the fifth highest total on record.  In 2001 the Herring Gull count doubled the average of prior years and has stayed just under 20,000 since. Like Herring, Ring-billed Gull numbers were very high; the 17,694 was the fourth highest number in history.   The only Iceland Gull was seen in Appleton.  Lesser Black-backed Gull was only first seen on CBCs in 1997 but has since become a regular; this year one each was seen at three Lake Michigan locations, Milwaukee, Pensaukee, and Racine.  Seven Thayer’s Gull were found, close to the 15-year average. Milwaukee had the most with three.

Doves

Eurasian Collared-Dove smashed the previous record of 50 in 2013 with a whopping 98 this past season. It was seen on nine counts with 50 in Poynette alone. The first year it was reported on a CBC was 2002. Mourning Dove was below the 10-year average but continues a steady increasing trend that began in the 1950s.

Owls

We saw a rush of Snowy Owls in November that portended another big year for this species but after the first early wave there was disappointment. Although 19 is still historically a strong count it was sharply lower than we’ve come to expect in recent years; Green Bay found the most with six.

La Crosse had the most diversity of owls including the state’s only Barn Owl.  Riveredge was close behind for total owls.  One hundred Barred Owl was right at the 15-year average. Riveredge’s 13 beat all. Great-Horned Owl at 212 was a downer, the lowest total since 1984. Madison had 25. On a long downward trend since the 1950’s, Long-eared Owl did nothing to change that, with a total of only six tallied in Baraboo, Green Lake, Riveredge, and Montello. Short-eared Owls seem to be on a 4-5 year cycle and after posting good numbers the last five years dipped to only six (La Crosse, Collins, and nearby Stockbridge).  Northern Saw-whet Owl set an all-time record at 41 mainly due to Baraboo’s 20.  Lastly, Eastern Screech-Owl, what is going on with this little beauty?  Only 108 were seen this year, lowest since 1983, 14 of which were in Riveredge. 

Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher at 98 is right near the 15-year average for this species which itself is a significant jump from pre-2000 numbers.  Madison with its many lakes and streams led the list with 12, although 38 other counts also recorded kingfishers.

Hummingbird

An Anna’s Hummingbird, rare in any season, hung around at Riveredge long enough to get counted in the CBC.  But this was not the first vagrant hummingbird seen on a Wisconsin CBC. In 1992 Anna’s was first seen, and in 2012 Rufous was sighted.  Apparently the Ruby-throated know when to get out when the getting is good.

Woodpeckers

This family is perhaps the hardiest across the board.  Consistently strong and increasing numbers of Hairy, Downy, Pileated, and Red-bellied are found in recent decades across the entire state.  Their preference for insect eggs makes them adaptable to frozen conditions. Typically scarce, Black-backed Woodpecker was only found on one count this year, Three Lakes. At the other extreme the Downy Woodpecker was seen on all 108 counts and marked its third highest total ever at 5652.  Madison with their many feeder watchers had 354.  Hairy was next on 107 counts and at 2254 set their fourth highest mark. Arpin was the only area without a Hairy but hey, they had the only prairie-chicken. Madison again was tops at 118. Then Red-bellied on 99 counts actually had a higher total than Hairy, 2873. This is the third highest total for Red-bellied and continues the steady upward trend over the last three decades for this species. These big hitters are followed by Pileated on 85 counts, and at 534 the third highest total and also trending up. La Crosse found 31 Pileated.  While Red-headed Woodpecker posted a decent number for recent years at 108, that is still well below its zenith in the 1980s and 90s.  The most Red-headed Woodpeckers were in Mount Horeb at 34. The most Northern Flickers were found in Waterloo, 19. The total of 22 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers is close to the 10-year average.

Falcons

Our most common falcon, American Kestrel was seen in 75 circles in typical numbers. Kickapoo Valley had 32 and Hartford close behind with 30.  When Peregrine Falcon was at its nadir due to DDT poisoning only three were seen over a 40-year period spanning from the 50s to the 80s.  In contrast this spectacular bird has numbers above 10 each of the last seven years and this year 11 were seen, most in Green Bay (4). In all there were eight in the Fox Valley plus one each in La Crosse, Milwaukee, and Racine.  Superior was fortunate to have a Gyrfalcon take up residence, feasting on a large population of Rock Pigeons all winter. It cooperated on count day. It is only the tenth year that a Gyr has been seen at all. Merlin were seen at nine locations with the high count at Shiocton (4).

Shrike

Only 124 Northern Shrikes were tallied this year, this being the lowest total since 1992. The best place to find them was Gilman (8) and nearby Medford (7).

Corvids

The glamour bird in this family is the Gray Jay. Only five were seen in 2015, Fifield (3), Clam Lake (1), and Rhinelander (1).  As noted in a recent paper in Passenger Pigeon (Vol. 78 Nu. 2), Gray Jays have been in recent decline and the results of this season are especially low. There hasn’t been a single digit count since 1970.

It is obvious to say that the American Crow is one of the most abundant birds in Wisconsin but surprisingly this past winter was a near record year; with 42,231 crows seen it was the fifth highest number in history.  While seen on all 108 counts, Mount Horeb at 1398 was most the attractive to this species. Also on every count, the Blue Jay total of 13,159 was the fourth highest ever. Ravens are holding steady but at the same time seem to be expanding their distribution as they are now being found on twice the number of counts as they were 20 years ago.

Larks

Another weak year for Horned Larks, only 1987 were seen, presumably due to the lack of snow that allows them to disperse away from roadsides.

Chickadees and Nuthatches

Black-capped Chickadee continues to be seen on all counts and in steady numbers around a 20-year average of about 26,000. For the third time in the last six years no Boreal Chickadees were reported. There hasn’t been a poor streak like this since the 1950s.

Red-breasted Nuthatch at 1475 is close to the average over the last 20 years. Herbster 71 and Minocqua 66 were the high counts with other upstate counts close behind.  The White-breasted Nuthatch hit the third highest total of all time at 6197, led by Madison at 412.

Tufted Titmouse, common in the southern US, has been steadily increasing in Wisconsin. In the 1980s CBCs averaged 75, in the 1990s the count tripled and tripled again in the 2000s. This year’s count hit 999 and there’s no indication the growth is tapering off.

Wrens

Another southern bird, the Carolina Wren, is far less common than the titmouse but is increasing, seen in and out of the CBC season. The recent 10-year average of 16 is twice the previous decade, and the 12 tallied this year is right on trend. Cassville and Palmyra had two each.

The last five years Winter Wren is on a good run, and this year’s 20 continues it. Cassville found four as did Blanchardville.  But really, wouldn’t you expect more of Winter Wrens.  Our most common wren in summer is the last wren you’d expect to find on a CBC—House Wrens have only been seen twice in 1939 and in 1994.  A Marsh Wren in count week was at Horicon Marsh.

Flycatchers

The only flycatcher found this year was an Eastern Phoebe in Two Rivers.

Kinglets

Golden-crowned Kinglets are famed for their deep winter survival skills. Fifty two different circles found 226 of them which is the ninth highest total ever. In Madison there were 21 and Kewaunee 19.  Four Ruby-crowned Kinglets were found, a typical number.

Thrushes

Increasingly over the last 15 years American Robins are staying at least into the early winter and this year’s 4918 Robins was the 7^th highest total recorded. Eastern Bluebird at 246 was down a little but like robins it has been strong for the past 15 years. Sauk City was a haven for both: 50 bluebirds and 2532 robins.

Baraboo regularly has Townsends Solitaire and again this year found three. Hermit Thrush was seen in Milwaukee (3) and Palmyra (1).

Mimids

Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, and Northern Mockingbird are seen most years but in small numbers. They are clearly not adapted in feeding habits to even mild winter conditions. This year one each was found in Ashland, Bridgeport, and Madison respectively.

Waxwings

The Bohemian Waxwing was first seen on a CBC in 1901 and has been quite erratic over the next 115 years. This year five counts discovered it, all in the far north and the largest flock was in Bayfield, 72.  On the other hand Cedar Waxwings are seen throughout the state on 66 counts but the total of 2995 was well below the 10 year average.

Longspurs and Bunting

In a snowless early December, Lapland Longspurs and Snow Buntings weren’t forced to the roadsides so the number observed was down. Both were far below average, statewide only 597 longspurs (Blanchardville 111) and 3192 buntings (Stockbridge 388).

Warblers and Vireos

Madison had perhaps the best find in the state, a White-eyed Vireo during their count week. Yellow-rumped Warblers are known to hang around into December; the 11 in Wisconsin was actually on the low end. Adding to so many extraordinary finds this season, Racine had a Common Yellowthroat (10^th time found) and topping all was Manitowoc’s Ovenbird (4^th sighting). Madison found a Nashville Warbler during their count week.

Towhee, Tanagers, Grosbeak and Cardinal

Eastern Towhee is a regular on CBCs in small numbers including this year with one in Bridgeport and one in Green Lake. The Northern Cardinal pleases every time it’s seen despite how common they have become. La Crosse’s 564 and Madison’s 591 were most delightful. A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was coming to feeders in Herbster. Based on the number in Wisconsin in summer, which would you guess is seen most often on the CBC, the Scarlet or Summer tanager? You’d be wrong! Scarlet has been seen only once on a CBC, in 1966. Summer Tanager beats that with two sightings, the second coming this year in Racine.

Sparrows

American Tree Sparrows ran up an average total, most in Cooksville (1059). Dark-eyed Junco doubled up the tree sparrow number and set a 5-year high at 33,010. Green Lake alone had 2724. Song Sparrow was down below average, but White-throated was right around its 10-year average. Eight other sparrow species were found: Chipping, Fox, White-crowned, Harris’s, Vesper, Savannah, Lincoln’s, and Field.  Field Sparrow is the species that poses the hardest identification issues, and the most rejections by the editor. 

Blackbirds

For 25 years, someone always found Brewers Blackbirds. But for three years in a row now, none.  While a very low total, at least six Rusty Blackbirds showed, as they have yearly in highly variable numbers. There were 443 Red-winged Blackbirds, a normal number, and 709 Brown-headed Cowbirds, was well above the average of the last 10 years. Three Eastern Meadowlarks was a typical number. Poynette had a Baltimore Oriole, a rare find. Common Grackles aren’t as common as they once were. From the 1970s to the 90s several hundred grackles were seen every year. But in the last decade the average has been only 75. This year there were only 33.

Finches

We all look forward to the winter finches hoping for an irruption from Canada to liven our winter birding.  Common Redpoll came in at 5058, Antigo lead with 798.  Superior had the only Hoary Redpoll. At 536 Purple Finches, it was the lowest total since 1970. In such a poor year LaFarge and Sauk City did well to find 28 each. The decline of Evening Grosbeak is well known and this year’s poor count of 101 continued the trend; Lakewood had 89. Pine Grosbeak numbers have been dismal the last three years; zero in 2013, eight in 2014, and 70 this season of which 25 were in Florence. Likewise Red Crossbill and White-winged Crossbill were weak, 48 and 12 respectively.  Even American Goldfinch was at a 15-year low.  The one bright spot was Pine Siskin. At 5012 it was above the 10-year average.