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The 118th CBC in Arkansas
Weather is always a factor on Christmas Bird Counts, but this year was the mildest in 12 years. Only 14 percent of the counts were moderately impacted by wind or rain and none were severely impacted by weather.
The best number of species occurred 12/19-12/24. The best number of individuals occurred 12/14-12/18. Statewide-total number of individuals (2,664,105) was 193 percent above the ten year average. The best number of species occurred in the Ouachita Mountains eco-region, followed by the South Central/West Gulf Coastal Plain. The best number of individuals occurred in the Arkansas River Valley eco-region, followed by the Grand Prairie and the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain. Little Rock had the most individuals (2,012,888), of which 2 million were in an impressive flock of Common Grackles.
In Arkansas 28 counts were submitted with 12 counts having more than 90 species. Usually the high species count averages 118, so 116 at Holla Bend N.W.R. was 2% below normal. Little Rock had the most new or unusual species (6) and Mississippi River S.P. had the most species high counts (20). Big Lake N.W.R and North Fork Illinois Bayou set new species highs of (93 and 81), respectively. Holla Bend N.W.R. had the most hours (83.1) and Fayetteville had the most observers (51). The total of 172 species statewide was six species above average and set a new 65 year record.
The numbers for the following bird highlights are normalized by party hours. In the broad groups, Geese were 348% above average (11th year in-a-row above 200%); Semi-hardy waterbirds 256% (Fourth year in-a-row above 200%); and Gulls at 274% (Second year in-a-row above 200%). Blackbirds were 72% below average (For the sixth year in-a-row below -70%); Frugivores -93% (For the fourth year in-a-row below -90%); and Upland game-birds -48% (A general decline since the 1980’s with cyclic highs and lows within the decline.)
Setting new 65-year highs were Greater White-fronted Goose (4th record high in seven years); Common Loon; Merlin (2nd record high in four years); Red-bellied Woodpecker (4th record high in-a-row); Blue-headed Vireo; Sedge Wren; Cedar Waxwing (2nd record high in four years) and White-throated Sparrow.
Blue-winged Teal was 390 percent above average and had their best flight in 40 years; American White Pelican was 502% above average and has had strong flights for the last three years; Great Horned Owl was 115% above average and had the best flight in 21 years; Red-headed Woodpecker was 63% above average and had the best flight in 15 years; Brown-headed Nuthatch was 28% above average and had the best flight in 30 years; Dark-eyed Junco was 45% above average and had the best flight in 11 years; and Common Grackle was -27% below average but had their best showing in 30 years.
Meanwhile, 65-year lows were set by Loggerhead Shrike (for the fourth time in eight years.)
American Coot was 31% below average and had their worst flight in 12 years; Bewick’s Wren was 90% below average, with lower numbers for the last 23 years (now averaging only two birds per year, statewide); Red-winged Blackbird was 99% below average and had their worst numbers in 17 years, and Brown-headed Cowbird was 98% below average and had their worst flight in 19 years.
Eurasian Collared-Dove has had three record high years, followed by four years of declining numbers.
Chipping Sparrow was 113% above average with three record setting years followed by a 39% decline in one year.
Common Merganser, Western Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, and Forster’s Tern were the regularly occurring species that were missed.
Species found only on one count included Lesser Yellowlegs, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Dickcissel (Arkadelphia); Grasshopper Sparrow (Bayou DeView); Gray Catbird (Conway); Rufous Hummingbird (Crooked Creek Valley); Sora, White-winged Dove, and Smith’s Longspur (Fort Smith/ Moffett); Trumpeter Swan and Peregrine Falcon (Holla Bend N.W.R.); American Black Duck (Jonesboro); Long-tailed Duck and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Lake Dardanelle); Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Spotted Towhee (Lake Georgia Pacific-Felsenthal N.W.R.); Bewick’s Wren (Little Rock); Black-crowned Night-Heron (Lonoke); Townsend’s Solitaire (Mount Magazine); Broad-winged Hawk (North Fork Illinois Bayou); “Harlan’s” Red-tailed Hawk (Pine Bluff); Anhinga, White Ibis, Inca Dove, and Great-tailed Grackle (Texarkana); Louisiana Waterthrush (Village Creek S.P.); and Red-breasted Merganser (Wapanocca N.W.R.).
The bird of-the-year was a photographed Louisiana Waterthrush, at Village Creek S.P. For only the species second Arkansas CBC appearance in 65 years.
This year’s sponsors included the Audubon Society of Central AR, Buffalo River Partners Inc., the City of Hot Springs, The Disorganized Bird Club, Felsenthal N.W.R. and Friends of Felsenthal N.W.R., Friends of Holla Bend N.W.R., Garland County Audubon, Holla Bend N.W.R., Hot Springs N.P., Hot Springs Village Audubon, Lake Catherine S.P., Lake Ouachita S.P., Mississippi River S.P., Mount Magazine S.P., North Central AR Audubon Society, NorthWest AR Audubon Society, Ouachita-Caddo Bird Club, Ozark-St. Francis N.Fs., Tenn. Ornithological Society, Texarkana Audubon Society, and Three Rivers Audubon Society.
It can never be said frequently enough: All the compilers, co-compilers and volunteers deserve a big “THANK YOU” for your hard work!