Although Pickering experienced mixed conditions earlier in the month, a

An overall total of 154 species have been seen on the count since it

No additional species were added on this year’s CBC.  We had our

Unusual species for this year’s CBC included Greater White-fronted

Highest-ever counts were obtained for a remarkable nine species: Snow

There were two species counts which tied our highest ever tallies.

A further five species counts ranked as the second-highest ever.  These

Species showing a continuing upward trend included Wild Turkey – 130

Flocks of winter finches are always a welcome sight.  This year, we saw

Four species were seen during count week, but not found on the CBC day

The Pickering CBC was initiated by Dr. J. Murray Speirs on Jan. 2,

A warm thank-you is extended to all of the field counters and feeder

*67th Pickering CBC – December 27, 2020* We held our 67th Christmas Bird Count for Pickering on Sunday December 27, 2020. The count was sponsored by Pickering Naturalists. A total of 83 species were tallied, a new record and markedly above our ten-year average of 69.5 species. The highest count of the past decade was 77 species in 2012. This year, there were 35 field observers and 13 feeder watchers, somewhat less than our record of 51 observers in 2018. These participants tallied 32,944 individual birds, a new high, beating our old record of 31,500 in 2012. The 13 teams for this year were in the field all day, amassing 121 hours of high-quality birding time. Although Pickering experienced mixed conditions earlier in the month, a modest amount of snow fell a few days before the CBC and was still on the ground on count day. Conditions that day were generally mild. Temperatures ranged from minus 4 at sunrise up to a high of just above freezing by 2:00 pm. Overcast skies at daybreak persisted for much of the day, with a few mostly sunny breaks in mid-afternoon. Collars were turned up, though, with a nasty wind of 18 km/hr, gusting up to 30. Creeks were open and flowing, but ponds and other still waters were mostly frozen. The cool conditions kept the trails from becoming wet and mushy. While we did discover some new feeding stations, the number of empty / abandoned feeders was at times discouraging. An overall total of 154 species have been seen on the count since it began in 1949. The mathematically astute among you will notice a discrepancy between 67th count and 1949! No, Virginia, Santa did not visit here in 1995 – in fact, there was no local Christmas (Bird Count) for five whole years, right up to 1999. Rest assured that the CBC compiler received only coal in his/her stocking for those years! No additional species were added on this year’s CBC. We had our second-ever Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (the first was in 1990) and Gray Catbird (the previous one was in 1979). Unusual species for this year’s CBC included Greater White-fronted Goose – 2 (two were also seen in 2012, and 1 in 2019), Ring-necked Duck - 1 (tenth record overall, and only the third in the last decade), Hermit Thrush – 2 (11th time on count, only 3 previous records of multiple birds), and White-crowned Sparrow – 1 (tenth time on count, not seen since 2013). Highest-ever counts were obtained for a remarkable nine species: Snow Goose – 5 (all white morph, previous high was 4 in 2009), Cackling Goose – 8 (previous high was 2 in 2010), Mute Swan – 157 (previous high was 110 in 2017), Hooded Merganser – 8 (previous high was 7 in 2002), Bald Eagle – 4 (previous high was 3 in 2014), Merlin – 3 (previous high was 2 in 1964, 1994 and 2016), Red-breasted Nuthatch – 69 (an irruption year, previous high was a mere 24 in 2010), Red-winged Blackbird – 147 (more than double the previous high of 63 in 1971), and Northern Cardinal – 264 (previous record was 169 in 1976). There were two species counts which tied our highest ever tallies. These were Carolina Wren – 3 (matching the maximum set last year) and Dark-eyed Junco – 664 (equalling the old maximum found in 2005). A further five species counts ranked as the second-highest ever. These silver- medallists included Canada Goose – 21,137 (more than double the ten-year average, and approaching the record high count of 22,476 in 2012), American Wigeon – 3 (only the second record of multiple birds, and the first since 2010, but well off the maximum of 11 in 2011), Rock Pigeon – 1,090 (more than double the 10-year average of 474, but well below the maximum of 1,385 set in 1988), Cooper’s Hawk – 8 (only one off the record set last year) and Winter Wren – 3 (the record high was 5 in 1974). Species showing a continuing upward trend included Wild Turkey – 130 (close to the record high of 139 in 2013) and Red-bellied Woodpecker – 24 (slightly below the highest count of 28 in 2017). In a similar vein, House Sparrows showed at least some rebound in numbers, with a tally of 314, the highest count since 2006. Flocks of winter finches are always a welcome sight. This year, we saw Pine Grosbeak – 41 (for the first time since 2007, when 46 were seen), Common Redpoll – 355 (highest since a count of 380 in 2008) and White-winged Crossbill – 1 (only seen once in the last decade, with 5 in 2016). The most notable misses for this year’s CBC were Belted Kingfisher (seen on 8 of the last 10 counts), Rough-legged Hawk (seen on 7 of the last 10 counts), Great Blue Heron (seen on 7 of the last 10 years) and Great Horned Owl (seen on 4 of the last ten years). Species seen only in low numbers included Mallard – 597, Long-tailed Duck –101, and American Crow –139, with each of these counts representing only about half of the respective 10-year average figures. Four species were seen during count week, but not found on the CBC day itself. These elusive species were: Lesser Black-backed Gull (seen on 1 of the last 10 CBCs), Eastern Bluebird (seen on half of the last 10 CBCs), Bohemian Waxwing (seen on 2 of the last 10 CBCs) and Hoary Redpoll (not seen since 2008). Thanks to Jax & Ted Nasimok, Debra Beattie, Tim Thorington and Jean Iron for these additional observations. The Pickering CBC was initiated by Dr. J. Murray Speirs on Jan. 2, 1949. The count area extends from the shores of Lake Ontario north to the Oak Ridges moraine. It is centred at latitude 43.902 degrees north, and longitude 79.097 degrees west. The CBC area incorporates the neighbouring community of Ajax, as well as portions of Lynde Shores Conservation Area, including part of Cranberry Marsh, in Durham Region. Please visit our website at www.pickeringnaturalists.org for more information on the club. A warm thank-you is extended to all of the field counters and feeder watchers. Our sincere appreciation to: Dan Shire and Karen McKillop, who ran the Zoom wrap-up, assembled the final tallies and completed data entry; and Carolyn King, who communicated with observers and provided much additional research. This year’s compiling, including any errors, omissions, or infuriating ineptitudes, may be ascribed intirely to yours truly. Sorry for the late posting, Steve LaForest, Pickering Naturalists stevelaforest[at]hotmail.com