TOLEDO AREA CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS

Feeder-watch page

Toledo Christmas Bird Count

Compiler: Matt Anderson

First Count: 1927

Past Results (Audubon database)

NW Ohio CBC Results

Toledo CBC - Sunday, December 19th

The Toledo CBC participants set an all time record of 99 species! Once again, Toledo leads the state with the most species tallied on a CBC. Just days before, the Millersburg CBC in Amish Country beat our previous all time record of 96 species with a total of 97 species. Congratulations to them for an awesome total!

The original total at the countdown at Tony Packos was 95, which tied our total from last year and only one shy of our all time record of 96 the in 2007 & 2008. After some careful review of our lists, Matt Anderson noticed he forgot to check off the Field Sparrow that he saw earlier that day at the Bayshore Edison property. Jerry Klug was out that same evening at Pearson Park adding a Long-eared Owl to our list. The following day Tundra Swans and a Pheasant were added to our list by a local hunter who was out during the Christmas Bird Count within our count circle. This increased our total to 99 species!

While no super rare species were found, there were plenty of good birds including Long-tailed duck, Wild turkeys, Long-eared and Northern saw-whet owls, Northern shrike, Gray catbird, Lincoln’s sparrows, and Common redpolls. Count week birds include a Surf scoter and, believe it or not, an American white pelican!

Misses include Snow Goose, Green-winged Teal, and Wood Duck.

A big thanks and congratulations to all those who participated!

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Grand Rapids - Waterville CBC - Sunday, January 2nd

The GRWA Christmas count totaled 83 species, just off the record of 84 set last year. No extraordinary birds were found, but the 40 observers discovered some good stuff: Lincoln's sparrow (1st ever for the count); Cackling geese; 6 species of owls including Long-eared and Saw-whet in 2 spots each, and Short-eared; 2nd ever Greater scaup for the count; Merlin; and a couple of Chipping sparrows.

A few more comments about the count: Eastern bluebirds continue to increase as wintering birds, especially in the Oak Openings part of the count circle; 257 were found this year compared with 219 last year.  This is impressive considering the bird was not recorded on the count before 1983, not in double digits until 1992, and not in triple digits until 2008!  Other species found in all-time high numbers were Cackling goose (4), Greater scaup (2), Red-shouldered hawk (18), Short-eared owl (2), Belted kingfisher (13), Downy woodpecker (272), Northern flicker (63), Blue jay (520), Horned lark (831)(despite the lack of snow cover!), European starling (7156)(they accounted for 30% of all the birds found), Field sparrow (79; previous high was 37!), Dark-eyed junco (1346), and House sparrow (1605).

Rudolph CBC - Saturday, December 18th

Count Area:

Center of count area is the corner of Navarre Avenue and Allendorf Road on the east side of the Maumee River (Oregon, OH). This includes "Little Cedar Point NWR" to the East which can be very good for water birds along the Lake Erie shoreline. Other good areas are Maumee Bay, Erie State Game Area to the north in Michigan, Woodlawn Cemetery to the west of the count area, and the open farmlands to the south. The areas along the Maumee River and the Lake Erie shoreline provide some very good habitat for birds in the winter.

GRAND-RAPIDS / WATERVILLE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS

Compiler: Tom Kemp

Past Results (Audubon database)

Count Area:

The center of the count area is at the corner of Heller and Stiles road in Whitehouse. This includes areas of the Maumee River from Grand Rapids Ohio, Waterville and Northeast just shy of Maumee. Woodland areas include Oak Openings Metropark and the Maumee State Forest. Many areas of the river include rapids, so open water in many areas is the norm for the annual Christmas Count. Owls numbers can be very good in the forest areas.

SOME BASICS:

• These counts are part of the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Counts
• All counts take place between December 14th and January 5th
• Birds seen outside the count circle (even if you are in the count circle), cannot be counted.
• Each participant should contribute $5 that goes to The National Audubon Society's annual program.
• Feeder watchers should count the maximum number of birds at the feeder at one time.
• Each observer or "party" should keep track of all time spent birding, monitoring feeders and owling separately. Additionally the party should keep track of miles traveled by car and by foot.