Hi Tweeters ?

I've compiled the raw data from the Seattle CBC and wanted to share some results. Look for complete details to be posted on the Seattle Audubon website in the coming days.

Seattle 2011 Christmas Bird Count
December 31, 2011

Count day: 129 species
Count week: additional 3 species
Individual birds: 48273 birds
Observers: 187

Overall, the 2011 count tied the record for Seattle CBC species count and was well above average for the circle. That said, the total number of birds tallied was our second lowest in the past 15 years (only 2010 tallied fewer birds). In addition to the 129 species seen on count day, Ruddy Duck, Mourning Dove and Nashville Warbler were all seen during count-week. Nashville Warbler is new for the Seattle Audubon CBC.

Highlight birds of the day include Common Redpolls (8), Western Tanagers (2) and Townsend Solitaires (2) ? amazingly, each of those species were seen in two different sectors!. Other notables include a Long-tailed Duck (downtown sector) and Red-breasted Mergansers observed by four different groups on fresh-water.

Notable misses for the day include: Western Screech-Owl, Bonaparte's Gull, Slate-colored Junco, and Brewer's Blackbird.

Record high counts for the ?modern period? (1973-present) were recorded for 16 species:

Snow Goose (450); Cackling Goose (33); Pacific Loon (85); Peregrine Falcon (11); Common Murre (318); Pileated Woodpecker (25); Common Raven (3) [tied w/ 2009]; Townsend?s Solitaire (2) [tied w/ 2001]; Orange-crowned Warbler (8) Nashville Warbler (Count week) [first time on Seattle CBC]; Townsend?s Warbler (60); Western Tanager (3); Song Sparrow (992); White-throated Sparrow (5) [tied w/ 2010]; Golden-crowned Sparrow (309); American Goldfinch (788) [though in 1921 over 1000 were tallied]

Trends:
Ducks & Geese: Mostly seen in good numbers ? exceptions include the same species as in recent years: Northern Pintail (23) & Ruddy Duck [count week only] are almost gone from the count area, and White-winged (34) & Black Scoters(27) continued to be low

Loons were reported in higher than usual numbers

Western Grebes ? below the long term average, but as with the previous two years seems to no longer be in rapid decline.

Raptors were all above average except for Sharp-shinned Hawks. Nice to have 74 Bald Eagles and 11 Peregrines present. Those numbers really stand out when looking back and seeing that from up until 1990, double-digit eagle numbers were never recorded, and Peregrine was noted only once.

American Coots, with 2528 counted, were well below average, but up significantly from the previous 3 years? totals.

Alcids were seen in higher numbers than average, a trend matched in the Vashon CBC results this year as well.

American Crows ? continuing the trend noted last year when the relocation of the roost site shrunk totals from what once reached almost 20000 to this year?s 7031.

All warbler, sparrow and finch species seen were noted in above average numbers except Pine Siskin (a little below average) and Evening Grosbeak (continuing a long decline ? we haven?t seen double-digit Evening Grosbeaks on the CBC in 15 years)

Thanks to all the participants who made the it a great count.

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA