Subject: [Tweeters] Eastside Audubon 12/14 CBC Results
Date: Dec 27 18:40:20 2013
From: Sharon Cormier-Aagaard - scormieraa001 at hotmail.com



















Hi Tweets,



Eastside Audubon held the 30th CBC since 1981 (there
were no counts in 1982, 1983 and 1989) on Saturday, December 14, 2013. Nature gave us total cloud cover (and heavy
fog in the lowlands), low wind, no rain or snow, and temps in the low 40s.



We added one species to the all-time Eastside CBC list: one WESTERN SCRU- JAY was seen by the Fall
City/Preston group. Misses on count
day: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Siskin
and Red Crossbill. Wood Duck, Wilson
Snipe and Evening Grosbeak were seen only during the count week.



High Counts, Compared
to the last 15 years (1999 to 2013):



Cackling Goose ? 5210, the highest number counted since we
first saw this species in 2005

Lesser Scaup ? 43, the second highest to 59 seen in 2012

American Kestrel ? 2, average number and seen every year but
two

Barn Owl, 1, average number and seen half the time

Red-breasted Sapsucker ? 9, second highest to 13 in 2008

Downy Woodpecker ? 22, second highest to 25 in 2011

Pileated Woodpecker ? 8, second highest to 16 in 2008

Steller?s Jay ? 126, highest count since 121 in 2009

Bushtit ? 145, highest count since 139 in 2009

Marsh Wren ? 23, highest count since 22 in 2004

American Dipper ? 11, highest count since 8 in 2011

Fox Sparrow ? 53, second highest to 69 in 2011

Gray Jay ? 6, highest count since 5 reported in 3 years
(first counted in 2007 by Gene Hunn at top of Tiger Mountain, and now continued
by Scott Ramos)



Low Counts, Compared
to the last 15 years (1999 to 2013):



Northern Pintail ? 20, lowest count, average is 214

Rock Pigeon ? 56, lowest count in 15 years, average is 192

Band-tailed Pigeon ? 2, average is 12

Ruby-crowned Kinglet ? 54, average is 78

Lincoln Sparrow ? 1, average is 4 and has been seen 12 out
of last 15 years

House Finch ? 78, lowest count, average is 151



Worth Mentioning:



Green Heron ? 1 bird at Issaquah Hatchery; this species has
been seen 50% of the time in last 15 years

Merlin ? 1 bird at East Snoqualmie, this species has seen
50% of the time in last 15 years

White-throated Sparrow ? 2 at Fall City/Preston, seen 40% of
the time

Thayer?s Gull ? 1 at West Sammamish Trail, seen only one
other time in 1996

American Bittern ? 1 at Marymoor, seen only one other time
by East Snoqualmie group in 2009Great-horned Owl - heard 2 at Red-Brick Road in the Marymoor sector



Overall, there were 87 species seen on count day, plus 3
count week birds (Wood Duck, Wilson?s Snipe and Evening Grosbeak), to bring the
total+cw to 90, below average (previous high count of 97 in 2011 and 2012). The number of birds seen was 18,166; average
is about 15,000, and the highest count ever was 28,674 in 1999.



We had 47 people counting birds, with 1 person at home doing
a backyard count within our circle. Thanks everyone!



A complete list of birds recorded by Eastside Audubon on the
2013 CBC, or on any CBC since 1981, is available by email from Sharon Aagaard, scormieraa001 at hotmail.com
Sharon AagaardBellevue WAscormieraa001 at hotmail.com