2018-19 Christmas Bird Count Results

SAX-ZIM CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

Monday December 17th could not have been a more beautiful winter day for the 33rd Annual Sax-Zim CBC. A low temp of 8 degrees and a high of 27 meant that hiking was very tolerable. And the sunny calm conditions were perfect for hearing birds and pishing them in. Big thanks to our 16 participants: Count compiler Sparky Stensaas, Sarah Beaster, Lori Williams, Kim Eckert, Frank Nicoletti, Dave, Lars and Pam Benson, Dave Steininger, Bill Tefft, Susan Meisner, Eileen Schantz-Hansen, Steve Schon, Clinton Nienhaus, Kristina Dexter, and Jessica Dexter.

RECORDS SET!: We tallied 35 species which is only 2 short of our all-time records from 2014 & 2017. We smashed the old record of Red-breasted Nuthatches (100 in 1987) with a grand total of 195. Black-capped Chickadees were found which eclipsed the old record (last year) by 136 birds! Other records that were set included 32 Hairy Woodpeckers (old record 23), 127 Blue Jays (old record 97)

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: The 32 Canada jays that were tallied is the most since 2001 and our second highest total ever. 5 Wild Turkeys including the first ever at the Welcome Center (highlight or lowlight?). THIRTEEN Boreal Chickadees were discovered including 7 by Clinton, Jessica and Kristina who walked/bushwhacked on all FOSZB properties in the count circle. They found 4 in Indian Pipe Bog, 2 in Winterberry Bog, and 1 at Warren Nelson Bog (Kim and Frank had one along the Bog Boardwalk at Warren Nelson). Sparky, Sarah and Lori found a Boreal Chickadee in the dense fir stand at the end of Loretta’s feeder trail. 1 Northern Hawk Owl on McDavitt and the Snowy along CR229/29 were also seen. 1 Barred Owl. Kim and Frank watched the charismatic and energetic flock of Sharp-tailed Grouse along CR229/Racek Road dancing on the lek at 9 in the morning!

BIG MISSES: No Great Grays were found (We’ve had them 17 of 33 years).

TOTALS:

Bald Eagle 5

Rough-legged Hawk 11

Ruffed Grouse 6

Sharp-tailed Grouse 8

Wild Turkey 5

Rock Pigeon 10

Barred Owl 1

Snowy Owl 1

Northern Hawk Owl 1

Downy Woodpecker 12

Hairy Woodpecker 32

Pileated Woodpecker 4

Black-backed Woodpecker 3

Canada Jay 32

Blue Jay 127

Black-billed Magpie 6

American Crow 63

Common Raven 66

Black-capped Chickadee 541

Boreal Chickadee 13

Red-breasted Nuthatch 195

White-breasted Nuthatch 9

Brown Creeper 3

Northern Shrike 9

European Starling 16

Snow Bunting 8

Pine Grosbeak 91

Evening Grosbeak 1

White-winged Crossbill 44

Red Crossbill 16

Common Redpoll 246

Pine Siskin 1

American Goldfinch 11

Purple Finch 1

House Sparrow 13