A respectable 9,745 birds of 62 species were recorded in the annual Athol
Christmas Bird Count December 15th 2001. These figures are down from last
year's record 17,848 birds of 65 species. Most notable were Dark-eyed Junco
numbers that returned to a normal 303 individuals down from last year's
national record of 7,205. Pine Grosbeaks had an impressive 78 birds, 71
found in Royalston and 7 in Athol. Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler appeared
for the 3rd time in the counts history.
A flock of 14 Snow Geese, late migrants taking advantage of the unseasonably warm and dry fall were recorded as well as a record 78 Ringed-necked Ducks, both species making the count for only the second time. Fog and rain in the predawn hours limited our otherwise energetic Owling teams who found only 4 Barred and 4 Saw Whet Owls. Great-horned Owl was a major miss for the day.
Taking everything into consideration this was a great count. I wish to thank
the count teams for impressive coverage of the count circle; the results
show a high degree of birding skill and knowledge of this rural Central
Massachusetts Region. Special thanks to the staff at Cinnamon's Restaurant
for a fine pre-count breakfast and to Ralene Williams and the folks at the
Millers River Environmental Center for the post count tally and great food.
More information on this and all of the Christmas Bird Counts in the nation
can be found at: www.audubon.org/bird/cbc
Participants:
Earle Baldwin, Dana Blake, Susan Bredesen, Chris Buelow, David Caldwell,
David Cass, Ron Cloutier. Sue Cloutier, Barbara Coyle, Chris Coyle, Robert
Coyle, Steve Ferrell, Lula Field, Bill Fregeau, Angie Gallup, Jenna Garvey,
John Henshaw, Shelley Hight, Jeff Johnstone, Anne Kimball, Ernie Leblanc,
Geoffrey Magee, Rick Magee, Linda Mahoney, Bob Mallet, James Mallet, Dale
Monette, Jacob Morris-Siegel, Mike Plotkin,
Mike Polana, Eric Salmela, Mark Taylor, Ralene Williams
Species seen:
Common Loon 3, Horned Grebe 1, Snow Goose 14, Canada Goose 198, Am. Black
Duck 19, Mallard 134, Ring-necked Duck 78, Bufflehead 2, Hooded Merganser
62, Common Merganser 60, Bald Eagle 2 (adult), Sharp-Shinned Hawk 2, Coopers
Hawk 2, Red-Tailed Hawk 10, Merlin 1, Ring-neck Pheasant 9, Ruffed Grouse 8,
Wild Turkey 336, Ring-Billed Gull 15, Herring Gull 76, Great Black Backed
Gull 8, Rock Dove 1,672, Mourning Dove 277, Barred Owl 4, Saw-Whet Owl 4,
Belted Kingfisher 3, Downy Woodpecker 91, Hairy Woodpecker 17, Northern
Flicker 1, Pileated Woodpecker 3, Horned Lark 3, Blue Jay 527, American Crow
322, Common Raven 28, Black-capped Chickadee 1,559, Tufted Titmouse 212,
Red-Breasted Nuthatch 45, White-Breasted Nuthatch 213, Brown Creeper 10,
Carolina Wren 5, Golden-crowned Kinglet 165, American Robin 76, Northern
Mockingbird 9, Yellow-rumped Warbler 1, Cedar Waxwing 127, Northern Shrike
2, Starling 1,096, Northern Cardinal 56, American Tree Sparrow 228, Fox
Sparrow 1, Song Sparrow 13, White-Throated Sparrow 10, Dark-eyed Junco 303,
Brown-Headed Cowbird 1, Pine Grosbeak 78, Purple Finch 14, House Finch 93,
Common Redpoll 22, Pine Siskin 222, American Goldfinch 370, Evening Grosbeak
176, House Sparrow 646.
Dave Small
Athol, Massachusetts
dhsmall@gis.net
www.gis.net/~dhsmall
If you wish to volunteer to lead a trip please contact
ABNC
Biodays Coordinator Sue Cloutier at cloutier@tiac.net 978-544-7500
Dave Small
Athol, Massachusetts
dhsmall@gis.net
www.gis.net~dhsmall