Summary
On December 31, 2017, 43 observers sponsored by Columbus Audubon spent the day counting birds in North West Columbus, including portions of Franklin, Delaware, and Union Counties. Count day was very cold, with a low of -3 and high 15. We had 43 observers in the field, along with 4 feeder counters. We found a total of 75 individual species, with 73 seen on December 31st and 2 seen during the count week. Total individuals counted was 2,457.
Conditions
Count Date and time: December 31, 2017; 7:30 am to 5:00 pm. Most of the water was frozen, with some moving water open. We had a cloudy morning with a few snow showers and a sunny afternoon.
Numbers
Canada Goose – 2842; Snow Goose – 1 (CW); Mute Swan – 10; Tundra Swan – 12; Wood Duck – 2; American Black Duck – 4; Mallard – 220; Blue-winged Teal – 1; Northern Pintail – 2; Lesser Scaup – 7; Common Goldeneye – 60; Common Merganser – 8; Ruddy Duck – 1; Great Blue Heron – 24; Double-crested Cormorant – 17; Northern Harrier – 7; Cooper’s Hawk – 12; Bald Eagle – 6; Red-shouldered Hawk – 2; Red-tailed Hawk 52; Rough-legged Hawk – 1 American kestrel – 9; Merlin – 1; American Coot – 3; Ring-billed Gull – 27; Herring Gull – 4; Rock Pigeon – 114; Mourning Dove – 1574; Eastern Screech-owl – 1; Barred Owl – 1 (CW); Belted Kingfisher – 2; Red-headed Woodpecker – 3; Red-bellied woodpecker – 98; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 6; Downy Woodpecker – 100; Hairy Woodpecker – 17; Northern Flicker – 64; Pileated Woodpecker – 1; Blue Jay – 325; American Crow – 502; Horned Lark – 526; Carolina Chickadee – 204; Tufted Titmouse – 78; White-breasted Nuthatch – 92; Brown Creeper – 8; Winter Wren – 3; Carolina Wren – 46; Golden-crowned Kinglet – 8; Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 2; Eastern Bluebird – 120; American Robin – 321; Northern Mockingbird – 10; European Starling – 3309; Cedar Waxwing – 19; Lapland longspur – 10; Snow Bunting – 3; Yellow-rumped Warbler – 11; American Tree Sparrow – 360; Fox Sparrow – 1; Dark-eyed Junco – 373; White-crowned Sparrow – 11; White-throated Sparrow – 130; Savannah Sparrow – 1; Song Sparrow – 131; Swamp Sparrow – 9; Eastern Towhee – 4; Northern Cardinal – 511; Red-winged Blackbird – 6; Eastern Meadowlark – 2; Rusty Blackbird – 2; Common Grackle – 2; Brown-headed Cowbird – 2; House Finch – 205; American Goldfinch – 242; House Sparrow – 931
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to the 11 parties and 43 people in the field, along with the 4 feeder counters, who logged 232.67 party hours and 1,338.10 party miles. They have given their time to the 118 years of citizen science for National Audubon. Special thanks to the 3 member of the Central Ohio Chapter of the Ohio Young Birders Club, 1 high school student, and 2 college students who joined us.
See you next year: December 31, 2018!