Lancaster County Bird Club
preservation of our native bird life.
|
|
Lancaster County Bird Club |
| Lancaster, Pennsylvania | |
| Founded December 8, 1937 | |
|
to secure the cultivation of public sentiment in the preservation of our native bird life. |
|
This is the 13th edition of the Research Issue. It represents the field activities conducted by the Lancaster County Bird Club within the county. This issue reflects the Club's commitment to documenting the county's birdlife. It shows the dedication and hard work of many of our members in pursuit of this goal.
I would encourage all Club members to get out and enjoy the county's birds and thus assist in the compilation of data.
This year's issue includes the following reports:
The 11th Annual North American Migration Count (NAMC) was held on Saturday, May 11, 2002. This marked Lancaster County's seventh year as a participant in this annual event. A variety of areas throughout Lancaster County were covered during the day, including the three Warbler Walk areas, Octorara Lake, Money Rocks County Park, Chickies Rock County Park, and various locations along the Susquehanna River, just to name a few.
A new Lancaster County high count of 174 species was identified by the 47 participants who were in the field throughout the day. This number was again the top total for species in the state. A great day of birding for all who helped in 2002. Many thanks to everyone involved!
Most notable sightings included one Eared Grebe, one Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, one Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, and one Brewster's Warbler (third year in a row), all at Middle Creek WMA; one immature Little Gull on the Susquehanna River Conejohela Flats; two Virginia Rails and one Sora at Woods Edge Ponds; and one Mourning Warbler at Speedwell Lake.
18 Species of Waterfowl - one Long-tailed Duck, four Common Loons, 20 Snow Geese, two Tundra Swans, and two Ring-necked Ducks.
11 Species of Shorebirds - 24 Black-bellied Plovers, 12 Dunlin, and four Wilson's Snipe.
32 Species of Warblers - An amazing number for one day in the county. Highlights being: one Golden-winged, one Tennessee, seven Blackburnians, one Pine, one Palm, one Bay-breasted, one Cerulean, one Prothonotary, nine Wilson's, and seven Canada.
Other Highlights for the Day: 27 Bald Eagles, one Northern Harrier, ten Common Terns, five Forster's Terns, one Wild Turkey, one Bobwhite, one Common Nighthawk, one Red-headed Woodpecker, three Blue-headed Vireos, two Red-breasted Nuthatches, seven Swainson's Thrushes, three Hermit Thrushes, two Blue Grosbeaks, five Lincoln's Sparrows, and three Pine Siskins.
If there are any questions about or interest in helping with this count, please contact Bruce A. Carl at Akron (717) 859-4179 or carls@desupernet.net.
The year 2002 may be most remembered as the year when the Norfolk-Southern Railroad denied access to shoreline observation areas. Bob Schutsky's census continued as usual via boat, but the inability to check the Flats from shore during non-census days was disappointing. The official census of the Flats is now over. Data on bird migration on the Flats will once again depend on information obtained from the local birding community. However, this time, access restrictions will limit opportunities to collect the data. It is unfortunate that the two best shorebird locations in Pennsylvania, Presque Isle and the Conejohela Flats, have access restrictions. The former's habitat is decreasing in size and quality, while the latter's is in top condition. We thank the Safe Harbor Water Power Corporation for their continued support in maintaining the valuable Conejohela Flats habitat.
The highlight of the season was the first spring record of Piping Plover on the Flats. There was only one sighting each of American Avocet, Wilson's Phalarope, and Red-necked Phalarope. Single Long-billed Dowitchers and Ruddy Turnstones were tallied on two days, with the latter having its lowest count since 1988. Willet showed up three times, as did Buff-breasted Sandpiper.
Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs had their highest season counts ever. The Greater's would have had an even higher count had their later-than-usual southbound migration not coincided with higher water levels that started on October 15. Bob Schutsky found them standing on piles of debris since appropriate habitat was non-existent.
White-rumped and Semipalmated Sandpipers had low counts, while Westerns were well above average.
In total, 27 species of shorebirds were documented in 2002. The 10-year average is now 26.9.
The official totals for shorebirds based on the 2002 study conducted by Bob Schutsky for the Safe Harbor Water Power Corporation were not available at this time.
Moving away from shorebirds, Caspian and Common Terns had their best year ever. Commons became abundant in September when 120 and 41 were tallied on two different days. There were 16 days when Common Terns were observed, which is most unusual. Black Terns had their third best season. Least Terns created the most excitement. Seven adults showed up in May and performed courtship displays. Two returned later in June for a brief time. Perhaps these birds are the "advance guard" looking for suitable breeding habitat. Gull-billed Tern was seen once for the fifth time in nine years.
The Lancaster County Bird Club has elected to adopt the Conejohela Flats Important Bird Area site and document/report sightings. Jerry Book is acting as the coordinator. Sightings may be reported to Jerry by phone at Lancaster 569-2354, or e-mail at jbook@paonline.com.
All available data from 1950 through the present has been placed on computer disc and forwarded to the National Audubon Society. This information is being archived at the Cornell Institute for Ornithology.
The Southern Lancaster County Christmas Count was conducted on Sunday, December 15, 2002. A total of 97,005 individual birds comprised of 91 species was tallied. One additional species, Yellow-throated Warbler, was recorded during count week. This warbler, along with an immature Golden Eagle, were unusual sightings for the count. But the most unusual sighting this year was a Black-headed Grosbeak.
Species which were tallied in exceptionally high numbers for this count were as follows:
A special thanks to all participants who made this year's count another success!
In spite of snow depths ranging from eight to twelve inches, the 21 participants managed to have a very successful count. A total of 66,242 individual birds was tallied, which included 89 different species. Unusual count numbers were six Horned Grebes, 359 Turkey Vultures, and eight Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
Eight Mute Swans were an unusual species for the count. These were reported from the Susquehanna River near the Conejohela Flats and from above Safe Harbor Dam and seem to represent wild birds. Other Mute Swans observed in the count circle, but not counted, were at locations where they are commonly introduced as "ornamentals," such as at Long Park and Greenfield Commercial Park.
Compiler Chris Pederson thanks all who participated in the count and also wishes there would be more observers volunteering to assist on this count next year.
The Lititz Christmas Bird Count was held on Sunday, December 29, 2002, with 40 participants identifying 84 species on count day and an additional two species during count week. Despite the cold conditions, snow cover, and the limited amount of open water, the 12 species of waterfowl found were a nice surprise. Highlights included two Wood Ducks, six American Wigeon, two Green-winged Teal, one Red-breasted Merganser (US), and seven Mute Swans (HC). Hooded and Common Mergansers were added as count-week species.
Other notable sightings for the day were one Northern Harrier, three Red-shouldered Hawks, one Ruffed Grouse, five Wild Turkeys, two Long-eared Owls, four Short-eared Owls (US,HC), one Eastern Phoebe, three Winter Wrens, seven Hermit Thrushes, one Gray Catbird, three American Pipits (US), two Fox Sparrows, one Chipping Sparrow (US), six Lapland Longspurs, 17 Snow Buntings, two Red-winged Blackbirds, and two Pine Siskins.
Next year's count is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, December 28, 2003. Please contact Bruce A. Carl at Akron 859-4179 or e-mail at carls@desupernet.net with any questions or interest regarding this count. My thanks go out to all who helped out with this year's count despite the weather conditions. As you can see, the effort was worthwhile.
Key: US - Unusual Species for this count; HC - High Count of this species for this count.
Lancaster County birders had a very eventful year of birding during 2002. A total of 276 species were identified, which marks the highest total for the county since this year list began 26 years ago. There was one species added to the composite list, which now stands at 329 total species.
Some of the most notable sightings for 2002 were as follows:
Some other notable sightings for the year include the following:
The Great Blue Herons were found back at their nests along Meadow View Road and Risser Mill Road on March 11 after being first discovered there during 2001. An observation of a single Great Blue Heron carrying sticks at Middle Creek WMA in early April was interesting.
Sandhill Cranes made an appearance in the county at two separate locations. There were two birds at Middle Creek WMA on March 29, and a single bird was on the SRCF from October 13 to November 30.
There were also two separate sightings of Great Cormorant on the SRCF in mid-October with one adult on October 13 and an immature on October 17.
Two American Bitterns made an appearance at Middle Creek WMA on May 4 and again on May 16.
A Least Bittern was again found on the SRCF in an area where this species has been seen in recent years from late May into early June, with no confirmation of breeding as of now. The sighting of an immature Least Bittern at the Woods Edge Pond on October 26 was noteworthy.
A King Rail was heard at Middle Creek WMA on September 22, and another bird was found dead along the road near the State Police Barracks in Lancaster on June 5.
From one to three Alder Flycatchers were found along a power line at Camp Shand on the Lancaster-Lebanon county line from June 16 to August 23. This was the first summer record for both counties. An observation of a bird carrying food was notable.
The islands at Bainbridge produced eight to 12 Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows during early October.
A nice count of four Short-eared Owls were seen along the area of stop #3 of the driving route at Middle Creek WMA during the Lititz Christmas Count and continued there into 2003.
Some other sightings for the year include Mississippi Kite and White-winged Crossbill.
Created for the Internet on ... 01 September 2005