Hi Society!

2018 Christmas Bird Count Final Results

 

Here’s a late wrap-up of the 2018 Anchorage Christmas Bird Count from December 15, 2018.

There were 155 observers in the field or at feeders (three (3) hard working folks did both!). Weather was cold at 12-20 deg. F, with variable light winds, not actively raining or snowing, with snow pack 6-14″. Cloud cover was almost complete in AM with some clearing in the PM.

The day was the only good day for the count within a 2 week period of almost constant blowing snow. The heavy snowfall on the previous day led to dubious predictions, but the count was overall pretty average for an Anchorage Christmas Count.

The 48 species seen is at the high end of Anchorage Counts, and 20,427 total birds were seen.

2018 Number of Species by Year

 

Birds of Note included a GOLDEN EAGLE seen by a Chugach Park Ranger, the second HERMIT THRUSH for an Anchorage CBC, a CHUKAR (a first for the Anchorage Christmas Bird Count – undoubtedly an escapee and will not be counted by National but they want us to report it), a Harlan’s RED-TAILED HAWK which was also a first for our CBC, a RING-NECKED DUCK (a continuing bird at Spenard Crossing), and a SONG SPARROW— the 2nd reported for an Anchorage CBC. One of the Dark-eyed Juncos was reported to be an Oregon subspecies.

Higher-than-average numbers for Christmas Counts included Rock Pigeons, Black-billed Magpies, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Bohemian Waxwings, European Starlings.

2018 Number of Individuals by Year

 

Lower-than-average numbers for our count included Pine Grosbeaks, Common Redpolls, and Pine Siskins.

The only new bird to the count was the Chukkar.

It was a fabulous day, and the Tally Party and Chili Feed was a stellar event as well. Special thanks go to Louann Feldmann who coordinated the entire count.  Another special thanks should be given to the First Congregational Church and Lynn Barber for making the evening possible.  Keith Confer for his spreadsheet expertise, and the many fine chefs who contributed to the fabulous chili feed pot luck at the tally party.

Also worthy of our highest praise are Area Leaders Thede Tobish, Andrew Fisher, Daria Carle, Tom Evans, Dick Prentki, and Pat Pourchot;  Chief Coordinator Louann Feldmann;  and all of the many, many counters and feeder watchers who provided the data for this year’s count.

The total species seen are listed here from most prevalent to least prevalent.

1	Bohemian Waxwing	13267
2	Black-capped Chickadee	1062
3	Mallard	1223
4	Rock Pigeon	976
5	European Starling	949
6	Common Raven	922
7	Black-billed Magpie	691
8	Common Redpoll	418
9	Red-breasted Nuthatch	242
10	Boreal Chickadee	126
11	Pine Grosbeak	96
12	American Robin	65
13	Dark-eyed Junco	64
14	Pine Siskin	53
15	Steller’s Jay	47
16	Bald Eagle	41
17	Golden Eagle (count week)	1
18	American Dipper	32
19	Downy Woodpecker	31
20	Hairy Woodpecker	23
21	Common Goldeneye	17
22	Gray Jay	15
23	Northern Shrike	12
24	Common Merganser	11
25	Golden-crowned Kinglet	10
26	Brown Creeper	8
27	Northern Goshawk	6
28	White-crowned Sparrow	6
29	Willow Ptarmigan	5
30	Rock Ptarmigan	5
31	Green-winged Teal	4
32	Sharp-shinned Hawk	4
33	Varied Thrush	2
34	Harlequin Duck	2
35	Wilson’s Snipe	2
36	Northern Hawk Owl	2
37	Northern Saw-whet Owl (count week)	1
38	Ring-necked Duck	1
39	Harlan’s Hawk	1
40	Merlin	1
41	American Three-toed Woodpecker	1
42	Spruce Grouse	1
43	Chukar	1
44	Belted Kingfisher	1
45	Ruby-crowned Kinglet	1
46	Hermit Thrush	1
47	Ruby-crowned Kinglet	1
48	Hermit Thrush	1
49	Fox Sparrow	1
50	Song Sparrow	1
51	Snow Bunting	1
	Total # of Species	48
	Total # of Individual Birds	20427

 

As seen during the Tally Party, graphs have been made of each species on a per year basis since the count began.  These graphs are available for viewing via the following link:

Graph of Species by Year (click on this link)