Eastside Audubon Christmas Bird Count, 18 December 2021
Written by Andy McCormick, CBC Compiler
2021-2022 Eastside Audubon Christmas Bird Count Summary
18 December 2021
National Audubon Count 122
Eastside Audubon Count 38
100 species tallied (count day + count week)
Count day: 88 species
Count week: 12 additional species
Individual birds: 17,675
Observers: 41 (37 in the field + 4 feeder watchers)
Overview
The 38th Eastside Audubon CBC was held on December 18, 2021, a day marked by continuous rainfall. The species count of 88 on count day was the lowest since 86 species were recorded in 2005. In recent years a greater effort has been directed to locating bird species during count week to complement count day totals. This year observers found 12 additional species to bring the count total to an even 100 bird species.
Again, this year the count was conducted in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic under restrictions specified in Washington State and King County guidelines for vaccination, mask wearing and social distancing. We kept the teams small with a leader and one or two other people. EAS fielded 37 observers covering 15 teams. Five of the 15 circle sections were counted by one person and eight were counted by two persons. Two teams had three members and one had five.
Data Assessment
Variability in count numbers from year to year can be a challenge to interpret. Differences in weather conditions, changes in effort due to the number and skill level of volunteers on field teams, and changes in habitat due to natural causes (e.g., fire) or human development may all contribute to changes in bird species count totals. The CBC uses the 10-year average as one yardstick to provide some context for a particular year’s count totals. The numbers in parentheses following the name of a bird in this report are the total number seen in this year’s CBC, and the percentage as a ratio of the species count to the species’ 10-year average (e.g., a percentage of 150% indicates an increase of one and a half times the current 10-year average and 70% indicates 70% of the 10-year average.).
Highlights
A flock of 22 Common Redpolls was reported from Marymoor Park marking the first time this species was recorded on the Eastside Audubon CBC.
California Scrub-Jay was seen for the third time in the past 20 years. Previous records were in 2013 and 2018.
It is always a pleasure to see an American Kestrel (14, 280%) and they were abundant in the Snoqualmie Valley at nearly three times their 10-year average. Three Merlins and two Peregrine Falcons were also counted bringing the total count to 19 falcons.
Trends
Ducks and Geese
We were pleased to see a rebound in numbers for Northern Shoveler (51, 200%) at twice their 10-year average, Green-winged Teal (79, 83%) slightly below their 10-year average, and American Wigeon (349, 92%) at close to their 10-year average. Hooded Mergansers were steady at 41 (66%) and Common Mergansers (74, 89%) were at numbers similar to last year. Wood Duck (25, 114%) did well and Ruddy Duck (16, 64%) were below average.
Again, this year we requested drone flights in the fields at Carnation Farm to be stopped for the week prior to and including count day. Cacking Goose (8,274, 145%) and Canada Goose (925, 69%) were in good numbers again. Snow Geese at 52 was an unusually large count. Eurasian Wigeon and Canvasback were added in count week.
Grebes, Pigeons, Hummingbirds, Coots and Rails
Pied-billed Grebes (101, 136%) were seen in many locations amassing the highest total in the past 20 years. However, Western Grebes (9, 20%) were almost missed this year. Red-necked Grebe was added in count week. A pair of Band-tailed Pigeons was seen on count day. Anna’s Hummingbirds (89, 116%) continued an above-average showing but still down from the 2018 total of 133. Five Virginia Rails matched their 10-year average and American Coot (533, 118%) continued a nice three-year above average run.
Gulls, Cormorants, and Herons
The count of 85 (15%) for Short-billed Gulls was a far cry from the 984 of last year. It is possible more gulls were on Lake Sammamish but unseen because of rain and fog. There were very few gulls at Sunset Beach in Lake Sammamish State Park. Most of the 216 (140%) Glaucous-winged Gulls were in the Snoqualmie Valley near Carnation. Double-crested Cormorants (103, 71%) continued their decline in our circle. Great Blue Herons (39, 83%) had another low count this year. Green Heron eluded us this year.
Shorebirds
Killdeer (13, 28%) were well below average numbers, but Wilson’s Snipe (4, 100%) seen at Marymoor Park were on target. Spotted Sandpiper seen again along the eastern shore of Lake Sammamish was added in count week.
Raptors and Owls
Bald Eagles (46, 115%) bumped up above average, but Red-tailed Hawks (26, 68%) declined to the lowest count in over 20 years. This is after a high count of 54 in 2019. Five Northern Harriers were a relief after nine years of very low counts since six were seen in 2012. Six Cooper’s Hawks met the mean, and the only Sharp-shinned Hawk was a count week bird. Early morning rain hampered the count of owls, but a Barn Owl and two Barred Owls were found on count day and Great Horned Owl and Northern Saw Whet Owl were seen in count week.
Woodpeckers, Kingfisher, and Shrike
Northern Flickers (62, 68%) fell again against their average. Downy (18, 72%) and Hairy (7, 64%) Woodpeckers were both below their 10-year averages, and Pileated Woodpecker (1, 14%) was nearly missed. Red-breasted Sapsuckers (2, 25%) continued with decreasing numbers. Belted Kingfisher (5, 50%) was difficult to find. Northern Shrike was seen in count week.
Corvids
Common Ravens (21, 111%) are now averaging 20 per count, and American Crows (965, 104%) are now averaging over 900 per count. Steller’s Jays (55, 50%) dropped again for the fourth consecutive year since a high count of 128 in 2017. We were unable to hike Tiger Mountain to look for Canada Jays this year.
Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Creepers
Black-capped (175, 54%) and Chestnut-backed Chickadees (91, 61%), and Bushtits (85, 56%) were all well below average numbers. Red-breasted Nuthatches (16, 62%) dropped even below the ten-year average of 26 from a high of 66 during last year’s irruption. However, Brown Creepers (40, 174%) broke this pattern with large gains this year.
Thrushes
Varied Thrushes (16, 40%) were seen in below average numbers. American Robins (382, 69%) continued with a second consecutive low count in the past 10 years and far below the high of 722 in 2017. A Hermit Thrush was seen in count week.
Finches
There was little evidence in our count of a finch irruption to mirror last year’s high numbers of finches although a small wave in the winter after a major irruption is possible as winter continues. Pine Siskins (147, 19%) dropped to the lowest count since 2013. House Finch (75, 59%) which is not an irruptive species, tallied the lowest count in the past 20 years. One Purple Finch (1, 3%) was recorded on this year’s count. American Goldfinch (8, 19%) for the second year in a row posted in single digits. No crossbills or Evening Grosbeaks made the count this year.
Sparrows
Many sparrow species were counted in average numbers. Song Sparrows (171, 78%) were well represented and Golden-crowned Sparrows (109, 102%) were in good shape. Dark-eyed Juncos (721, 96%) produced excellent numbers, and Fox Sparrows (39, 83%) rebounded nicely. White-crowned Sparrows (15, 43%) and Spotted Towhee (83, 61%) were below average. House Sparrows (33, 53%) tallied the lowest count since 2010. White-throated Sparrow and Lincoln Sparrow added to the total in count week.
Blackbirds
Red-winged Blackbirds (140, 29%) were in extremely low numbers, and the large flocks of Brewer’s Blackbirds did not show up on count day but were added in count week.
Count Week Birds
Many regularly occurring birds on the EAS CBC were missed on count day, but a search of eBird and reports from team members who scouted in the days before and after count day located 12 species to add for count week. This large number of bird species normally seen on count day supports anecdotal observations that birds were present in the area but remained unseen due to steady rain. The results make me consider the possibility of rescheduling the count in the event of severe weather. Changing a count employing tens of volunteers can be a difficult task, but count compilers might consider doing so to provide what would more likely be a more accurate accounting of the birds in a particular count circle.
I am grateful for the resolve of our volunteer team members and feeder watchers who limited by weather conditions completed the count of birds in our count circle. Thank you all for your dedication to the birds and for collecting important information which I have sent to National Audubon.
Andy McCormick, CBC Compiler
Eastside Audubon Society
Kirkland, WA
Photo Credit by Penelope Kipps.