2023-2024 Eastside Audubon Christmas Bird Count Summary
16 December, 2023
National Audubon Count No. 124
Eastside Audubon Count No. 40
102 species tallied (count day + count week)
Count day: 96 species
Count week: 6 additional species
Individual Birds: 16,073
Observers: 54 (50 in the field + 4 feeder watcher)
Overview:
The 40th Eastside Audubon CBC was held on Saturday, December 16, 2023. The weather was mostly clear with temperatures rising to the upper 30s, no rain, and calm winds. It was an excellent day for winter birding in Western Washington. The species count of 96 on count day reflected the 10-year average number for our count circle. A review of eBird postings from within the count circle found 6 additional count week species to bring the count total to 102 bird species for the week. Despite excellent weather and a solid group of volunteers the EAS CBC recorded 16,073 individual birds which is 94% of the 20-year average. This is the lowest count since the 2019 Covid-19 count, and before that, the 2015 count.
Eastside Audubon recruited 50 volunteers to fill 15 teams. Of the 15 field teams, one had eight members; another had five. Three teams had four members and seven teams had three members. There was one two-member team and two leaders birded alone.
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 100% indicates a match of the 10-year average, 105% indicates a 50% increase over the current 10-year average, and 70% indicates 70% of the 10-year average.).
Highlights
A Mandarin Duck was observed on Lake Sammamish. This is likely the same duck observed last winter on Lake Washington in an area which is not within a CBC Count Circle. We are pleased it wandered into our Count Circle this year. An Orange-crowned Warbler was observed on our count for only the sixth time in the past 23 years. A Red-necked Grebe was seen for the seventh time on our count and has become somewhat regular being seen in four of the past five counts. One Hutton’s Vireo, although not rare, is uncommon, and was seen for the fourth consecutive year and the 10th year out of the previous 21 years. A flock of 40 Wilson’s Snipe in the Snoqualmie Valley broke the old record of 9 birds. Mourning Doves nearly tripled their average count.
Trends
Ducks and Geese
Waterfowl numbers vary considerably from year-to-year, but this year the downward trend of the past 10 years appears to have stalled for now. The total for Cackling Geese (5,325, 92%) was again considerably lower than the 8,274 of 2021 and 10,380 of 2020, but in line with the 10-year average of 5,762. Canada Geese (931, 83%) held a steady count again this year.
Ring-necked Duck (92, 61%), Northern Pintail (189, 197%), Common Merganser (78, 92%), Hooded Merganser (63, 100%), Green-winged Teal (78, 83%) and Mallards (913, 82%) all rebounded nicely. Northern Shovelers (44, 138%) were above the 10-year average. However, for the second consecutive year only two Ruddy Ducks (2, 12%), and a low number of Common Goldeneyes (5, 29%) were observed. Canvasback was missed on the count.
Grebes, Pigeons, Hummingbirds, Coots, and Rails
Western Grebes (78, 152%) appeared in the largest numbers since the 2015 total of 113. Happily, a Red-necked Grebe was seen on Lake Sammamish again for the fourth time in the past five years. Pied-billed Grebes (63, 83%) rebounded. Seven Virginia Rails (7, 117%) were again above average. Anna’s Hummingbird (102, 115%) doubled the 2022 total and the species is making up for low counts in the early 2000s. Band-tailed Pigeon (4, 31%) made the count this year. Rock Pigeons (126, 111%) were abundant. Eurasian Collared Doves (53, 129%) were above average, but Mourning Doves (54, 270%) were far above average after two decades of variable numbers from single digits to the upper 20s.
Gulls, Cormorants, and Herons
Short-billed Gulls (18, 4%), ever variable on Lake Sammamish, and Glaucous-winged Gulls (73, 55%) had low counts again this year. A few California Gulls were seen in Count Week at Lake Sammamish State Park. Double-crested Cormorants (93, 65%) continued at a steady pace but only at half their 10-year average. Great Blue Herons (45, 96%) doubled last year’s total, halting a decline over the previous five years. Green Heron eluded us for the third straight year.
Shorebirds
A flock of 42 Wilson’s Snipe (42, 525%) in the Snoqualmie Valley smashed all records including the previous high total of nine over the past 23 years. Killdeer (6, 13%) were nearly missed and were much lower than the 10-year average. A Spotted Sandpiper was seen.
Raptors and Owls
Four Barred Owls (4, 200%) is the highest annual total on the Eastside Audubon count. First observed in 2006, then again in 2011, and then annually since 2016, the Barred Owl is now established on our count. A Great Horned Owl and a Northern Saw-whet Owl were also reported.
Bald Eagles (37, 95%) and Red-tailed Hawks (43, 116%) were seen in average numbers. Three Northern Harriers (3, 100%) met the average this year. Eight Cooper’s Hawks (8, 160%) and four Sharp-shinned Hawks (4, 133%) represented the accipiters. American Kestrel (10, 167%) posted well above their 10-year average.
Woodpeckers, Kingfisher, and Shrike
Northern Flickers (115, 122%), and Downy (32, 114%), Hairy (19, 146%), and Pileated Woodpeckers (11, 157%) all blew past their 10-year averages. Red-breasted Sapsuckers (5, 71%) rebounded, but have not met their 10-year average numbers since nine were counted in 2018. We have no information about why their numbers appear to be declining. Belted Kingfisher (24, 200%) rebounded nicely. A Northern Shrike was seen in the Snoqualmie Valley.
Corvids
Common Ravens (27, 135%) continue to increase in numbers in our suburbs, and American Crows (996, 95%) dropped below average. Steller’s Jays (97, 88%) were close to their average again. With no one available to climb Tiger Mountain we were unable to document the presence of Canada Jays this year.
Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Creepers
Black-capped (316, 96%) and Chestnut-backed Chickadees (233, 151%) were seen in good numbers. Bushtits (154, 108%) returned to their 10-year average numbers. Red-breasted Nuthatches (60, 188%) had the second highest count in the past 23 years while Brown Creepers (27, 108%) maintained their average count.
Thrushes and Warblers
Varied Thrushes (48, 120%) maintained their good numbers. American Robins (397, 72%) dropped to below their average numbers after recording 782 individuals in 2022. No Hermit Thrushes were seen this year.
Yellow-rumped Warblers (28, 350%) broke through to the highest count since 53 were seen in 2007. Townsends Warbler (3, 75%) was present, and an Orange-crowned Warbler was seen for only the sixth time since the year 2000.
Finches
Numbers for finches were variable. Purple Finch (2, 6%), American Goldfinch (19, 37%) and Pine Siskin (142, 29%) dropped in this non-irruption year. House Finch (172, 126%), which is not an irruptive species, was counted in close to average numbers. No Red Crossbills or Evening Grosbeaks made the count this year.
Sparrows
Dark-eyed Juncos (690, 83%) dropped into average range after flying high at 1,387 in 2022. Fox Sparrows (67, 134%) enjoyed another above-average year. Song Sparrows (233, 104%), Golden-crowned Sparrows (101, 88%), White-crowned Sparrows (47, 112%)%) and Spotted Towhees (140, 93%) were all close to their 10-year average. White-throated Sparrows (CW only) and Lincoln Sparrows (1, 33%) are regular but in low numbers on our count.
Blackbirds
Red-winged Blackbirds (434, 96%) matched their 2022 performance, but Brewer’s Blackbirds only made Count Week. No Brown-headed Cowbirds or Western Meadowlarks were seen this year.
Count Week Birds
Six Count Week birds brought our total bird species count to 102. Snow Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Ring-necked Pheasant, Savannah and White-throated Sparrows, and Brewers Blackbird were posted on eBird checklists from within our count circle during the three days before and three days after our Count Day.
I am grateful for all our volunteer team members and feeder watchers who 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