Christmas Bird Count Results - A new year begins
Dave Small
Athol Bird and Nature Club
Millers River Environmental Center
100 Main Street Athol Ma
www.millersriver.net
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Merry Christmas (Bird Count)
The 44th annual Athol Christmas Bird Count held Saturday December 17th found
13756 individuals of 62 species. Highlights included the first ever on the count Double-crested Cormorant in North Quabbin, the second ever American Kestrel at Orange Airport and the 4th ever Lapland longspur at Hunts farm in Orange. many thanks to the 40 birders in the field and the nine feeder watchers who made the count possible.
Canada Goose 733, Wood Duck (count week), Am. Black Duck 8, Mallard 71, Common Goldeneye 5, Hooded Merganser 66, Common Merganser 85, Ringed-Neck Pheasant 11, Ruffed Grouse 4, Wild Turkey 138, Common Loon 7, Double-crested Cormorant 1, Bald Eagle 5, Sharp-Shinned Hawk 2, Coopers Hawk 2, Red-shouldered Hawk 1, Red-Tailed Hawk 16, American Kestrel 1, Ring-Billed Gull 17, Herring Gull 3, Rock (Dove) Pigeon 499, Mourning Dove 330, Great Horned Owl 2, Barred Owl 5, Saw-Whet Owl 6, Belted Kingfisher 4, Red-bellied woodpecker 57, Downy Woodpecker 167, Hairy Woodpecker 73, Northern Flicker 2, Pileated Woodpecker 7, Northern Shrike 1, Blue Jay 966, American Crow 296, Common Raven 25, Horned Lark 75, Black-capped Chickadee 1398, Tufted Titmouse 352, Red-Breasted Nuthatch 37, White-Breasted Nuthatch 281, Brown Creeper 12, Carolina Wren 5, Golden-crowned Kinglet 67, Eastern Bluebird 32, American Robin 802, Northern Mockingbird 3, Starling 1872, Cedar Waxwing 1147, American Tree Sparrow 108, Chipping Sparrow 1, Fox Sparrow 2, Song Sparrow 11, Swamp Sparrow 1, White-Throated Sparrow 64, Dark-eyed Junco 1695, Lapland Longspur 1, Northern Cardinal 127, Red-winged Blackbird 1, Purple Finch 37, House Finch 109, Pine Siskin 35, American Goldfinch 1198, House Sparrow 667.
We have a winner! Congratulations to Paul Cote of Winchendon for winning the $500.00 gas raffle his raffle ticket was number 69 (the year I graduated, I knew I wanted that number). The ticket was sold by club board member Bob Mallet, Thanks to everyone who purchased a ticket to support the Millers River Environmental Center the $1,000 profit will help keep our Center warm this winter...
Happy New Year to All
Start the New Year Right, Join us on an ABNC adventure!
Sunday, January 1, all day “New Year” Seabird and Gull Excursion
Our annual ritual to Massachusetts' premier winter birding location. Meet at 7 a.m. at the Center, or call ahead to join the group at 9 a.m. at Friendly's off the Rte 128 circle in Gloucester. Bring snacks and EXTREME cold weather clothing! Info: Mark Taylor 413-498-4380 or bird...@hughes.net.
<<>> Wednesday, January 11, 7 p.m. Meeting
At our regular meeting here at the Center, award-winning nature photographer Gail Hansche Godin will show us how to find wildlife photo opportunities close to home and all year round, luring subjects with their favorite foods, flowers, shrubs, trees and water attractions. She’ll demonstrate how backyard photography lets us learn about the nature in our own back yards and prepares us for those important trips to exotic locales.
<<>> Wednesday, February 8, 7 p.m. Attracting Wildlife for the Nature Photographer
Henry Cramer
<<>> Wednesday, March 14, 7 p.m. Butterflies Near and Far
Join expert naturalist Sue Cloutier here at the Center for our regular monthly meeting, an evening of butterfly photos that will take you from your own neighborhood to the Arctic in search of these beautiful insects.
Tuesday, April 10, 8-10 a.m. Accessible Birding with Joe
Join Joe Superchi on the second Tuesday of the month visiting local sites. Open to birders of all abilities. Meet at the Center. Call ahead for wheelchair van access, 978-248-9491.
<<>> Wednesday, April 11, 7 p.m. The Wolves of New England
Michael LeBlanc, who has been studying wolves since 1978, both in the wild and in captivity, will clarify the many misconceptions that exist about wolves, share his first-hand knowledge of their habits, and tell the history of this remarkable animal that once roamed and hunted in this area. Accompanying LeBlanc will be Denahee, a wolf he has raised since birth. Note: This monthly meeting will be held at Liberty Hall at the Athol Town Hall (584 Main St.) and is ABNC’s gift to the town of Athol in celebration of its 350th anniversary.
Saturday, April 28, 6 a.m. Mount Auburn Cemetery
Visit this beautiful historic cemetery, a famous spring hotspot for migrating songbirds. Meet at the Center for carpooling at 6 a.m. or at the gate at 7:30 a.m. (Let us know if you’ll be meeting us at the gate.) If time allows, we’ll also visit the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Info: Joan or Larry Duprey, 978-249-4964.
Friday, May 4, 8:45 a.m. Friday Mornings with Earle
Join naturalist Earle Baldwin in exploring some of his favorite places – this time Thousand Acre Dam and Little Falls. Meet at the Center. Rain cancels. Info: Earle Baldwin, earleb...@gmail.com or 249-9436. Part of ABNC’s celebration of Athol 2012.
SAVE JANUARY DATES TO COUNT EAGLES
As part of an annual nationwide Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey, anyone spotting an eagle in Massachusetts from January 4, 2012 - January 18, 2012 is strongly encouraged to report their sighting to the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW). Please provide date, time, location, and town, number of birds, juvenile or adult bird, and observer contact information. Images are welcome, but not required. Report sightings either to: Mass.w...@state.ma.usor by postal mail to "Eagle Survey", MassWildlife, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA, 01581.
Dr. Tom French, DFW’s Assistant Director of Natural Heritage and Endangered Species, noted that citizen interest in the eagle survey has been very help ful. "With higher numbers of eagles dispersing throughout their range, we can't possibly cover the entire state. Citizen spotters play an increasingly important role in our survey efforts. In January of 2011, we received 61 emailed reports from people who saw eagles during the 2-week survey period."
A target date of January 6, 2012 will be used for a concentrated survey of major rivers, lakes, reservoirs and the coast by staff from the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and volunteers across the state. In 2011, a record 107 bald eagles were documented in Massachusetts during the one-day event. A fact sheet on bald eagles can be found at: www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/species_info/nhfacts/haliaeetus_leucocephalus.pdf.
Dave Small
Athol Massachusetts