Augusta CBC 12/15/19

[Glenn Hodgkins]

The Augusta CBC happened on the windy day of Dec. 15th, having been postponed from the previous rainy day. Thirty-one of us counted 16,396 birds. The species total (52) and numbers for many species were about average. We had record numbers for some species, particularly waterfowl, given the open water on local lakes and ponds. Some notable birds and numbers:

• Turkey Vulture was a new count species, not seen in our 50 years of counting
• The Merlin was our first for count day, we had one count week in 1987
• Record totals for Northern Flicker (3), Common Goldeneye (125), Common Merganser (256), and Hooded Merganser (78)
• 2nd highest for American Crow (11,282), Belted Kingfisher (3), and Common Loon (8)
• 3rd highest for American Robin (100), Bald Eagle (72), Cedar Waxwing (305), and Red-tailed Hawk (10)
• Peregrine Falcon (count week), first since 2008
• High numbers for Brown Creeper
• Low numbers for American Tree Sparrow, Blue Jay, Hairy Woodpecker (lowest since 1995), Mourning Dove, and Wild Turkey (by far the lowest since they started appearing in numbers in the 2000 CBC).
• A single Bohemian Waxwing
  
• No Redpolls, Siskins, Grosbeaks, or Crossbills