[Maine-birds] Stanton Lewiston / Auburn CBC Results

Here is my first review of the numbers for yesterday's count. Note that some numbers may change, but not much. No new species are expected.

The Stanton Bird Club of Lewiston / Auburn conducted their annual Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. Twenty-seven people participated. The weather was better than expected with generally warm temperatures (30s), light wind, but a brief snow squall in the early afternoon. Most lakes were frozen or nearly so, Lake Auburn being a major exception. Rivers and streams were generally open, high, and running fast.

A total of 52 species were found, slightly above average but exactly the same as the two previous years. The total of individual birds was 7209, also above average. No new species were added to the count, although Lesser Scaup were clearly found on Lake Auburn which appear to have been noted as Scaup-sp. in past years. In general, it was a good year for irruptive species, also good for gulls, but not good for ducks.

New high counts (since 1980) were Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, and European Starling. Those over the average since 2000 included Northern Cardinal, Common Redpoll, and all the gulls. A Pied-billed Grebe was found on Lake Auburn, only the fifth time found on the count. A first year Great Cormorant was between the falls and the old Grand Trunk RR bridge, first since 2005. A Cooper's Hawk as photographed by Nancy Muir eating a pigeon and protecting it from overhead gulls, and the Peregrine Falcon was watched eating a Starling. Carolle Jean's group heard a Great Horned Owl calling in Lisbon. Jim Walker captured a great photograph of a first year Northern Shrike on Hardscabble Rd. Auburn.

Species under their recent average include Mallard, Bald Eagle, American Crow, and American Tree Sparrow. The most significant miss was American Black Duck, first time missed since 1980 when the count started.

The final numbers are still subject to change until all final reports are received. The full list is:
Canada Goose - 9
Mallard - 146
Lesser Scaup - 80
Common Goldeneye - 23
Hooded Merganser - 14
Common Merganser - 38
Wild Turkey - 149
Common Loon - 5
Pied-billed Grebe - 1
Horned Grebe - 2
Great Cormorant - 1
Bald Eagle - 4 all adult
Cooper's Hawk - 3
Red-tailed Hawk - 3
Ring-billed Gull - 232
Herring Gull - 318
Great Black-backed Gull - 9
Rock Pigeon - 744
Mourning Dove - 322
Great Horned Owl - 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 36
Hairy Woodpecker - 20
Pileated Woodpecker - 2
Peregrine Falcon - 1
Northern Shrike - 1
Blue Jay - 125
American Crow - 585
Common Raven - 4
Black-capped Chickadee - 369
Tufted Titmouse - 37
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 3
White-breasted Nuthatch - 46
Brown Creeper - 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2
Eastern Bluebird - 16
American Robin - 39
Northern Mockingbird - 9
European Starling - 3140
Bohemian Waxwing - 75
Cedar Waxwing - 26
Snow Bunting - 3
American Tree Sparrow - 15
Song Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 4
Dark-eyed Junco - 43
Northern Cardinal - 38
Pine Grosbeak - 20
House Finch - 23
Common Redpoll - 296
American Goldfinch - 81
House Sparrow - 41

--   Stan DeOrsey  jsmd@att.net