2005 Christmas Bird Count (12/17/05) Highlights

The small ponds and lakes were frozen over which resulted in the total number of ducks being down. The total species seen on count day was 87 which is the fourth highest, only the previous three years with 93, 88 and 92 were higher. The average for all counts is 82. The total number of 11,111 birds is the second lowest in the last 12 years, only 2000 with 9961 was lower. The average over the past 17 years is 16,621.

A single Sandhill Crane in the South Snoqualmie area was a first for our CBC. A Snowy Owl at Carnation Farms was a first also, but since it was not seen on the count day it did not count toward the total species. A Northern Pygmy-Owl at Moss Lake was the second for our CBC, one was reported in 1985. Red Crossbills and a Peregrine Falcon were seen for only the fourth time. There were 159 Cackling Geese (155 at Marymoor) reported. This is a new split from the Canada Goose was the first time the Cackling Goose has been counted as a separate species in the CBC.

With a low count for total birds, it was a surprise that we had high counts for six species and second highest counts for five species. The 78 Pied-billed Grebes exceeded the previous high of 52 in 2002. The 156 Double-crested Cormorants bettered the 125 reported in 2002 and 1996. Four Anna’s Hummingbirds tied with four seen in 2004. The 21 Common Ravens exceeded the 13 seen in 2003. The 297 Black-capped Chickadees was higher than the 232 seen in 2002. Golden-crowned Sparrows also set a record with 224 which far exceeded the previous high of 84 in 2003. Second highest counts were for 137 Northern Shoveler, 107 Green-winged Teal, 33 Bald Eagles, 78 Steller’s Jays and 62 White-crowned Sparrows.

Low counts were recorded for Common Goldeneye with five compared with 11 in 1999, 15 Ruddy Ducks compared to previous low of 18 in 1993 and 96 Rock Pigeons compared to 104 in 2003. Only 52 Red-winged Blackbirds was a second lowest total with only 9 in 1991.

This was our 22nd CBC dating back to our first in 1981. I have no records of counts for 1982, 1983 and 1989. I have summary reports for the 2005 count and for any year from 1996. A summary of all counts is available for 1981 thru 1995 and also for 1996 thru 2005. Requests for any reports can be made to Hugh Jennings at: hughbirder@earthlink.net.