In 1963 Catherine and George Thexton started the Balmoral Christmas tradition of counting birds with the help of friends and neighbours. This effort added to a growing network of Christmas Bird Counts that started in the USA in 1900. Thirty years ago, Catherine Thexton asked Jim Duncan and his wife Patsy to take over and coordinate the annual Balmoral Count.
Humans and birds alike enjoyed mild temperatures and limited snow during this year’s count last month.
An impressive 37 volunteers helped including Charlene Berkvens, Pauline Bloom, Tim Byers, Dave Byle, Emmy Byle, Bob Cameron, Cindy Cameron, Laura Cliff, Sue Cosens, Jim Duncan, Patsy Duncan, Desiree Fowler, Gary Lacoste, Bob Makowski, Terry Makowski, Kim Meyers, Carol Morgan, John Morgan, Doyle Nugent, Malachi Nugent, Quinn Nugent, Shawna Nugent, Gerry Recksiedler, Maureen Recksiedler, Gaylene Robertson, Jim Roger, Johanna Roger, Don Sexton, Merlin Shoesmith, Stuart Slattery, Helen Slavuta, Tyler Thievin-Andres, Hilary Versavel, Luc Versavel, Glen Weaver, Sherry Weaver, and Allan Webb.
A total of 2,193 individuals (32 species) were counted including 625 Common Redpolls, 391 Snow Buntings, 247 Common Ravens, 176 House Sparrows, 147 Black-capped Chickadees, 97 Sharp-tailed Grouse, 83 Blue Jays, 53 Pine Siskins, 41 Gray Partridge, 39 Bohemian Waxwings, 37 Black-billed Magpies, 36 White-breasted Nuthatches, 28 Pine Grosbeaks, 27 Downy Woodpeckers, 25 Rock Pigeons, 23 Hairy Woodpeckers, 23 House Finches, 21 Unidentified redpolls, 16 Bald Eagles, 16 European Starlings, 9 Dark-eyed Juncos, 8 Pileated Woodpeckers, 6 Ruffed Grouse, 5 American Crows, 5 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 4 Mallards, 1 Golden Eagle, 1 Hoary Redpoll, 1 Northern Shrike, 1 Northern Harrier, and 1 Snowy Owl.
One of the benefits of long-term monitoring is the ability to detect changes in bird numbers and distribution over the years, which may be due to climate change. Volunteers detected two new birds this year: a Golden Eagle and a Northern Harrier!
The Redpoll was the most common bird detected this year at backyard feeders, in forests and in open fields in large flocks. It is a cute bird with a yellow bill and a red patch on its forehead (see picture). Irruptive migrations of Common Redpolls typically occur every two years or so (see graph). Here are six fun facts about this bird:
• They can travel great distances … one banded in Michigan was recovered in eastern Siberia!
• They eat up to 42 per cent of their body mass every day.
• They can store seeds in their expandable throats.
• They can live up to seven years.
• They can survive to -54°C and have 32 per cent more feathers in winter.
• In freezing weather they tunnel and roost under snow to keep warm.
Submitted by Jim Duncan
