Local bird count mimics declining worldwide numbers

Birds are everywhere, and I never stop marveling at these colorful animals that can effortlessly fly away into the skies when danger threatens.

I think all of us envy the freedom of birds, although their short lives are far from easy.

While deer hunting recently from a ground blind, one of my favorite birds came close for a brief visit. He never knew I was there, but I quickly snapped a few photos to remember my encounter with the crow-sized bird known as the pileated woodpecker.

Christmas is a special time of year for both children and adults, but it’s very special for birdwatchers. The annual National Audubon Society Christmas Count is a tradition that sparks the imaginations of the organization’s members and helpers nationwide. It’s not only an opportunity to perhaps add a bird species or two to someone’s life list, but also a significant scientific tool to determine the relative health of various species.

Scientists worldwide have been observing a major decline in many bird species, and locally, Christmas count participants recorded significant declines, too. Although the causes of declining bird numbers aren’t known for sure, observers in the Green Bay area suggested that the weather during their count was probably the reason for low numbers.

Coordinating the Shawano-area count was Tim Ewing, the director and naturalist at Navarino Nature Center. This was the 54th year for the count, which dates back to 1965. The Audubon Society coordinates the effort, and Shawano’s count centered on Shawano Lake, including Shawano, Cecil, the Cloverleaf Lakes and down to the nature center.

“While the number of species seen was average, the number of birds seen was an all-time low,” Ewing said.

A total of 22 people (six field observers and the remainder watching their home feeders) helped with the Dec. 21 count (the official Audubon Society count had to take place between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5.) More details on the count count can be found at www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count.

The typical winter day of 28 to 39 degrees revealed 44 species and 3,269 individual birds, Ewing reported. In addition to a number of common species such as blue jays, American kestrels, black-capped chickadees and barred owls, trumpeter swans and bald eagles also were counted. So were common ravens, pine siskins, cedar waxwings, Northern shrikes and pileated woodpeckers.

Shawano-area observers were Ewing, Richard and Julie Radtke, Ron and Lynn Ackley, Dean and Mary-Anne Schoenike, Sue Malliet, Donna Huebner, June Brockman, Dave and Jean Bartels, Claire DeNell, Gary and Barb Behnke, Myrtle Behnke, Al and Ruthann Meiers, Bob Wendt, Donna Svetnicka and Al and Gloria Pyatskowit.

The Pyatskowits observed a western species, the varied thrush, at their feeder north of Shawano, but on a different day, so the sighting did not officially count.

John Jacobs, vice president of the Northeastern Wisconsin Audubon Society, Green Bay, said his group’s Christmas count turned up the lowest numbers in a decade, but he believed bad weather was the culprit.

A total of 33 birders (with 14 parties in the field and a dozen monitoring feeders) did their Green Bay area count on Dec. 14. The group saw just 54 species and 9,662 individual birds (both the lowest since 2011).

“The early cold fall-winter must have moved birds out of the area,” Jacobs said on the official report. It was about 28 degrees with 5 inches of snow on the ground that day.

A ruffed grouse, a ring-necked pheasant, a peregrine falcon and a belted kingfisher were among the day’s good finds. Jacobs’ report noted no red-winged blackbirds, few waterfowl and winter finches, but a large number of red-tailed and rough-legged hawks.

The National Audubon Society is continuing to compile the data for a final report, but as of Tuesday night has tallied nearly 8 million birds from 639 separate counts. This is the 120th year for the event.

Ross Bielema is a freelance writer from New London and owner of Wolf River Concealed Carry LLC. Contact him at Ross@wolfriverccw.com.