104th ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT 12-20-2003

Oxford Audubon Society:

Christmas Bird Count, 1993-2003

Christmas Bird Count Frequency of Species by Years

SPECIES	AVERAGE 11 YEARS	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994	1993
Common Loon	1.27	1	0	1	0	7	0	0	5	0	0	0
Pied-billed Grebe	2.73	2	1	3	0	7	6	4	1	1	5	0
Horned Grebe	0.91	1	0	1	0	0	6	0	0	0	0	2
Great Blue Heron	8.18	5	18	16	6	12	13	2	5	10	0	3
Black Vulture	0.82	5	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	9.73	6	6	0	50	0	0	0	0	0	0	45
Canada Geese	270.27	234	238	336	348	148	47	151	391	450	445	185
Mute Swan	0.09	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tundra Swan	0.09	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Wood Duck	0.64	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	4	0	0	0
Gadwall	4.45	34	0	0	9	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
American Widgeon	2.45	1	0	0	12	2	11	0	0	1	0	0
Black Duck	55.55	0	17	0	9	2	2	6	25	183	148	219
Mallard	810.91	471	791	69	687	407	264	502	976	2176	1097	1480
Ring-necked Duck	0.36	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Greater Scaup	0.36	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lesser Scaup	2.73	1	9	17	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Common Goldeneye	7.73	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	18	35	0	29
Bufflehead	4.00	5	11	1	0	0	4	0	15	8	0	0
Hooded Merganser	19.00	0	5	0	0	2	3	7	0	61	112	19
Common Merganser	4.73	0	1	0	13	2	0	0	5	30	1	0
Red-breasted Merganser	0.36	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	0
Ruddy Duck	1.91	0	5	0	0	6	0	0	0	2	8	0
Northern Harrier	3.91	5	4	6	7	2	5	4	5	0	5	0
Sharp-shinned Hawk	2.55	7	4	2	1	2	2	2	2	3	2	1
Cooper's Hawk	1.36	1	1	2	1	4	1	0	2	2	0	1
Broad Winged Hawk	0.18	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Red-tailed Hawk	14.18	15	11	25	7	15	9	16	8	19	20	11
Rough-legged Hawk	0.09	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Bald Eagle	0.18	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Kestrel	14.73	11	14	17	11	13	12	29	12	11	20	12
Merlin	0.09	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Pheasant	0.18	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Turkey	0.82	0	0	0	0	0	9	0	0	0	0	0
Northern Bobwhite	4.91	0	0	2	0	2	28	0	1	9	0	12
Coot	4.73	0	0	0	0	9	10	0	4	1	28	0
Sandhill Crane	1.55	17	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Killdeer	3.73	6	0	6	1	20	1	0	7	0	0	0
Bonaparte's Gull	0.45	4	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ring-billed Gull	238.73	53	200	375	478	190	352	67	34	350	363	164
Herring Gull	6.27	0	0	45	3	2	1	0	1	17	0	0
Rock Dove	51.27	40	53	2	80	7	86	103	46	52	75	20
Mourning Dove	228.36	288	298	176	192	157	87	229	94	519	261	211
Eastern Screech Owl	0.55	1	1	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0
Great Horned Owl	1.64	4	3	1	0	2	2	2	1	0	3	0
Barred Owl	2.36	3	2	4	0	1	3	7	1	2	2	1
Long-eared Owl	0.09	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Belted Kingfisher	7.64	6	6	17	3	6	13	4	4	5	7	13
Red-bellied Woodpecker	45.45	56	53	63	13	75	52	46	40	34	38	30
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	1.73	0	2	4	2	1	3	0	3	1	1	2
Downy Woodpecker	44.18	36	40	37	22	66	72	49	33	40	59	32
Hairy Woodpecker	7.91	4	11	7	4	9	11	9	10	9	6	7
Northern Flicker	23.91	36	8	22	11	25	38	29	11	19	14	50
Pileated Woodpecker	8.73	14	9	10	2	11	12	11	5	8	6	8
Blue Jay	61.09	90	65	70	32	92	70	35	37	82	63	36
Crow	173.36	68	73	200	89	221	295	334	170	212	148	97
Horned Lark	13.18	74	1	40	6	6	0	0	16	2	0	0
Barn Swallow	0.09	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Carolina Chickadee	174.27	179	137	163	101	218	261	290	143	164	165	96
Tufted Titmouse	67.55	72	63	73	29	69	75	84	81	91	63	43
Red-breasted Nuthatch	3.45	2	1	3	0	13	0	0	0	10	1	8
White-breasted Nuthatch	41.82	46	37	53	17	53	43	76	43	56	20	16
Brown Creeper	6.82	4	14	7	0	2	6	2	6	9	9	16
Carolina Wren	22.82	19	47	28	8	10	28	20	10	45	11	25
Winter Wren	0.27	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
Golden-crowned Kinglet	8.00	0	7	18	4	0	12	0	13	24	1	9
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	0.73	3	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Eastern Bluebird	58.82	22	67	84	60	93	59	69	15	78	65	35
Hermit Thrush	1.18	4	0	1	1	1	5	1	0	0	0	0
American Robin	513.55	388	768	701	493	1655	379	80	224	237	423	301
Gray Catbird	0.18	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Northern Mockingbird	10.36	14	20	10	12	5	16	11	7	9	7	3
Brown Thrasher	0.09	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
European Starling	1721.55	1410	1060	4243	1910	3470	1076	870	685	2005	864	1344
American Pipit	2.27	4	21	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cedar Waxwing	46.18	7	149	14	129	37	20	15	33	48	47	9
Yellow-rumped warbler	6.27	15	0	20	2	12	14	3	0	1	0	2
Rufous-sided Towhee	3.91	4	2	5	2	5	10	1	2	2	2	8
American Tree Sparrow	37.82	11	7	24	49	91	85	25	16	43	40	25
Chipping Sparrow	1.64	0	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	9	0
Field Sparrow	3.45	1	0	0	0	1	3	9	11	0	1	12
Fox Sparrow	1.18	2	0	0	1	2	4	1	0	0	3	0
Song Sparrow	38.00	23	19	18	9	70	6	34	36	98	77	28
Swamp Sparrow	0.82	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	0	1
White-throated Sparrow	63.64	101	34	94	40	94	96	36	24	101	24	56
White-crowned Sparrow	5.36	7	4	3	5	12	6	3	5	8	2	4
Dark-eyed Junco	179.64	275	126	131	96	256	303	179	198	161	136	115
Lapland Longspur	0.00	0	0	0	cw	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Snow Bunting	0.00	0	0	0	cw	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Northern Cardinal	183.64	148	128	199	97	260	236	195	174	270	142	171
Red-winged Black Bird	0.45	0	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Eastern Meadowlark	3.09	5	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	22	3	3
Brewer's Blackbird	18.27	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	200	0	0
Common Grackle	6.00	0	1	40	0	0	0	0	0	12	13	0
Brown-headed Cowbird	7.64	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	71	2
Purple Finch	1.27	8	0	0	0	1	5	0	0	0	0	0
House Finch	71.55	39	73	21	52	121	97	26	58	94	120	86
Pine Siskin	0.82	1	0	6	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
American Goldfinch	107.09	77	71	99	82	306	82	126	165	47	33	90
House Sparrow	228.36	235	361	87	609	161	143	210	212	259	136	99
Average Numbers	average numbers seen 5588.82	4,746	5,187	7,742	5,913	8,558	4,606	4,017	4,154	8,463	5,438	5,298
Total Species	Average number of species 60.27	70	59	67	56	65	63	49	57	63	60	54

COUNT SUMMARY

Center of count: 39 30'N 84 45'W, as described in 1972, center Rt. 73 bridge over 4-Mile Creek E. of Oxford OHIO

Date: Dec. 20, 2003, sunrise=7:52 am (EST); sunset= 5:17 pm
Official Count Times: 0700 a.m. to 1700 p.m.
Temperature: 25.9 to 30.9 degrees F. Humidity = 15%; dewpoint = 18.4%; Pressure = 30.00 steady;
Wind: calm 7.0 mph WSW. Precipitation = .00 in.
Water: 75% Open (not frozen),
AM Cloudy; PM Sunny; Visability = 9.7.
Observers: 26 in 12 parties (non-owling) + 2 hour owling
Total Party Hours: 156
Party Miles: 238 @40 hours and 60 miles on foot, 20 hours and 190 miles by car
Total Species: 70
Total Individuals: 4,746
Report filed by Lawrence W. Sherman, 12/22/2003
Paid Participants ($6 each) [22=$132.00](4 first timers=$24.00 paid by AudubonMiamiValley) = $156.00 total participation fee.

Weather From http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KLUK/2003/12/20/DailyHistory.html?FULLALMANAC=KCVG Christmas Bird Count 2003 participants included 26 people, of which 4 were first timers. AudubonMiamiValley paid their participation fees ($6.00 each) while all 'old timers' contributed $6.00 each. A special note of thanks to each of the 12 "trip leaders":Paul Anderson, Debra Bowles, Sharon Edwards, Hardy and Barbara Eshbaugh, Ann Geddes, Bell Heck, Dave Osborne, Neil Poppendeck, Bill Pratt, Jim Reid, and Leslye Sherman. Partipants includeed: Paul Anderson, Oxford, OH
Mike Ball, Oxford, OH
Debra Bowles, Oxford, OH
+Dave Dister, Germantown, OH
Sharon Edwards, Oxford, OH
Hardy and Barb Eshbaugh, Oxford, OH
Ann Geddes, Oxford, OH
Bill Heck, Oxford, OH
Chuck Holliday, Hamilton, OH
+Jeanette Jaskula, Oxford, OH
Jack Keegan, Oxford, OH
Annie Nielson, Oxford, OH
Dave Osborne, Oxford, OH
Neil and Laura Poppendeck, Hamilton, OH
Bill Pratt, Oxford, OH
Jim Reid, Oxford, OH
+Gail Reynolds, Oxford, OH
Larry and Leslye Sherman, Oxford, OH
Ryan Stander, Oxford, OH
Beverly Thomas, Oxford, OH
+Jean Vance, Oxford, OH
Bill Wilson, Oxford, OH
Liz Woedl, Oxford, OH

+ indicates first time participant

REVISED PRESS RELEASE: 12/22/2004

104th Christmas Bird Count of the AudubonMiamiValley Chapter of the National Audubon Society

Twenty-six birdwatchers were on hand for the 104th Annual 2003 Oxford Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December 20th. Nice weather (25 to 30 degrees and clear and sunny) brought out both the birdwatchers and the birds. Whereas last year we had 23 people, this year we had 26 birdwatchers who took to the field, certainly not as many as our all time high of 51 people five years ago. They came up with a total of 70 species, 12 more than last year yet short of the record 74 species seen in 1974. The number of birds tallied was 4746 individuals, considerably below our 11 year average of 5829. Of special note among the sightings were 1410 European Starlings [our most frequent species as usual!], followed by 471 Mallard Ducks, 380 American Robbins, 288 Mourning doves, 275 Juncos, 235 House Sparrows,and 234 Canada Geese. Of special note were the 17 Sandhill Cranes (a first time sighting for our count) and 4 American Pipits [the second count in which we have seen them] as well as one lone Loon on Acton lake. The Sandhill Cranes have usually migrated South by this time of year and their presence this year might indicate the mild Fall tempratures or possibly even a sign of "Global Warming". Our Duck populations have been steadily in decline since Acton Lake has been opened to duck hunting, especially during the time of our Christmas Bird Count. Other species observed in our count included 2 Pied billed Grebes, 1 Horned Grebe, 5 Great Blue Herons, 5 Black Vultures, 6 Turkey Vultures, 234 Canada Geese, 3 Gadwall Ducks, 1 American Widgeon, 467 Mallards, 1 Lesser Scaup, 5 Buffleheads, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Northern Harriers, 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 Cooper's Hawk, 1 Broad-winged Hawk, 15 Red-tailed Hawks, 11 Kestrels, 1 Pheasant, 17 Sandhill Cranes, 53 Ring-billed Gulls, 40 Rock Doves, 288 Mourning Doves, 1 Eastern Screech Owl, 5 Great Horned Owles, 4 Barred Owls, 6 Kingfishers, 54 Red-bellied woodpeckers, 36 Downy Woodpeckers, 4 Hairy Woodpeckers, 36 Northern Flickers, 14 Pileated Woodpeckers, 90 Blue Jays, 68 Crows (considerably down in number from our 11 year average of 173.36), 74 Horned Larks, 179 Carolina Chicakdees, 72 Tufted Titmice, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 48 White-breasted Nuthatches, 4 Brown Creepers, 19 Carolina Wrens, 1 Winter Wren, 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 22 Bluebirds, 4 Hermit Thrushes, 388 American Robins, 14 Mockingbirds, 1410 European Starlings, 4 American Pipits, 7 Ceder Waxwings, 15 Yellow-rumped warblers, 4 Rufus-sided Towhees, 11 American Tree Sparrows, 1 Field Sparrow, 2 Fox Sparrows, 23 Song Sparrows, 101 White-throated Sparrows, 7 White-crowned Sparrows, 275 Dark-eyed Juncos, 148 Cardinals (our State Bird), 5 Meadowlarks, 11 Brown headed Cowbirds, 8 Purple Finches, 39 House Finches, 1 Pine Siskin, 77 American Goldfinches, and 235 House Sparrows.

Twenty-six veteran and first-time birders participated in the annual 104th National Audubon Christmas Count, including: Paul Anderson, Mike Ball, Debra Bowles, Dave Dister, Sharon Edwards, Hardy and Barb Eshbaugh, Ann Geddes, Bill Heck, Chuck Holliday, Jeanette Jaskula, Jack Keegan, Annie Nielson, Dave Osborne, Neil and Laura Poppendeck, Bill Pratt, Jim Reid, Gail Reynolds, Larry and Leslye Sherman, Ryan Stander, Beverly Thomas, Jean Vance, Bill Wilson and Liz Woedl. Liz Woedl helped with observations at the Birdfeeders throughout the day, as well. A special note of thanks to each of the12 "trip leaders" Debra Bowles, Sharon Edwards, Barb and Hardy Eshbaugh, Ann Geddes, Annie Nielson, Dave Osborn, Bill Pratt, Jim Reid, Larry and Leslye Sherman, and Liz Woedl. When the totals were recorded at noon at Miami University's Ecological Research Center on Somerville Road where the count started, Liz Woedl and many others, once again supplied the welcome lunch for all participants. Many thanks to Liz and everyone else who brought on the food! Larry Sherman organized and compiled the results and has also made them available on the WWW at the following URL: http://www.orgs.muohio.edu/audubonmiamivalley. Our data were submitted via the Internet to National Audubon's Christmas Bird Count Center. People interested in seeing the total results for North America are advised to go to their web site at the following URL: http://www.audubon.org/Bird/cbc/index.html