26 volunteers counted 50 species (total 23,683 birds) on count day with an additional 2 species during count week. The windy and warm weather were factors in the lower count numbers. When the river is partly frozen, duck species bunch together in open areas which means easier counting. The gusty winds Great Falls had over several days can result in birds holding tight rather than flying in the wind. However, bird feeder watchers may not notice a difference in their numbers as feeders are usually placed in somewhat protected areas. On the annual Christmas Bird Count Day, we wish folks with feeders would consider reporting their findings to us or perhaps allow us to observe their feeder that day.
In spite of the wind, we enjoyed the day scouting for the birds which call the Great Falls area home in December! Upper Missouri Breaks Audubon (UMBA)Chapter welcomes new folks with or without birding experience. Please consider joining the count next December!
Following is the list of observed species and numbers. (cw= count week, not count day)
Cackling Goose 1 Northern Flicker(unknown species) 22
Canada Goose 18,686 Northern Red-shafted Flicker 19
American Wigeon 2 Black-billed Magpie 207
Mallard 313 American Crow 8
Redhead 10 Common Raven 8
Ring-necked Duck 1 Horned Lark 27
Lesser Scaup 6 Black-capped Chickadee 271
Bufflehead 66 Red-breasted Nuthatch 5
Common Goldeneye 270 Brown Creeper 1
Barrow’s Goldeneye 20 American Dipper 1
Hooded Merganser 13 American Robin 16
Common Merganser 10 European Starling 1209
Ring-necked Pheasant 25 Cedar Waxwing 7
Wild Turkey 39 American Tree Sparrow 30
Pied-billed Grebe 1 Song Sparrow 1
American White Pelican 3 Dark-eyed(Oregon) Junco 15
Double-crested Cormorant cw Dark-eyed(Slate) Junco 5
Bald Eagle 26 House Finch 242
Northern Harrier 2 House Sparrow 818
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 Tundra Swan 1
Cooper’s Hawk 1 Blue Jay 2
Red-tailed Hawk 8
Rough-legged Hawk 20
Golden Eagle 4
Merlin 5
Prairie Falcon 1
American Coot 165
Killdeer cw
Ring-billed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 850
Eurasian-collared Dove 252
Great Horned Owl 3
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 9