Moorestown Christmas Bird Count at Medford Leas (12/23/2018)
On December 23 2019, the Medford Leas birders contributed a day’s censusing to the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. This count has been going on since 1901 and is the longest and largest bird census project ever conducted. All counts are organized in circles of 7 mile radius; Medford Leas is in a circle that centers on Moorestown and all counts in this circle are taken on the same day, with the circle subdivided into territories covered by small teams. There are thousands of circles, throughout the world. For more information you can visit this web site:
https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count
The ML team covered trails on the two Medford Leas campuses, the Rancocas Creek at Lumberton Leas, and Monarch Lake, the lake visible from our overlook near the Lumberton Leas tennis courts. In addition, observers reported birds at their home feeders. Weather was calm and clear, with temperatures in the upper 30s.
The most unusual bird for the day was a Great Egret, which Robert had observed several days earlier and which stayed around to be counted. Other highlights included Pied-billed Grebe, Winter Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Field Sparrow.
Bird List:
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Great Egret 1
Canada Goose 500
Mallard 2
Common Merganser 12
Black Vulture 8
Turkey Vulture 10
Ring-billed Gull 35
Mourning Dove 2
Belted Kingfsher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 10
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 17
American Crow 6
Fish Crow 13
Carolina Chickadee 24
Tufted Titmouse 16
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 15
Carolina Wren 8
Winter Wren 1
American Robin 49
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 13
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Northern Cardinal 16
Field Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 15
Dark-eyed Junco 38
House Finch 48
American Goldfinch 26
House Sparrow 13
