This year’s annual Winter Census on the Lumberton campus on January 23 was also cold, but relatively productive, recording 47 species and 5,166 individuals. Canada Geese were the most numerous (4,000 on Monarch Lake and 500 on Rancocas Creek) and they were joined by four Snow Geese. Mallards, Pintails, Common Mergansers, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Ducks and a single female Common Goldeneye, all were new arrivals with the January cold. We continue to see Bald Eagles, with two adults this year. The Great Horned Owl that was seen fairly regularly before the census was not recorded on count day. White-throated Sparrows were numerous (on both campuses) with a few Swamp and Song Sparrows and a male Eastern Towhee. Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Downy Woodpeckers continue to be the most numerous of their family. We also saw three Hairy Woodpeckers in one tree, and recorded a couple of Northern Flickers and one Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Surprisingly, a couple of Cooper’s Hawks and a few Turkey Vultures were the only other raptors seen.

Participants:  Ann Campbell, Joe Costanza, Mike DeLozier, Dino Fiabane, Holly Hoffman, Robert Koch, Laurie Larson, Pete McCord, Suzan Preiksat, Kathy Riley, Miriam Swartz, Joyce Watson.

Photos:  Robert Koch