The ML Birders conducted their annual winter census on 01/23/2021 for the Medford Campus. The weather was very cold and windy with brilliant sunshine. The only modification we had to make to the old adage of  “no such thing as bad weather only bad clothing” was the addition of the socially responsible mask.

Over the years the number of species seen has remained fairly constant ranging from a low of 22 to a high of 30 at Medford. The numbers fluctuate depending on various factors such as the weather, number of observers, availability of food for migrating birds and even the fickle nature of the birds themselves. That is, you can bird an area one day and find it very productive and return the next day and find it very sparse. So what we are getting is a snapshot in time on our census day. However, birding an area on a regular basis and compiling our census data from year to year does give us some indications of how our local population is faring. The general consensus is that the woodland bird species remain diverse but their individual numbers are down, on both campuses.

At the Medford campus this year we found 24 species and 388 individuals. A highlight this year was the very first appearance of an Eastern Phoebe in the 34 years of this winter census, a flycatcher which often tries to survive through mild winters by eating berries and other fruit.

Most of the individuals were flyovers of Canada Geese (214). Pine Siskins (3) were spotted by Janet DeVry at her feeder . White-throated Sparrows dominated the song bird numbers. We saw two Hermit Thrushes this year (one in the Holly Trees on the Red Trail near the canoe launch and the other at the edge of the meadow by Bridlington. An immature Bald Eagle was soaring over the garden area and a Red-tailed Hawk over Bridlington. Two Cooper’s Hawks were seen and we think one of them spooked the feeder birds in the Rushmore area. Birds missed from past counts were Yellow-rumped Warbler (also missed at Lumberton), Northern Flicker and Crow.

Participants: Dino Fiabane, Suzan Preiksat and Mike DeLozier, Holly Hoffman, Robert Koch, Laurie Larson, Miriam Swartz and Jean Tindall. Feeder data: Ann Campbell, Joe Costanza and Janet DeVry.