Medford Leas 31st Annual Bird Census, January 10, 2018
Four ML Birders lucked out with a bright, sunny, windless and by mid-morning almost “balmy” day to count the campus birds. Most of the expected birds we commonly see were present
Here are results of the Medford Leas Winter Bird Census, annual since January 1988, and other projects such as the Bluebird Trail.
Each year has a page, and summary tables are also available:
Four ML Birders lucked out with a bright, sunny, windless and by mid-morning almost “balmy” day to count the campus birds. Most of the expected birds we commonly see were present
After two rainy and windy days the ML Birders were able to take their census on a day that, weather wise at least, improved through the morning and ended in bright sun and relatively warm temperatures.
The Medford Leas avian census takers met at the Nature Center on a dreary day for the numerators as well as the objects of their pursuit. The woodland trails were eerily silent with only a scattering of birds seen or heard.
A cold (upper 20’s) sunny but windless day greeted the ML Birders at the start of the count. It was spotty for land birds early on but good for waterfowl.
On a cold blustery day the Medford Leas Birders met at the Nature Center at 8 a.m. to commence our sightings and listings. While the temperature never got out of the 20’s the bright sun slowly began to warm the day and rouse the birds.
In February ML birders heard a presentation of Scott McConnell’s new book Witmer Stone, The Fascination of Nature. Witmer Stone was an ornithologist in the early 20th century who wrote Bird Studies in Old Cape May.
The day was cloudy with temperatures in the upper 20 degrees. The ML birders counted 375 individual birds of 31 species on the Lumberton campus and nearby lake.
On January 15, ML birders conducted the 28th annual winter census on a cloudy day with the temperature in the low 30s.
This year’s annual Winter Census on the Lumberton campus on January 23 was cold, but relatively productive, recording 47 species and 5,166 individuals.
The 2022 Medford Campus Winter census was held on January 15. On that day, the temperature barely reached 25° F by noon; twenty-three species were recorded with a total of 850 individuals.
Twelve of the 13 nest boxes with metal poles and predator guards successfully fledged young with no predation. Several boxes had more than one successful nest. The bluebird success rate (#young fledged/#eggs) increased from 23.3% in 2020 to 85.7% in 2021. Tree Swallows and House Wrens also had significant improvement in 2021.
There are many nesting boxes at Lumberton Leas. While they all could accommodate bluebirds, most of the poles were wood (which black snakes and raccoons can climb) with no predator guard. In an effort to reduce predation, 12 of the original boxes on wooden poles have been replaced with boxes on metal poles with predator guards.
Summary table of Medford Leas winter bird census data from 1989 to present
A summary table of Winter Bird Census data for both Medford and Lumberton campuses, from 1989 to date.
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.
The ML Birders conducted their annual winter census on 01/15/2021 for the Lumberton Campus. The weather was hazy sun with temperature in the low to mid 40’s.
Cold to be sure (13° when we started), but with virtually no wind, it was a nice walk through the trails and around the perimeter path. Monarch Lake was partly frozen and hosted thousands of geese.
While the first hour was slow, by about 9 AM a mixed flock of Robins, Juncos, and white-throats with a few Myrtles, woodpeckers, and a Sapsucker were feeding actively in the hollies and evergreens.
Censusing started at 8 AM with a temperature of 16 degrees but little to no wind except in the open areas by the creek. Still waters were frozen, and the creek was mostly frozen after a week of cold weather.
Medford Leas 38th Annual Winter Bird Census, January 15, 2025 Wood Duck Red Fox The Medford Campus census started out pretty cold (low 20’s) and
The 2024 Medford Leas census was conducted on January 31 under gray skies with temperatures in the 40s and no wind.
The 25th Lumberton census was held on January 24, 2024; it was delayed a week because of snow cover on the woodland trails and very cold temperatures.
The 24th annual Lumberton winter bird count took place on January 18, 2023. The list combines those of three parties on different sections of campus.
Seven ML Birders met at the Nature Center parking lot on cold, sunny and windless day to begin the 36th Annual Bird Census.