2013-2014 Medford Leas Birders’ Annual Report
We have had another busy year with monthly meetings in the Linden Room the first Wednesday of each month except July and August and a monthly field trip to visit birding areas mostly in New Jersey.
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:
We have had another busy year with monthly meetings in the Linden Room the first Wednesday of each month except July and August and a monthly field trip to visit birding areas mostly in New Jersey.
Lumberton Leas 15th Winter Bird Census, January 15, 2014 Dark-eyed Junco Carolina Chickadee The weather conditions were good at the Lumberton Leas 2014 Annual Bird Census. The temperature was above freezing at 37 degrees. The early morning fog burned off
On a very cold, gray, 23 degree day, four women — Lucia LeConey, Barbara Heizman, Miriam Swartz and Louise Tompkins — began the 27th Annual Bird Census at Medford Leas.
We don’t have the list from this year, but the total of species seen was 28, total individual birds 710.
Wednesday, January 9th was a relatively warm morning. As we left home it was 33 degrees with a promise of sun breaking through the clouds and the temperature reaching 50 degrees. It was a wonderful day for this 26th Annual Bird count.
22 degrees, blue skies and full sun. Looked out over Monarch Lake, Rancocas trail, Kay Dee Trail, Back Water Trail.
On Monday, January 9th, a cold, mostly cloudy day, four residents — Louise Tompkins, Miriam Swartz, Sue Dowling, and Gil Goering — met at the Nature Center at 9 a.m.
Wednesday morning, January 19, 2011, was an overcast day; the temperature was above freezing, and snow was on the ground.
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.