For many years the Medford Leas Birders have conducted a winter census of birds living on campus in the month of January. Also for many years the National Audubon Society has conducted a winter census in late December, and for the past few years, the Birders have added the Christmas Bird Count to our winter activities. This allows comparing data at two different times during the winter, and it also allows us to contribute to the largest international bird data base in existence. Fortunately, a walk on the trails with our masks and social distance is a way we can participate in the census and still follow healthy pandemic guidelines.
Our campuses are both part of a section of the Moorestown Christmas Bird count, usually held the Saturday after Christmas. Groups led by Robert Koch walked the Lumberton campus and woods in the morning and the Medford campus and woods in the afternoon of December 27, 2020. Other observers monitored their bird feeders, and another resident censused the Monarch Lake and Rancocas Creek north of Lumberton campus, by car. We turned our data in to Ark Rd. resident Ward Dasey, who is responsible for all of section 5 (Medford, Lumberton); and he in turn submitted it to Creekview resident Jim Schill, who compiles all the data for the Moorestown count and sends it to National Audubon.
The day’s highlight was a group of three Bald Eagles, possibly a family, as they perched in the evening light in the trees between Lumberton and Creekview. Robert took a spectacular photograph of them. Other good sightings (and “hearings”) at Lumberton included two Great Horned Owls, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Hermit Thrush, and 63 White-throated Sparrows, a good count. Medford Highlights were Red-breasted Nuthatches, Rusty Blackbirds, Swamp Sparrows, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Feeder observers tallied Pine Siskins (unusual visitors from the north) and an uncommon winter Chipping Sparrow, along with good numbers of Cardinals, Juncos and other familiar species. Monarch Lake and the creek area offered Ring-necked Ducks, Common Mergansers, and thousands of Canada Geese. And the surrounding fields and woods of Medford and Lumberton had Screech Owls, a Fox Sparrow, Savannah Sparrows, Bluebirds, and a lingering Phoebe.
The Medford Leas Birders will conduct the annual Winter Census on Saturday, January 16, 2021, (Lumberton) and Saturday, January 23 (Medford Leas). All interested residents are welcome to participate, whether on the trails or at your feeder. Please contact Robert Koch if you would like more information.
For more information about the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, you can visit
https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count