THIS WEEK at HILTON POND
22-28 December 2007

Installment #384---
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17th ANNUAL YORK/ROCK HILL SC
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT (2007)

Each year on the Saturday before Christmas Hilton Pond Center oversees the York/Rock Hill SC Christmas Bird Count--one of nearly 2,000 CBCs conducted across the Americas under the auspices of the National Audubon Society. Begun in 1900 as an alternative to traditional holiday bird shoots--when participants tried to see who could bring down the most birds on Christmas Day--CBCs have become the longest-running citizen science initiative in North America. The 2007 York/Rock Hill CBC was the 17th time we have censused birds of York County; this year's results, although not extraordinary, were still valuable as a snapshot of early winter avian activity in the South Carolina Piedmont.

A Sharp-shinned Hawk surveying the feeders at Hilton Pond Center. This is probably a juvenile male, based on small size (females are typically a third larger), yellow eye color (not red as in an adult), and breast markings (vertical red-brown streaks rather than the adult's red-orange horizontal barring).

All text, maps, tables & photos © Hilton Pond Center

This year's four participants--one of the smaller groups in our local count history--included the three folks with greatest longevity on the York/Rock Hill CBC: Bob Olson of Rock Hill and Susan Holland of River Hills (11 years each) and Bill Hilton Jr. (the count's founder and a 17-year veteran). Also participating for the second time this year was Robert Miller--one of our students from Fort Mill teaching days--who came on board in 2006. It's a given four people can't possibly count all the birds in a 15-mile diameter circle (see map below), but by following the same routes year after year we get a pretty good idea about whether various species are present and if numbers are up or down.

Our master list of York County birds that might be found in winter includes 126 species, from waterfowl to migrant finches to vagrant hummingbirds; of these we have seen 108. Our most diverse year was 2000 when eight observers tallied 80 species; this year (on 22 December) we were able to find 66 species--very close to our 17-year average of 67. Our highest count of individual birds came in 1994 when more than 7,000 American Robins and 3,000 Ring-billed Gulls significantly padded the total of 12,945. On average we have spotted 5,722 birds; this year we recorded only 1,781--our lowest total ever--in part because we never found any large flocks of blackbirds, gulls, or American Robins. (The previous low was 1,915 in 2001 when we had eight counters.)

There were no new species observed for the 2007 count. One species--Fox Sparrow--reached an all-time high of four individuals seen, eclipsing the old record of two; this year's count was only the third time we've recorded this species. Also making a rare appearance was a single Red-breasted Nuthatch (fourth time recorded). Of our 108 species tallied during the 17 years of the York/Rock Hill CBC, 26 have been observed every year; despite our low overall total, in 2007 we equalled or exceeded the average for 25 species (listed on Table 1 below in RUST, plus three species in GREEN or BLUE).

TABLE 1: 2007 YORK/ROCK HILL SC
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT TOTALS
Common Name
2007
Count
17-year
Avg.
17-year
High
Number
of
Counts
Blackbird, Brewer's
.
--
--
--
Blackbird, Red-winged
.
65
503
14
Blackbird, Rusty
.
3
30
4
Blackbird sp.
.
293
2,156
(9)
Bluebird, Eastern
85
99
216
17
Bobwhite, Northern
.
1
13
2
Bufflehead
5
3
11
8
Bunting, Snow
.
<1
1
1
Buteo sp.
.
<1
1
(1)
Canvasback
.
1
8
1
Cardinal, Northern
46
71
169
17
Catbird, Gray
.
<1
1
1
Chickadee, Carolina
34
40
159
16
Coot, American
34
23
79
15
Cormorant, Double-crested
49
28
150
12
Cowbird, Brown-headed
.
39
245
8
Creeper, Brown
.
1
3
7
Crow, American
89
101
191
17
Crow, Fish
.
1
10
2
Dove, Mourning
90
110
266
17
Dove, Rock
22
55
185
16
Duck, American Black
.
1
4
5
Duck, Ring-necked
30
7
50
8
Duck, Ruddy
.
4
19
6
Duck, Wood
2
2
10
8
Dunlin
.
--
--
--
Eagle, S. Bald
.
<1
2
5
Egret, Great
.
<1
1
1
Falcon, Peregrine
.
--
--
--
Finch, House
18
46
193
17
Finch, Purple
CW
3
30
5
Flicker, Northern
CW
8
27
16
Gadwall
.
<1
3
3
Gnatcatcher, Blue Gray
.
--
--
--
Goldeneye, Common
.
<1
1
1
Goldfinch, American
45
28
68
16
Goose, Canada
274
152
296
17
Goose, Snow
.
--
--
--
Grackle, Common
2
681
3,901
14
Grebe, Horned
4
2
11
9
Grebe, Pied-billed
6
8
24
17
Grosbeak, Evening
.
--
--
--
Gull, Bonaparte's
52
104
380
17
Gull, Herring
.
1
7
4
Gull, Laughing
.
<1
1
1
Gull, Ring-billed
120
1,151
3,708
17
Harrier, Northern
1
2
6
14
Hawk, Cooper's
1
1
2
9
Hawk, Red-shouldered
5
5
10
17
Hawk, Red-tailed
2
13
23
17
Hawk, Sharp-shinned
1
1
4
13
Heron, Great Blue
25
21
39
17
Heron, Green
.
<1
1
1
Hummingbird, Rufous
1
<1
1
6
Jay, Blue
47
68
247
17
Junco, Dark-eyed
67
107
404
17
Kestrel, American
1
4
10
17
Killdeer
5
33
119
17
Kingfisher, Belted
4
6
14
17
Kinglet, Golden-crowned
4
7
38
12
Kinglet, Ruby-crowned
8
17
48
17
Lark, Prairie Horned
.
<1
3
2
Loon, Common
1
1
5
10
Mallard
73
54
141
16
Meadowlark, Eastern
4
40
114
17
Merganser, Common
.
--
--
--
Merganser, Hooded
2
9
38
13
Merganser, Red-breasted
.
1
5
3
Merlin
.
--
--
--
Mockingbird, Northern
22
41
99
17
Nuthatch, Brown-headed
1
5
18
16
Nuthatch, Red-breasted
1
<1
1
4
Nuthatch, White-breasted
.
<1
2
5
Oriole, Baltimore
.
--
--
--
Osprey
.
<1
3
2
Owl, Barred
1 (heard)
<1
3
4
Owl, E. Screech
.
<1
1
3
Owl, Great Horned
.
<1
3
4
Owl, Northern Saw-whet
.
--
--
--
Phoebe, Eastern
2
6
10
17
Pintail, Northern
.
--
--
--
Pipit, Water
.
35
403
8
Redhead
.
--
--
--
Robin, American
82
731
7,705
17
Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied
2
6
12
17
Scaup, Greater
.
<1
4
1
Scaup, Lesser
.
5
70
5
Shoveler, Northern
.
--
--
--
Shrike, Loggerhead
.
1
5
11
Siskin, Pine
CW
--
--
--
Snipe, Common
.
<1
1
3
Sparrow sp.
.
15
112
(7)
Sparrow, Chipping
24
29
103
13
Sparrow, Field
45
15
58
16
Sparrow, Fox
4
<1
4 (old record: 2)
3
Sparrow, House
4
5
13
13
Sparrow, Lincoln's
.
--
--
--
Sparrow, Savannah
8
4
27
7
Sparrow, Song
9
30
91
17
Sparrow, Swamp
.
2
15
12
Sparrow, Vesper
.
3
34
3
Sparrow, White-crowned
.
<1
7
1
Sparrow, White-throated
44
53
179
17
Starling, European
81
827
3,063
17
Teal, Green-winged
.
1
15
3
Teal, Blue-winged
.
--
--
--
Tern, Forster's
.
--
--
--
Thrasher, Brown
2
4
14
15
Thrush, Hermit
1
3
15
15
Titmouse, Tufted
16
21
41
17
Towhee, Eastern
13
20
59
17
Turkey, Wild
22
8
53
5
Vireo, Blue-headed
.
<1
3
3
Vulture, Black
50
43
222
17
Vulture, Turkey
61
84
264
17
Warbler, Palm (Yellow)
.
<1
3
1
Warbler, Pine
1
4
13
14
Warbler, Yellow-rumped
22
41
196
17
Waxwing, Cedar
37
150
1,322
16
Wigeon, American
.
--
--
--
Woodcock, American
.
<1
2
3
Woodpecker, Downy
4
6
17
17
Woodpecker, Hairy
2
1
3
10
Woodpecker, Pileated
2
<1
3
5
Woodpecker, Red-bellied
6
13
27
17
Woodpecker, Red-headed
.
1
5
10
Wren, Carolina
5
21
60
17
Wren, House
.
<1
1
1
Wren, Winter
1
1
3
9
Yellowthroat, Common
.
<1
1
2

Total individuals

1,781

5,722
97,267

Total species

66

66.6
108
RED = New record high
GREEN = Ties record high
RUST = At or above average
Italicized species are possible/probable for the area but have not yet been observed on an official York/Rock Hill CBC

CW = Species was seen during count week but not on count day

After observing no vultures at the York County landfill last year, we were pleased in 2007 to see a scavenger resurgence--however minor. We were able to capture overhead images of both Turkey Vultures (above) and Black Vultures (below), providing good comparisons for the two species. As shown, Turkey Vultures have rather long, wedge-shaped tails and gray trailing edges to their wings; the Black Vulture's tail is shorter and more square and its wingtips are white. Although barely visible in these photos, adult Turkey Vultures have bright red heads (heads of immatures are grayish-black) while the head of a Black Vulture is always dark.

Also present at the landfill were Ring-billed Gulls and European Starlings, although we missed the American Kestrels and Loggerhead Shrikes present in previous years.

As shown in the photo above--taken on the main road at the landfill--the Ring-billed Gull is aptly named: A dark band encircles the entire bill near its tip. This particular bird--which is in at least its second winter--is in non-breeding plumage, with pale gray mottling on its neck, nape, and head; during nesting season these regions are pure white.

It's always good to have a few feeders and feeder watchers situated within a Christmas Bird Count circle. For the fifth consecutive winter Lenore Berry of Rock Hill SC guaranteed Perdita, her well-documented out-of-range Rufous Hummingbird, and Susan Hilton picked up a Brown-headed Nuthatch (above left, with American Goldfinches and a female Northern Cardinal) at one of the feeders at Hilton Pond Center.

Our most unusual bird of the day was spotted at a gas station in Rock Hill--a Northern Goshawk (above left) that we doubt the regional compiler will accept from our list. For some reason, images of birds plastered on the sides of moving vans are insufficient documentation for inclusion in the final tally. In any case, the 17th annual York/Rock Hill SC Christmas Bird Count was fun and productive, even though we saw a record-low number of birds and only an average number of species on 22 December 2007.

All text, maps, tables & photos © Hilton Pond Center


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Be sure to scroll down for an account of all
birds banded or recaptured during the period,
plus other nature notes of interest.


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BIRDS BANDED THIS WEEK at
HILTON POND CENTER

22-28 December 2007

SPECIES BANDED THIS WEEK:
American Goldfinch--27
Carolina Chickadee--1
Song Sparrow--1
House Finch--7
Purple Finch--4

* = New species for 2007


WEEKLY BANDING TOTAL
5 species
40 individuals

YEARLY BANDING TOTAL (2007)
66 species
2,060 individuals

26-YEAR BANDING GRAND TOTAL
(since 28 June 1982)
124 species
50,143 individuals

NOTABLE RECAPTURES THIS WEEK
(with original banding date, sex, and current age)
American Goldfinch (2)
03/02/05--4th year female
02/05/06--3rd year female

Dark-eyed Junco (1)
01/09/07--after hatch year unknown

Northern Cardinal (1)
07/23/07--hatch year female

OTHER NATURE NOTES OF INTEREST
--After our extended drought (July through November 2007), we hardly know what to say about December's sudden rainy season, which included 0.45" of precipitation on the 23rd. Most interesting was a thunderstorm at Hilton Pond Center on the 28th that brought another 0.7" and a referral of the old weather saying that thunder in December will be followed by snow within ten days.

--Click here for info about the 2008 York /Rock Hill Christmas Bird Count and links to summaries of our most recent CBCs.

All text & photos © Hilton Pond Center


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