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THIS WEEK at HILTON POND

15-21 December 2011

Installment #529---Visitor #Traffic Statistics

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All text, maps & photos © Hilton Pond Center

21st ANNUAL YORK/ROCK HILL SC CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT (2011)

Each winter--in cooperation with the National Audubon Society--Hilton Pond Center implements and compiles the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) for York/Rock Hill in York County, South Carolina (see map above). Christmas Bird Counts--perhaps the first big organized citizen science effort--originated 111 years ago as an alternative to traditional holiday bird hunts when folks young and old used newly gifted guns to see who could bring down the most birds. For that first CBC in 1900, ornithologist Frank Chapman organized 25 counts from Toronto to Pacific Grove CA and involved 27 participants who tallied 89 combined species. That's a far cry from 2010 when 2,215 CBCs in the United States, Canada & Latin America involved more than 60,000 participants who tallied more than 61 million birds, with 646 species in just the U.S.

All text, maps & photos © Hilton Pond Center

We started the York/Rock Hill count in 1991 to help provide a snapshot of numbers and species of winter birds present in central York County--in the heart of the Carolina Piedmont Region. Beginning before sunrise and finishing at dusk, participants identify and tally birds seen and/or heard in an area inscribed by a standard circle 15 miles in diameter (see map above) and centered where Tools Fork Creek flows beneath SC Hwy 5 (West Main Street) just west of Northwestern High School. (Count-center coordinates are 34° 57' 23.57" N, 81º 06' 24.64" W; in decimal degrees that's N34.956547, W81.106844.) Participants are assigned one or more of the circle's 11 sectors and are expected to spend the day covering the area(s) by car and on foot--perhaps even by canoe or bicycle! This year our York/Rock Hill CBC--normally held the Saturday before Christmas--was on 17 December.

All text, maps & photos © Hilton Pond Center

Count founder and compiler Bill Hilton Jr. (participant on all 21 York/Rock Hill CBCs), Bob Olson (14-year veteran), Faye Metzl (13 years), Gail Driscoll (4 years), and first-timer Hilda Flamholtz assembled at 6:15 a.m. in Rock Hill at the Burger King on S.C. 5, ate breakfast, got assignments and tally sheets, and spread out to their assigned sectors in an attempt to reach prime observation sites before daylight. (Jewel Reavis, a five-year vet, joined us at midday and Hilda departed mid-afternoon.) The count started out partly cloudy, with a slight breeze out of the north-northeast and a temperature of 42 degrees; standing water such as rain-muddied Hilton Pond (above) and Lake Wylie were not frozen.

The morning hours were among the slowest we have experienced for a Christmas Bird Count--or on any day in the field in these parts. Feeder watchers reported little activity; anticipated flocks of American Robins and various blackbirds did not materialize; and many woodland species and birds of the Broomedge fields (above right) that normally swell the tallies shortly after first light were nowhere to be seen. Even numbers of waterfowl and other water-loving species at usually productive Ebenezer Point on Lake Wylie were low. It is hard to analyze cause-and-effect relationships in nature, but it's likely the scarcity of birds was due to several factors--including a relatively warm fall and winter and the fact that the usual assemblage of cold-weather migrants hadn't come down yet. It wasn't helpful that last year's incursion of Pine Siskins and Purple Finches doesn't look like it will repeat this winter.

Nonetheless, thanks to the dedicated bushwacking of our inveterate counters, we still managed to locate 61 species of birds--lower than our 21-year average of 65.3 or our all-time high of 80 (set in 2000), but much better than last year's abyssmal 51. We also tallied 2,581 individual birds--less than half our average of 5,234 and well below our record of 12,945 set in 1994 when we were indundated by European Starlings and American Robins.

All text, maps & photos © Hilton Pond Center

Those robins (male above) finally did show up for the afternoon of the 2011 count to become this year's most common species with 961 individuals, followed by 171 Bonaparte's Gulls, 115 Red-winged Blackbirds, 104 Canada Geese, and 103 Cedar Waxwings. Conspicuous in their absence were such regular species as Brown-headed Cowbird (a good sign?), Common Grackle (the big blackbird flock never appeared), Sharp-shinned Hawk, Swamp Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, and Pine Warbler, and both Northern Bobwhite and Loggerhead Shrike (whose numbers have plummeted across the Carolina Piedmont, and elsewhere). A few of those missing species--and several others--were observed sometime during Count Week (the three days before and after 17 December), as noted by "CW" in the table below.

All text, maps & photos © Hilton Pond Center

Ducks were few and far between, with only nine Buffleheads and a solitary Ring-necked Duck to show for our efforts. We've never quite firgured out how all the Wood Ducks that breed locally--even on Hilton Pond--seem to disappear during our Christmas Bird Counts.

All text, maps & photos © Hilton Pond Center

Although we did see both vulture Species--Black (11 individuals) and Turkey (15, above)--we lament the departure many of these important scavengers due to York County's switch to transporting food waste rather than burying it at the local landfill. prior to that change it was common to tally 300-plus vultures during our annual Christmas Bird Count. Alas, this year central York County apparently hosted no winter hummers during our count period, even though numbers of Rufous Hummingbirds and other vagrant species were up across much of the eastern U.S.

All text, maps & photos © Hilton Pond Center

This year 20 species we observed met or surpassed our 21-year average, with House Wren and Southern Bald Eagle tying their all-time highs: One and two, respectively. Eagles have rebounded nicely in the vicinity of Lake Wylie and we're glad to have them in our count area. Incidentally, 29 species on our list of 109 species recorded for the York/Rock Hill circle have been seen on every one of our 21 counts, including Red-shouldered Hawk (adult above).

Next year's York/Rock Hill count will be on 22 December 2012. For further info or to participate, contact us via E-mail or by phone at (803) 684-5852 on or before 20 December. Accounts of our past 11 CBCs are linked from Christmas Count Main. For a complete list of birds seen in 2011, please refer to Table 1 below. It includes all-time highs and 21-year averages for all species observed on CBCs since 1991.

All text, maps & photos © Hilton Pond Center


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TABLE 1:
2011 YORK/ROCK HILL SC
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT TOTALS
(17 December 2011)
RED = New record high
GREEN = Ties record high
RUST = At or above average
Common
Name
2011
Count
21-year
Avg.
21-year
High
Number
of
Counts
Blackbird, Brewer's
.
--
--
--
Blackbird, Red-winged
115
72
503
17
Blackbird, Rusty
1
2
30
5
Blackbird sp.
.
209
2,156
(9)
Bluebird, Eastern
90
90
216
21
Bobwhite, Northern
.
1
13
2
Bufflehead
9
3
11
11
Bunting, Snow
.
<1
1
1
Buteo sp.
.
<1
1
(1)
Canvasback
.
<1
8
1
Cardinal, Northern
78
67
169
21
Catbird, Gray
.
<1
1
1
Chickadee, Carolina
28
38
159
21
Coot, American
2
21
79
18
Cormorant, Double-crested
16
31
150
16
Cowbird, Brown-headed
.
31
245
8
Creeper, Brown
.
1
3
8
Crow, American
52
93
191
21
Crow, Fish
.
1
10
2
Dove, Mourning
90
105
266
21
Dove, Rock
10
49
185
20
Duck, American Black
.
1
4
5
Duck, Ring-necked
1
6
50
9
Duck, Ruddy
.
3
19
7
Duck, Wood
CW
1
10
9
Dunlin
.
--
--
--
Eagle, S. Bald
2
1
2
8
Egret, Great
.
<1
1
1
Falcon, Peregrine
.
--
--
--
Finch, House
39
45
193
21
Finch, Purple
.
4
30
6
Flicker, Northern
25
8
27
20
Gadwall
.
<1
3
3
Gnatcatcher, Blue Gray
.
--
--
--
Goldeneye, Common
.
<1
1
1
Goldfinch, American
17
25
68
20
Goose, Canada
104
152
296
21
Goose, Snow
.
--
--
--
Grackle, Common
CW
553
3,901
16
Grebe, Horned
1
2
11
12
Grebe, Pied-billed
2
8
24
21
Grosbeak, Evening
.
--
--
--
Gull, Bonaparte's
171
103
380
21
Gull, Herring
3
1
7
5
Gull, Laughing
.
<1
1
1
Gull, Ring-billed
79
955
3,708
21
Harrier, Northern
.
2
6
16
Hawk, Cooper's
1
1
2
10
Hawk, Red-shouldered
4
5
10
21
Hawk, Red-tailed
8
12
23
21
Hawk, Sharp-shinned
CW
1
4
13
Heron, Great Blue
17
20
39
21
Heron, Green
.
<1
1
1
Hummingbird, Rufous
.
<1
1
6
Jay, Blue
43
61
247
21
Junco, Dark-eyed
44
93
404
21
Kestrel, American
1
3
10
21
Killdeer
3
27
119
21
Kingfisher, Belted
4
5
14
21
Kinglet, Golden-crowned
5
6
38
16
Kinglet, Ruby-crowned
9
15
48
21
Lark, Prairie Horned
.
<1
3
2
Loon, Common
1
2
5
14
Mallard
34
50
141
20
Meadowlark, Eastern
1
33
114
20
Merganser, Common
.
--
--
--
Merganser, Hooded
.
7
38
15
Merganser, Red-breasted
.
<1
5
3
Merlin
.
--
--
--
Mockingbird, Northern
24
37
99
21
Nuthatch, Brown-headed
5
4
18
19
Nuthatch, Red-breasted
.
<1
1
4
Nuthatch, White-breasted
.
<1
2
6
Oriole, Baltimore
.
--
--
--
Osprey
.
<1
3
2
Owl, Barred
CW
<1
3
5
Owl, E. Screech
.
<1
1
3
Owl, Great Horned
CW
<1
3
5
Owl, Northern Saw-whet
.
--
--
--
Phoebe, Eastern
9
6
10
21
Pintail, Northern
.
--
--
--
Pipit, Water
CW
29
403
10
Redhead
.
--
--
--
Robin, American
961
659
7,705
21
Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied
1
5
12
20
Scaup, Greater
.
<1
4
1
Scaup, Lesser
1
4
70
6
Shoveler, Northern
.
--
--
--
Shrike, Loggerhead
.
1
5
12
Siskin, Pine
.
1
18
1
Snipe, Common
.
<1
4
4
Sparrow sp.
.
11
112
(7)
Sparrow, Chipping
26
28
103
17
Sparrow, Field
16
14
58
19
Sparrow, Fox
1
<1
4
5
Sparrow, House
25
7
30
16
Sparrow, Lincoln's
.
--
--
--
Sparrow, Savannah
.
3
27
8
Sparrow, Song
16
29
91
21
Sparrow, Swamp
.
2
15
13
Sparrow, Vesper
.
2
34
3
Sparrow, White-crowned
.
<1
7
1
Sparrow, White-throated
46
46
179
21
Starling, European
88
685
3,063
21
Teal, Green-winged
.
1
15
3
Teal, Blue-winged
.
--
--
--
Tern, Forster's
.
--
--
--
Thrasher, Brown
1
3
14
17
Thrush, Hermit
CW
3
15
18
Titmouse, Eastern Tufted
22
20
41
21
Towhee, Eastern
22
19
59
20
Turkey, Wild
.
7
53
6
Vireo, Blue-headed
.
<1
3
3
Vulture, Black
11
40
222
21
Vulture, Turkey
15
70
264
21
Warbler, Palm (Yellow)
.
<1
3
1
Warbler, Pine
CW
3
13
17
Warbler, Yellow-rumped
28
38
196
20
Waxwing, Cedar
103
135
1,322
20
Wigeon, American
.
--
--
--
Woodcock, American
.
<1
2
3
Woodpecker, Downy
9
6
17
21
Woodpecker, Hairy
.
1
3
10
Woodpecker, Pileated
CW
<1
3
6
Woodpecker, Red-bellied
22
14
35
21
Woodpecker, Red-headed
1
1
5
12
Wren, Carolina
17
21
60
21
Wren, House
1
<1
1
4
Wren, Winter
.
1
3
10
Yellowthroat, Common
.
<1
1
2

Individuals

2,581

21-yr avg
5,234
21-yr total
104,672
29 spp. seen every year

Species

61

20-yr avg
65.3
Italicized species are possible/probable for the area but have not yet been observed on count day for an official York/Rock Hill CBC.

109 species have been observed in at least one year over the 21-year history of the count; our local CBC record is 80 species in 2000.

CW = Species seen during count week (three days before or three after) but not on count day

All text, maps & photos © Hilton Pond Center


The Piedmont Naturalist, Volume 1 (1986)--long out-of-print--has been re-published by author Bill Hilton Jr. as an e-Book downloadable to read on your iPad, iPhone, Nook, Kindle, or desktop computer. Click on the image at left for information about ordering. All proceeds benefit education, research, and conservation work of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History.
"This Week at Hilton Pond" is written and photographed by Bill Hilton Jr., executive director of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
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BIRDS BANDED THIS WEEK at
HILTON POND CENTER
15-21 December 2011

SPECIES BANDED THIS WEEK:
Ruby-crowned Kinglet--
1
Golden-crowned Kinglet--
2
Yellow-rumped Warbler--26
Pine Warbler--1
Cedar Waxwing--3
*
Eastern Bluebird--1

White-throated Sparrow--2
House Finch--3
American Robin--28

* = New species for 2011


WEEKLY BANDING TOTAL
9 species
67 individuals

2011 BANDING TOTAL
51 species

2,188 individuals

30-YEAR BANDING GRAND TOTAL
(since 28 June 1982, during which time 170 species have been observed on or over the property)
125 species (30-yr avg = 67.8)
57,065 individuals
(30-yr avg = 1,902)


NOTABLE RECAPTURES THIS WEEK
(with original banding date, sex, and current age):
Carolina Chickadee (2)
06/04/10--2nd year unknown
06/07/10--2nd year unknown

Eastern Tufted Titmouse (2)
10/05/08--4th year male
05/26/10--2nd year male

White-throated Sparrow (1)
01/07/11--2nd year unknown

House Finch (1)
11/04/10--after hatch year male


OTHER NATURE NOTES:
--American Robins continue to show up almost every morning at Hilton Pond Center, where they are particularly attracted to a water feature outside the kitchen window of our old farmhouse. They drink and bathe--and then some of them fly into mist nets. Such was the case on 15 Dec when an immature male AMRO became the 57,000th bird banded at the Center since 1982.

All text & photos © Hilton Pond Center


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(immature male Rufous Hummingbird at right)


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Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is a non-profit research, conservation & education organization in York, South Carolina USA; phone (803) 684-5852. Directed by Bill Hilton Jr., aka "The Piedmont Naturalist," it is parent organization for Operation RubyThroat. Web site contents--including text and photos--may NOT be duplicated, modified, or used in any way except with express written permission of Hilton Pond Center. All rights reserved worldwide. To request permission for use or for further assistance, please contact Webmaster.

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