1993—4 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS SUMMARY

by J. Dan McAskill & Gary Schneider

Perhaps the best word to describe the Hillsborough and Montague counts

this year was "birr".

Despite the bitter cold, the number of species seen was

excellent with 42 on the Hillsborough Count day (44 in the seven day count

period) and 49 on the Montague Count day (54 in the count period).

Whether it

was the balmy weather during the National Park Count or the improved endurance of the counters not facing wind chills the 53 count day species is debatable. those that made it to hill and dale or

enjoyable day!

Jean Ouellette again took on the Park count, warming the Dalvay shelter the shelter was fairly full and the crowd was partaking of a varied feast of

main dishes and desserts brought for the pot-luck.

of -40 to —55°c.

that contributed to

Despite the vagaries of the weather, watched the feeder reported an

role of host at the P.E.I.

Nati

and cooking up a pot of stew.

onal By 1230

Following the Hillsborough

count, Diane and Kevin Griffin hosted the counters who braved the weather.

Roast Canada goose,

a variety of other treats,

counters rounded out a brutally cold day. On Friday, January 7th, the highlights of the various Christmas Bird Counts in the Maritimes were featured on the Costas Holobrasis CBC-FM radio

show.

and the camaraderie of the

Costas led Sheila Coors (N.S.), Jim Wilson (N.B.), and Dan McAskill

discussed the highlights, the abnormalities, the values of the information,

the feasts,

camaraderie,

and, of course,

venture out in it at the extremes seen on certain counts.

Observations

Common Loon Great Cormorant

Double—crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron Canada Geese Mallard Mallard/Black Hybrid Black Duck

Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Blue—winged Teal Scaup sp.

Common Goldeneye Barrow's Goldeneye Oldsquaw White-winged Scoter Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Duck sp.

Northern Goshawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier Hawk unidentified Ruffed Grouse Ring-necked Pheasant

Number in the Count Area

National Park Hillsborough Montague ......2.... . . . . . ........................ .............. . . . . . . ..2CP....... . . . . . ... ......1................................. ......1. . . . . . . . . . . ...................... ....750..............76.............14.. . . . . ..9...............2.............16.. ....634.............675............545.. ............ . . . . . . . . ..{..............4.. ......l.... . . . . . . . . . . ................... ......lfP............................... ....320..............27............118.. ......1... . . . . . . . . ............ . . . . . ..3.. .....72.... . . . . .......3............184.. . . . . ..4................................. .....35...............5............498.. ......1.............................11..

......l..............................l..

......1..............................3..

....................................10..

coo-coo-

coco-ooo-ocooc

coco...ooooooloooosocooooooo...ooooo‘o

......3...............2..............l..

.....................12.................

4—

the weather and why anyone would