Warbling Vireo ©2004 Al MacKeigan

Bird Study Group - Species Counts

2008 Calgary and Area May Species Count

(Links to the count tables can be found at the end of this document)

Data and report compiled by Brian Elder

Introduction

The Calgary and area May Species count was initiated in 1976, was missed in 1977, and was re-started in 1978. These years had few participants and only a small portion of the circle was covered. Thereafter the effort and participation grew rapidly and has stabilized somewhat since 1998.

The 80 kilometre radius count circle is centered on the Centre Street Bridge in Calgary. The rim extends to just south of Olds in the North, just north of Nanton in the south, just west of Exshaw and Highway 40 in the west and just past Standard in the east. Birding teams are assigned individual areas within this circle and within designated areas in Calgary. This is a vast area and it is an impossible task to cover every nook and cranny within the circle. Thus, the teams concentrate on "birdy" areas within their assignments and, each year as much as possible, these same "birdy" areas are covered to provide a measure of consistency.

This report contains a section on the 2008 count particulars, observations on numbers and species present, and for each area, the people performing the surveys, an area description and significant observations. This report also contains a Count History of Species and Numbers recorded and also contains a table showing the species and totals seen in each area for the current year.

2008 Count Particulars

In 2008 the circle was sub-divided into 12 areas within the city, 28 areas outside of Calgary. Fifty-eight people participated fully in the count and their data were supplemented by observations from seven individuals birding within the area during the weekend. Many of the participants have done the count for many years; we missed a few regulars who had either moved out of the area or were on vacation but were fortunate to welcome a number of new participants.

Participants were extremely dedicated and put in long hours and great distances to provide excellent coverage. Many of the participants surveyed more than one area while others spent two days in their area to complete their coverage. This concerted effort is invaluable and sincere thanks are due to each and every participant for such dedication.

Weather was a major factor in this year’s count.  There was wind and rain throughout the count circle, at times heavy, and temperatures were mostly in the 5-14° C range.  Though party hours were similar to 2007, “hours on foot” was 50% less and 800 more kilometres were driven.  The rain was heaviest in the SW quadrant of the circle.  In areas where the rain was light enough to hear bird song, counts were average to better than average; if bird song could not be heard, counts were significantly below average.  There were numerous road washouts that cut off access to some locations and two areas, Gorge Creek Rd & McKinnon Flats, were not done because of road conditions.

Some participants noted mammals seen during the count.  The species noted were Elk, Moose, White-tailed Deer, Mule Deer, Striped Skunk, Muskrat, Beaver, Snowshoe Hare, Prairie Hare, Coyote, Richardson’s Ground-Squirrel, Red Squirrel and Gray Squirrel.

Species and Numbers of Birds

A total of 205 species of birds were counted during this survey.  This was 2 fewer than last year and 11 below the all-time high of 216 reached in 2002. A record total of 79,600 individuals were counted surpassing the previous high of 64,700 in 2006. Record high numbers for 30 species were recorded. Two new species were added to the count, a Wild Turkey found on the south side of the Sheep River and a Blackburnian Warbler found near Eagle Lake.

The weather, while making birding difficult, was a perhaps a factor in recording a number of migrant species that we don’t often get.  By Tuesday following the count, the weather was clear and breezy and most of the shorebirds and other migrants had moved on.  Another factor in the count results was the early count date – a number of summer residents such as the flycatchers hadn’t returned or were just arriving.

Count week only birds were Ferruginous Hawk, Common Nighthawk, Red-naped Sapsucker, Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Virginia Rail, MacGillivray’s Warbler and Olive-sided Flycatcher.

Below is a summary of count results, organized by bird family, focusing on noteworthy sightings/misses and highs/lows.  Record highs are based on data from 1979 on; lows/ averages are for the previous 10 years .

Ducks/Geese/Swans:
- record number of Tundra Swans:  49  (prev: 10, avg: 3)
- record number of Trumpeter Swans: 25 (prev: 5, avg: 1)
- 8 Snow Geese (seen 40% of time)
- record number of Redhead: 860  (prev: 665, avg: 427)
- record number of Lesser Scaup: 1133  (prev: 1006, avg: 800)
- 1 Surf Scoter (seen 30% of time)
- Harlequin Duck missed for first time since 1996
- record number of Common Merganser: 207  (prev: 203, avg: 119)
- record number of Ruddy Duck: 1112  (prev: 689, avg: 605)

Grouse/Partridge/Pheasants:
- only the usual Gray Partridge, Ring-necked Pheasant and Ruffed Grouse

Loon/Grebes/Pelicans and Cormorants:
- low count for Double-crested Cormorant: 108 (10 yr low: 169)

Herons/Egrets/Bitterns/Ibis:
- record number of White-faced Ibis: 50 (prev: 38 last year, avg: 9)

Osprey/Hawks/Eagles/Falcons:
- record number of Northern Harrier: 61 (prev: 38, avg: 27)
- low for Cooper’s Hawk: 1 (10 yr low: 2)

Cranes/Rails:
- record number of Sandhill Crane: 8
- record number of Sora: 282 (prev: 122 last year, avg: 69)
- record number of American Coot: 4081  (prev: 2810, avg: 1510)

Shorebirds:
- 26 species of shorebirds were recorded (high: 32 in 2002, avg: 21)
- record number of Black-necked Stilt: 85 (prev: 21, avg: 10)
- record number of Long-billed Curlew: 23 (prev:16, avg: 5)
- record number of Greater Yellowlegs: 9 (prev: 7, avg: 2)
- record number of Wilson’s Phalarope: 2923 (prev: 1382, avg: 547)
- species recorded that are uncommon on the count (less than 1 out of 3) include: Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel, Red Knot, White-rumped Sandpiper, and Short-billed Dowitcher

Gulls/Terns:
- no unusual gull species
- Herring Gull missed (seen 70% of counts)

Pigeons/Doves and Owls:
- Eurasian Collared-Dove recorded (in Acme) for only the 2nd time
- only owls observed were Great Gray Owl and Great Horned Owl, both with average numbers

Hummingbirds:
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird missed (seen 80% of counts)
- low numbers of both Rufous and Calliope Hummingbirds

Woodpeckers:
- Red-naped Sapsucker missed for first time since 1995.  There were a number of “sapsucker species” recorded and 3 sapsuckers with red on the nape were judged to be hybrids

Flycatchers (with the early count date, many flycatchers were just returning):
- Olive-sided, Willow and “Western” Flycatchers were missed
- low for Western Wood-Pewee: 9 (prev 10 yr low: 35, avg: 66)
- low for Least Flycatcher: 135 (prev 10 yr low: 267, avg: 375)
- low for Western Kingbird: 9 (prev 10 yr low: 15, avg: 33)
- record high for Say’s Phoebe: 10 (prev: 6, avg: 2)

Vireos:
- record number of Blue-Headed Vireo: 6 (prev: 4, avg: 1)
- only 2 Red-eyed Vireo (avg: 13)

Corvids:
- average number

Swallows:
- above average numbers for all of the common species.  Huge mixed flocks were noted in a number of areas, sometimes darkening an already dark sky.
- Record high numbers for Tree Swallow: 10224 (prev: 3196, avg: 1728)
- Record high numbers for Cliff Swallow: 7717 (prev: 3503, avg: 1939)
- high numbers for Violet-green Swallow: 22 (high: 23, avg: 10; recorded in 7 areas – usually only 1 or 2

Chickadees/Nuthatches:
- low for Boreal Chickadee: 4 (prev 10 yr low: 5, avg: 16)
- all others, slightly below average

Wrens:
- low for House Wren: 137 (prev 10 yr low: 166, avg: 267)
- Rock Wren missed (seen 80% of counts)

Kinglets:
- numbers well below average for both Golden-crowned Kinglets (14) and Ruby-crowned Kinglets (98)

Bluebirds/Thrushes/Thrashers:
- low numbers of Mountain Bluebird: 87 (avg: 164)
- Gray-cheeked Thrush recorded for first time since 2002 (seen 10% of counts)
- high numbers of Swainson’s Thrush: 152 (high: 230, avg:  60)
- all other thrushes well below average
- only one Brown Thrasher (avg: 3)

Pipits/Waxwings:
- 2 American Pipits (seen 40% of counts)
- low for Cedar Waxwing: 3 (prev 10 yr low: 4, avg: 65)

Warblers:
- 17 species of warblers recorded, a new high (prev high: 15, avg: 14)
- Blackburnian Warbler new for the count
- low for Yellow Warbler: 251 (prev 10 yr low: 297, avg: 537)
- uncommon for the count: Magnolia Warbler (first since 1998), Cape May Warbler (though seen in each of the last 3 counts), Palm Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler and Mourning Warbler (first since 1992)

Sparrows:
- 15 species of sparrows (high: 16, avg: 14)
- record number of Chipping Sparrow: 1109 (prev: 535, avg: 335), often seen in big flocks
- record number of Clay-colored Sparrow: 901 (prev: 741, avg: 617)
- record number of Vesper Sparrow:  233 (prev: 188, avg: 149)
- one Lark Sparrow (seen 40% of counts)
- Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow missed (seen 60% of counts)
- only one Fox Sparrow (avg: 4)
- record number of Song Sparrow: 118 (prev: 113, avg: 83)
- record number of Lincoln’s Sparrow: 123 (prev: 75, avg: 59)
- record number of White-throated Sparrow: 123 (prev: 75, avg: 49)
- one Harris’s Sparrow, only recorded twice previously in 30 years
- record number of White-crowned Sparrow: 109 (prev: 108, avg: 59)

Grosbeaks/ Buntings:
- high number of Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 31 (high:32, avg: 19)
- one Lazuli Bunting at a feeder in NW Calgary (seen 30% of time)

Blackbirds:
- one Bobolink seen on Hwy 22 near count circle boundary (seen 20% of time)
- record number of Red-winged Blackbird: 4898 (prev: 3408, avg: 2543)
- record number of Yellow-headed Blackbird: 2272 (prev: 1627, avg: 1348)
- record number of Brewer’s Blackbird: 1444 (prev: 1115, avg: 849)
- record number of Brown-headed Cowbird: 1056 (prev:1042, avg: 699)

Finches:
- numbers well below average for Pine Siskin:45 (avg:236) and American Goldfinch:61 (avg(187)
Calgary Area May Species Count – 2008 and preceding 10 years

Participants and Highlights by Area

City of Calgary:  11 areas (#1-11) are covered in the city – 5 in Fish Creek Provincial Park, 4 others along the Bow River and 2 around Glenmore Reservoir; a 12th area (#40) represents all other parts of the city.  A total of 119 species were recorded within the city.

Area 1: Fish Creek Provincial Park (FCPP) from 37th Street to Bridge 6
Participant: Joel Duncan
Highlights: In the city, the only Golden-crowned Kinglets, 1 of 2 areas with Spotted Towhees, Pine Siskins.
 
Area 2: FCPP Bridge 6 to Macleod Trail
Participants: Kelly/Penny Borrowman, Anne Elliott, Tony Timmons, David Vernon, Doug Waylett, Gus Yaki
Highlights: only Blue-headed Vireo and Rufous Hummingbird in the city, 1 of 2 city areas for Spotted Towhees, Wilson’s Snipes, Ovenbirds , Pine Siskins.

Area 3: FCPP Macleod Trail to Bridge 13
Participant: Carole Hachey
Comment: “Well, I finished the count first thing this morning. I started at 8:30 when there was no rain but on my way back it started to rain. So, it turned out well.” [Carole was one of the few birders that stayed dry! – BE]
Highlights: In the city, the only Canvasbacks; 1 of 2 for Wilson’s Snipe , Northern Harrier.

Area 4: Burnsmead South to Highway 22X
Participants: Judy Swan and Joan Falcione
Area: Both sides of Bow River as described in the area title
Highlights:  In the city, the only Great Horned Owl, Eastern Phoebes.

Area 5: FCPP Mallard Point to Burnsmead
Participants: Jim St. Laurent, John Duthie, Karen Larsen
Highlights: The only Palm Warbler for the count; in the city, the only Cinnamon Teal, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Area 6: Carburn Park to Beaverdam Flats
Participants: Bruce Barnetson, Don Magnusson, Tony Timmons
Comments: Bruce – “it was a miserable morning”
Area: includes coverage of both parks plus area in between
Highlights: In the city, the only Black Terns; 1 of 2 city areas reporting Bald Eagle, California Gull, Veery.

Area 7: Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Pearce Estate Park
Participant: Bob Storms.  Sightings supplemented by Ray Wershler, John Riddell, Merril Wershler.
Highlights: Ray reported the only Mourning Warbler and Gray-cheeked Thrush for the count; in the city, the only Hooded Mergansers, Red-eyed Vireo, Tennessee Warblers, Townsend’s Warblers; a total of 10 warbler species.

Area 8: North Glenmore/Weaselhead
Participants: Chris and Ken Havard.   Supplemented by Deanna Campbell’s sighting of 2 Calliope Hummingbirds.
Comments:  Chris – “... we couldn't do that much in South Weaselhead because it is flooding.  We tried to find some hummingbirds, and reached part of the usual area.  However, we were unable to complete the circuit due to rising water and had to backtrack.  Very little was active in the rain.”

Highlights:  The only Calliope Hummingbirds for the count; in the city, the only Trumpeter Swans, Eared Grebes and Semipalmated Sandpipers (90).

Area 9: South Glenmore
Participants: Al Borgardt and Jim Black. 
Highlights:  The only Cooper’s Hawk for the count; the only Western Tanager in the city.

Area 10: Bowmont Natural Area
Participants: Horst Grothman, Bud and Joanne Henning
Highlights: Lots of species –only Inglewood had more in the city; one of two areas in the count reporting Cedar Waxwing; only Red-necked Grebe for the city.

Area 11: Lowery Gardens/Edworthy Park
Participants: Ena Spalding and John Bargman
Comments: Ena – “Got soaked after a couple of hours - birds were not singing in heavy rain. Bow River was in flood so none of the usual birds on the islands/riverbanks.”
Highlights:  one of two areas in the city reporting Veery.

Area 40: Suburban Calgary
Participants: none assigned; single observations by Barbara Elder and Elli Jilek
Area: areas of Calgary not included in area numbers 1-11
Highlights: only Lazuli Bunting for the count seen by Barbara; Elli saw 1 of 2 Peregine Falcons for the count.

Tables

2008 data in Historical table for Calgary May Species Count 2000 to Present

Full Excel spreadsheet for 2008

Older data for Calgary May Species Count 1979 - 1999