NAS CBC summary

[Dmcwhir513 at aol.com]

Folks -

Enclosed is the opening part of my summary for the 07-08 CBC for NAS.

The full summary will be published later.

MICHIGAN

   There were 60 NAS counts reviewed in Michigan this CBC season, the most 
ever, due in large part to Glenn Palmgren, the MAS CBC compiler, who encouraged 
Michigan counts to go National.  146 species were accepted, with another 6 
count week species seen, slightly below recent CBC efforts.

   The reported total of 667,183  birds was slightly lower than the average 
of the last 5 years.  There were 1092 observers with 2942 recorded party hours; 
both about average.  The top 3 counts for observers and hours were Ann Arbor, 
Kalamazoo, and Pontiac.  There were 337 feeder watchers who peered out their 
windows for 889 hours.  Pontiac, Rogers City, and Manistee led this category.

   Rockwood had a phenomenal tally of 99 species on count day!  The next 3 
closest counts, Battle Creek, New Buffalo, and Anchor Bay managed 83, 82, and 81 
respectively.  So far as we can tell, only the legendary Berrien Springs 
count of '74 had a better count day total - a whopping 101 species!!  Those were 
the days.

   The weather for the counts was generally fair to good, although poor 
weather in the southern Lower Peninsula on the 16th forced postponement of some 
counts and at least one cancellation.  A majority of the counts had some snow, 6 
counts had winds of up to 25 mph, and not one completely sunny count was 
reported.  No news there.  The greatest snow depth was 36" at Eagle Harbor and 
Detroit may have had the heaviest snowfall on count day. Still water was frozen on 
well over half the counts and moving water was at least partially open on 
most counts.

   Weather probably had an impact on overall participation and the total 
number of birds seen.  Generally speaking, the weather was more dubious on count 
days than indicated above, so it seems likely a number of folks elected to stay 
home and watch feeders rather than venture out.  Likewise, it was not the 
easiest year to find birds in many circles.
   
   Regardless, there were new high counts for 14 species and 4 others tied 
their high marks.  At least a third of these have an expanding population in 
Michigan.  Wild Turkey and Pileated Woodpecker would be examples.  Coupling that 
trend with generally milder winters could account for new highs for species 
like Sandhill Crane and Merlin.  Red-breasted Nuthatch clearly had a banner 
invasion year.

   Only one new species was added to the count, a count week female Scarlet 
Tanager in the Rockwood circle.  It was seen by many in the weeks leading up to 
the count.  A Baltimore Oriole, surviving the winter at a feeder in Pontiac, 
was only the second record, both were "cw" birds.  Observers in Monroe turned 
up a nicely documented Forster's Tern for a 3rd Michigan CBC record, and a 
count week Palm Warbler for Rockwood was our 6th for the holiday tally.

   Western strays and migrants were represented, especially by Bohemian 
Waxwing, which staged a major incursion after the count period.  All of the winter 
migrant and irruptive species, with the notable exception of owls, were seen 
on the count and had a fair to excellent showing this winter, particularly 
Common Redpoll.


Doug McWhirter
10112 W Holt
Dimondale, MI 48821
517-646-8151


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