Christmas Bird Count (CBC) 2019 Preliminary Summary

2019 Christmas Bird Count Preliminary Results

One hundred thirty-four (134) species of birds were seen on the Redbud Audubon 2019 Christmas Bird Count held December 14, 2019.  Since 1997, the highest count was 153 species in 2007, and the lowest was 122 in both 2003 and last year.

The weather was mild this year, with light rain late in the day.  The 34 participants who birded in 11 different groups were able to count a total of 41,951 birds.  Although this tally is well below the 68,266 birds seen in 2017, it is the sixth highest number since our biggest year in 2004, when our count was 135,312.

These three birds were seen by all 11 groups: Oak Titmouse, Black Phoebe and Golden-crowned Sparrow; and the following nine birds were seen by all groups, except one feeder watcher: Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Flicker, California Scrub-Jay, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, California Towhee, and Brewer’s Blackbird.

The following birds were seen by only one of the 11 groups:

 

Snow Goose (2)  American Wigeon (12) Green-winged Teal (3)
Scaup species (1)  Barrow’s Goldeneye (3) Green Heron (1)
Golden Eagle (1) Cooper’s Hawk (1) Ferruginous Hawk (1)
Virginia Rail (2) Killdeer (2) Spotted Sandpiper (1)
Wilson’s Snipe (1) Band-tailed Pigeon (6) Barn Owl (1)
Western Screech Owl (1)  Lewis’ Woodpecker (4) Hairy Woodpecker (1)
Pileated Woodpecker (1) Merlin (1) House Wren (1)
American Pipit (1)  Lark Sparrow (2) Bell’s Sparrow (1)
Rufous-crwn’d Sparrow (1) Great-tailed Grackle (4) Lawrence’s Goldfinch (1)

And three new birds were added to our CBC list this year: Wilson’s Warbler, Yellow-headed Blackbird and Tricolored Blackbird.

Congratulations to the participants who found all these birds!

Using preliminary bird numbers, the top species were:

  1. Western/Clark’s Grebes at 11,754
  2. Ruddy Duck at 4,880
  3. Double-Crested Cormorant at 4,510
  4. American White Pelican at 3,455

We truly appreciate and thank all the participants for their support and efforts in making the bird count as accurate and complete as possible.  We hope that all the participants had a good time and will join us next December for the 121st Annual Christmas Bird Count.  Happy Birding.