Latest Columbus Christmas Bird Count finds 78 species, notable trends
The National Audubon Society’s 123rd annual Christmas Bird Counts took place between December 14 and January 5. Thousands of counters participated in 1,123 counts and tallied 18,186,311 individual birds. While most counts take place in North America, many are conducted elsewhere.
Since 1954, Columbus Christmas Bird Count participants have scoured local environs. Their hunting grounds are within a 15-mile diameter circle centered on Cassady and 5th avenues on the east side. For over 20 years, compiler Rob Thorn has organized the Columbus count. He recruited 94 observers for the 123rd count which took place on December 18, 2022 – the most ever. Counters spent 148 hours afield, and covered 132 miles on foot and 171 miles by car.
They found 78 species and 28,319 individual birds – well above average but not threatening the record of 89 species located in 2012. However, some feathered prizes turned up and at least two species turned up in record numbers.
Birds:Deep-diving scoters, found largely around the Great Lakes, spotted in central Ohio
During the 2021 Columbus count, a record high of 14 bald eagles was totaled. In my column covering that count, I noted that “The 14 found was a record, but one that I predict is soon broken.” Not exactly cutting-edge prognostication, given skyrocketing eagle numbers. But it was accurate and the number doubled to 28 birds on the 2022 count.
Waterfowl were present in good diversity, with 16 species of ducks, geese and swans. Most notable was a staggering 116 snow geese, which smashed the previous high of 70 on the 2003 count. Tundra-nesting snow geese populations are increasing, but their main migratory corridors lie to the east and west of Ohio. They are normally rare here, having only been found on a total of eight counts and usually just single birds.
Even better was John Kuenzli’s discovery of five Ross’s geese – a first for the Columbus count. Another arctic-nester, this species looks like a pint-sized snow goose. It, like its big brother, is increasing in numbers and Ohio records are spiking.
Woodpeckers presented well, with all seven possible species found in good numbers. Pileated woodpecker and yellow-bellied sapsucker nearly set records with 18 and 15 birds, respectively.
Far less conspicuous was the Lincoln’s sparrow located by Irina Shulgina on the Ohio State University campus. The little brown skulker has been present for a while near Mirror Lake and this was only the 5th count that has recorded one. Other notable sparrows included three fox sparrows, and an amazing 33 eastern towhees.
Fruit-eating birds were way down in numbers, but that’s to be expected. Last winter was a good one for American robins, cedar waxwings, eastern bluebirds and other frugivores. Fruit crops – at least of native plants – tend to be cyclical in abundance with peaks every other year or so. This is a lean winter for fruit and the birds that eat them.
Birds:Crafty herring gull impresses with problem-solving skills
Nearly 70 years of annual Columbus Christmas Bird Counts has generated lots of data that show clear trends. The loss of meadow and field birds is a major one. Open country species such as American kestrel, eastern meadowlark, northern bobwhite, northern harrier, rough-legged hawk and short-eared owl used to turn up regularly and many of them in good numbers. Those days are long gone, as meadows and fallow fields have fallen to dozers and development. Now, the species listed above are either absent or nearly so.
However, many forest species are flourishing. Conservation of woodlands tends to take priority over meadows, and many Columbus neighborhoods and suburbs have become de facto forests as their trees have matured. That’s why woodpeckers are thriving, along with chickadees, nuthatches, titmice and other sylvan specialists.
Thanks to all the observers who brave winter weather to carry on the longstanding Christmas Bird Count tradition.
Naturalist Jim McCormac writes a column for The Dispatch on the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month. He also writes about nature at jimmccormac.blogspot.com.
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