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Lehigh Gap Nature
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2005 Bake Oven Knob Area Feeder Watch Results
14 March 2005
Bird numbers were slightly below average in the Wildlife Center’s 9th annual Bake Oven Knob Area Feeder Watch. The watch took place the weekend of February 18-20 with “citizen scientist” volunteers counting and reporting a total of 2303 birds visiting their backyard feeders. Residents living within a 10-mile radius of Bake Oven Knob can volunteer for the feeder watch. Fifty area residents participated in the watch, the second highest number to participate in the long-term project.
The 2003 count produced record numbers of birds (3335), species (41), and the highest ever number of participants (57). An average of 58 birds per feeder was seen that year. Numbers have been slightly lower the past two years, with the exception of total species, which in 2005 reached 41, tied for the most ever. This year, 46 birds were seen peer feeder, below the long-term average of 52 birds per feeder. The average watcher reported 11.2 species per feeder site.
The top ten most numerous birds reported were the Dark-eyed Junco (573), Black Capped Chickadee (193), European Starling (178), Mourning Dove (157), Tufted Titmouse (116), American Goldfinch (114), Northern Cardinal (113), House Finch (110), House Sparrow (103), and White-breasted Nuthatch (78). The Black-capped Chickadee replaced the Dark-eyed Junco as the most widespread feeder bird for the first time in the study. Chickadees were seen at 44 of the 50 sites. Juncos and Northern Cardinals were close seconds, appearing at 43 sites each. Other widespread species were Tufted Titmouse (42), Mourning Dove (41), and White-breasted Nuthatch (37).
After a year with widespread concern about the number of chickadees, our survey produced a bumper crop of the little bundles of energy that are many watchers’ favorite birds. There has also been concern about the impact of West Nile Virus, especially on crows and jays, but those numbers remained stable. On the other hand, American Goldfinch numbers were less than half of their numbers in the 2004 count when they were the second most-numerous species.
Blackbirds were seen in much larger than usual numbers this year. Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, and Brown-headed Cowbirds are early migrants that usually begin showing up in early March, but a warm stretch leading us to the feeder watch weekend allowed the birds to arrive much earlier than usual. They seem to have retreated to the south again as the weather turned cold in late February and early March. Red-bellied Woodpeckers, which have been expanding their range northward, continue to increase in number each year, with 37 reported this year.
The Feeder Watch is one of the long-term research projects of the Wildlife Center. Because birds are excellent indicators of environmental quality, a long-term study like the Feeder Watch may provide valuable data about environmental quality in the study area. It can also be an indicator of population trends for certain species. Wildlife Center Board member Geryl Grilz coordinates the count, which is conducted by volunteer “citizen scientists” at their own homes.
Anyone wishing to be added to the list of Feeder Watchers for the 2006 survey should contact the Wildlife Center office at 610-760-8889 or wiclgap@ptd.net and provide your name, address and phone number.
2005 Survey Results
2005 Survey Results
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Canada Goose – 4 Mallard - 7 Cooper’s Hawk - 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk – 3 American Kestrel - 2 Wild Turkey – 15 Rock Pigeon -- 12 Mourning Dove - 157 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 37 Hairy Woodpecker - 16 Downy Woodpecker - 54 Common Flicker – 7 Pileated Woodpecker - 6 Blue Jay - 59
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American Crow - 48 Black-capped Chickadee -193 Tufted Titmouse - 116 White-breasted Nuthatch - 78 Red-breasted Nuthatch - 4 Brown Creeper - 2 Carolina Wren - 13 Northern Mockingbird – 8 Cedar Waxwing - 2 European Starling – 178 Eastern Bluebird - 6 Yellow-rumped Warbler – 1 Eastern Towhee - 3 Tree Sparrow - 35
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Fox Sparrow - 8 Song Sparrow – 17 White-throated Sparrow – 43 White -crowned Sparrow- 9 Dark-eyed Junco - 573 Northern Cardinal -113 Red-winged Blackbird - 44 Common Grackle - 32 Brown-headed Cowbird - 35 Purple Finch - 34 House Finch – 110 American Goldfinch – 114 House Sparrow - 103
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Nine-Year Summary
Year # of Birds # of Species # Feeder sites Birds per feeder
1997
1509 32
20 75.5
1998 1272 32 24 53.0
1999 1960 34 31 63.2
2000 2007 35 35 57.3
2001 1213 35 32 39.1
2002 1538 38 37 41.6
2003 3335 41 57 58.4
2004 2321 37 47 49.4
2005
2303 41
50 46.0
Averages 1940 36 37 52.4
-WIC--
For More Information Contact:
Lehigh Gap Nature Center
PO Box 198, Slatington, PA 18080
Tel: 610-760-8889
FAX: 610-760-8889
Internet:
wiclgap@ptd.net
