[ Salt-Verde Rivers | Carefree | Gila River | Patagonia | Puerto Penasco, MX ]
by Bob Bradley (compiler)
No Information available at this time.
[ Salt-Verde Rivers | Carefree | Gila River | Patagonia | Puerto Penasco, MX ]
by Walter Thurber (compiler)
The eighth annual Carefree Christmas Bird Count was held on Monday, December 27, 1999. Excellent weather prevailed as 70 dedicated observers took to the field or kept watch at their feeders. Their efforts were rewarded when 105 species and a record 10,934 individual birds were found.
New species for the count were Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Least Sandpiper, Plumbeous Vireo, Barn Swallow and Savannah Sparrow. Barn Swallow is a rare winter visitor that was not recorded on any Arizona Christmas count last year. The cumulative total for eight years now stands at 135 species.
A Painted Redstart appeared for the fifth year in a row. This species is regular on only four other counts statewide and all are located in southeast Arizona. American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Lark Bunting and Brown-headed Cowbird were recorded for only the second time. Two winter regulars that were missed this year are Ash-throated Flycatcher and Fox Sparrow.
Record high individual totals were established for 30 species that were not new to the count. Some examples include Harris’s Hawk-64, Western Scrub-Jay-149, Horned Lark-21, Bewick’s Wren-74, Sage Thrasher-23, Canyon Towhee-197, Brewer’s Sparrow-207 and Sage Sparrow-34.
The most abundant species was Gambel’s Quail, followed by Mourning Dove and White-crowned Sparrow. Harris’s Hawk, Inca Dove and Cactus Wren numbers have grown steadily for the past five years. This is the second consecutive year that House Finch numbers are up and House Sparrows are down. Phainopepla dropped sharply and our Yellow-rumped Warbler count hit a five-year low.
Exotic sightings included Budgerigar, Peach-faced Lovebird and Yellow-collared Lovebird. Peach-faced Lovebirds have occurred on two previous counts and are reportedly breeding in Carefree.
At sundown we headed for the Territorial Bar & Grill in Cave Creek to enjoy dinner and compare notes. Michael Pawlick, the executive chef there, is an avid birder and was a count participant for most of the day. We had cake for dessert to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count.
Our complete results are posted on the Audubon website at http://www.birdsource.org/. You may also request a copy of my report to count participants. I appreciate the support that this count receives from Maricopa Audubon members each year.
[ Salt-Verde Rivers | Carefree | Gila River | Patagonia | Puerto Penasco, MX ]
by Troy Corman (compiler)
As usual, there were surprises awaiting many of the 53 participants of the Gila River Christmas Count. Many folks felt numbers of individuals were way down for many species of birds, however, when everything was tallied, we had record high numbers for 28 species. That is incredible for a count that has been conducted for 19 years! The total species tally was 137, which is the second highest for the count’s history. There were many seasoned veterans leading the 13 teams as they scoured the riverbottoms, deserts, fields, ponds, and rural communities. Most of the teams discovered at least one species that was not found by others.
Exceptional highlights were five species of owls including the count’s first Short-eared Owl found at the end of the day by Bruce Palmer’s team. The Palmer Team also found the count’s first record for Barn Swallow. We also had seven species of wrens including an inquisitive Winter Wren (2nd count record) that nearly hopped up on Tim Price’s shoe as he sat counting goldfinches. I’m sure the 300 Mountain Bluebirds foraging over an agricultural field were an impressive sight for the Witzeman Team. Walter Thurber’s Team found the 2nd count record for Western Sandpiper and Herb Fibel’s Team had the only Lawrence’s Goldfinches (20).
I have to say that the biggest surprise, however, was the astonishing total of eight species of warblers. Along with the typical Orange-crowns, Yellow-rumps, and Common Yellowthroat, the Witzeman Team were successful in re-locating a scouted out Chestnut-sided Warbler (2nd count record) and Matt Chew discovered a MacGillivray’s Warbler (1st count record) along the Hassayampa River. Richard Maze found a Yellow Warbler and a Black-throated Gray Warbler showed itself to the Craig Fischer Team. Finally, my team found an immature American Redstart (1st count record). If that wasn’t enough, three days after the count, I went back to look for additional count week birds and found a Northern Parula! Other good count week birds include Lesser Yellowlegs (1st ever in count area) and Fox Sparrow. With these additions, the cumulative total for this count now stands at 207 species.
I think we can safely say that this count will continue to be recognized as the Abert’s Towhee capital of ALL Christmas counts with a respectable 808 individuals. Blackbird numbers were way up this year and I know one of my favorite memories of the count was being mesmerized by the synchronized flight of thousands of male Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds as they repeatedly lifted and settled over an agricultural field. Flashes of brilliant yellow, red, and white in a rolling sea of black.
These are some of the many reasons that make Christmas Bird Counts and other birding activities so interesting and fun. You never know what you will discover or see when you are out in the field! I really want to thank all team leaders and participants for their dedication, persistence, and a job very well done. I hope everyone returns next year to see what has or hasn’t changed.
[ Salt-Verde Rivers | Carefree | Gila River | Patagonia | Puerto Penasco, MX ]
by Roy Jones (Compiler)
No Information available at this time
[ Salt-Verde Rivers | Carefree | Gila River | Patagonia | Puerto Penasco, MX ]
by Steve Ganley (compiler)
No information available at this time
[ Salt-Verde Rivers | Carefree | Gila River | Patagonia | Puerto Penasco, MX ]
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