The Petroglyph’s Christmas Bird Count, centered on Petroglyph’s Provincial Park, was held on Saturday, December 27, 2014. Twenty-seven birders took part. 2717 individual birds were counted.
Number of species: 38 (Just two shy of the record high of 40.)
Species recorded in a record high number: Red-tailed Hawk (10 vs previous high of 8), Herring Gull (8 vs 5), Great Horned Owl (3 vs 1), Barred Owl (11 vs 7), White-breasted Nuthatch (233 vs 119)
New species for the Count: Eastern Screech Owl (2), Merlin (1)
First time since 2009 (previously annual): Gray Jay (2)
Also of note: 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk (2cd time on Count), 5 Bald Eagles (average), 48 Downy Woodpecker (considerably higher than average), 456 Blue Jays (high), 43 Red-breasted Nuthatches (very low), 1 Winter Wren (only 4th time on Count), 106 Golden-crowned Kinglets (close to previous high of 120), 48 American Goldfinch (very low)
Colin Jones, co-ordinator
Merlin (Karl Egressy)
Gray Jay -Tom Northey Algonquin Park – March 2014
