Thrills, trills and chills: Nature's Notebook Christmas Bird Count special report

nsomnia and birdwatching don’t mix, as I found out while embarking on this year’s Lakeville-Sharon Audubon Christmas Bird Count. It’s not that I even get up to go owling anymore; I leave that to the pros. But after two hours of tossing and turning, driving out in the dark of early morning I was overcome by a certain unwelcome trepidation.

And yet... after a hearty breakfast at the Mountainside Cafe in Falls Village, and a few Trader Joe’s espresso beans later, I found myself staring down the barrel of my binoculars at a flock of loitering

rusty blackbirds, feeling that familiar surge of adrenalin and delight that comes with the yearly ritual of counting birds in early winter.

 

It didn’t hurt that I’ve only seen rusty blackbirds once or twice before, and there’s a special thrill of seeing a bird one doesn’t often see. (The only thing better is seeing an entirely new species: a "life" bird.) Not that the rusty blackbird is a

style="font-size: 10pt", feeling that familiar surge of adrenalin and delight that comes with the yearly ritual of counting birds in early winter. >

 

rara avis, exactly, but it’s an uncommon, desultory inhabitant of swamps — and, in a sobering reminder of why we count birds, a species whose numbers have slipped dangerously in recent decades.

 

Our five rusty blackbirds were the highlight of a chilly Saturday of birding (the count was scheduled for Sunday but moved a day earlier because of the pending nor’easter) that turned out to be a decent day for our small band of birders. Group leader Art Gingert, Don Heiny, Joe Gwazdauskas and I had birded together in Millerton and surroundings in the past, but this year we took the northeastern quadrant of the count circle, comprising the area of Falls Village and North Canaan.

(Each Christmas Bird Count, or CBC, area is a standard 15-mile-diameter circle that must be covered within a 24-hour-period, on a day chosen within a larger three-week period from before Christmas to just after New Year’s Day. As with most CBCs, the Lakeville-Sharon count is divided into sub-areas covered by smaller groups. The results of all the CBCs from throughout the Americas — more than 1,500 counts — are sent to the National Audubon Society, where they are tabulated and used to study trends in continental bird populations during early winter.)

Our early morning efforts were rewarded with the sighting of a single

style="font-size: 10pt", exactly, but it’s an uncommon, desultory inhabitant of swamps — and, in a sobering reminder of why we count birds, a species whose numbers have slipped dangerously in recent decades. >

 

hermit thrushhuddled against the cold in a tree in "downtown" Falls Village. A few of these hardy songbirds usually ride out the winter up north, but never more than a handful. A lone belted kingfisherpatroling a stream near the high school was a welcome find in the afternoon, and later, while cruising up Sand Road, we enjoyed close-up views of a large flock of horned larksfeeding in the freshly manured fields, hearing their tinkling trills. We saw more than 16 red-tailed hawksduring the day, and each one drew deserving oohs and ahs.

 

As usual, there were misses, too. I had high hopes of finding a

style="font-size: 10pt"during the day, and each one drew deserving oohs and ahs. >

 

northern shrike(another bird I’ve only seen once or twice before) in the vicinity of Cobble Road, where they’ve been reported on and off for several weeks. It was hotly debated whether we’d be able to count such a bird, as the territory is just beyond the limits of the count circle, but it turned out to be a moot point. We struck out.

 

Other hopefuls were the

style="font-size: 10pt"(another bird i’ve only seen once or twice before) in the vicinity of cobble road, where they’ve been reported on and off for several weeks. it was hotly debated whether we’d be able to count such a bird, as the territory is just beyond the limits of the count circle, but it turned out to be a moot point. we struck out. >

 

common redpolland pine grosbeak, both of which — particularly the latter — have invaded our region in good numbers recently (as reported in this column). Our party did not luck into any, though other groups did.

 

At the evening’s compilation dinner, in the warm glow of the Sharon Audubon Center and fed by the Aakjars’ savory lasagna, we listened to longtime birder and former First Selectman Bob Moeller sum up the day’s results. Considering the cold — the thermometer never rose above 25 degrees — and the snow cover, a total of 76 species was reasonably good for our area.

Two "new" species were added to the list, spotted by parties other than mine — a

style="font-size: 10pt", both of which — particularly the latter — have invaded our region in good numbers recently (as reported in this column). our party did not luck into any, though other groups did. >

 

merlin(formerly known as "pigeon hawk," and a small, compact falcon) and a veery, first cousin to the hermit thrush, but a bird that usually goes south for the winter. Sadly, this veery had an injured wing and probably won’t survive the season.

 

The CBC was begun in 1900 as an alternative to a bird-hunting tradition called the Christmas Side Hunt. Of the 108 annual CBCs that have taken place, I’ve participated in exactly one-third of them — a startling thought! But year after year, sleep or no sleep, I bundle myself up and head out into the pre-dawn chill, unsure of what I’ll find — except the thrill of discovery, the warmth of friendly camaraderie, and the certainty that I’m adding one more small chapter to the growing "book of knowledge" about birds in our world.

The Christmas Bird Count is always looking for new participants. If you missed it this year, consider joining in next year. You can always keep track of when our local count takes place by checking the Audubon Sharon Web site, audubon.org/local/sanctuary/sharon/index.

 

style="font-size: 10pt", first cousin to the hermit thrush, but a bird that usually goes south for the winter. sadly, this veery had an injured wing and probably won’t survive the season. >

 

Fred Baumgarten is a naturalist and writer. He can be reached at fredb58@sbcglobal.net. His blog is at thatbirdblog.blogspot.com.