Submitted photo New Ulm Christmas Bird Count Compiler Brian Smith of Sleepy Eye submitted a photo of a merlin he and bird counter John Schladweiler found on the KC Road Saturday.
NEW ULM — The New Ulm Christmas Bird Count (CBC) numbers are in.
The Saturday count was unusual in several ways.
“It was a bit of an oddity with the unusual weather we had. It rained about three quarters of an inch in the early morning hours. Temperatures were mild at around 36 degrees, light wind and high humidity,” said New Ulm CBC Compiler Brian Smith of Sleepy Eye.
“We had a record number of Rock Pigeons (443), 103 Eurasian Collared-Doves, 70 Mourning Doves, 91 Downy Woodpeckers, 31 Hairy Woodpeckers, 39 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 17 Red-tailed Hawks, 431 Dark-eyed Juncos, 44 Common Redpoll, “ Smith added.
The second-highest ever number of House Sparrows (519) and 183 Black-capped Chickadees were recorded.
“Mike Oetken and Elliott De St. Croix found a flock of 44 Common Redpoll,” Smith said.
This is just the third report ever since 1986. There were no New Ulm CBCs from 1994 through 2000, and the first since 1993,” Smith said.
“I suspect we’re doing a very good job covering and finding birds in the (15-mile) count circle in and around New Ulm. I think another factor was the mild and wet weather that may have kept some birds around,” said Smith.
The New Ulm CBC had 11 field parties totaling 21 individuals combining for 27.5 hours of effort with 277 miles driven. Six parties totaling 11 people did some or all walking covering 15.2 miles. Six bird feeder watchers totaled 8.75 hours of effort.
A total of 3,022 birds were counted. The 43 bird species and numbers seen: House Sparrow 519, Rock Pigeon 443, Dark-eyed Junco 431, European Starling 429, Black-capped Chickadee 183, Blue Jay 118, Eurasian Collared Dove 103, American Crow 101, Downy Woodpecker 91, American Tree Sparrow, 71, Wild Turkey 70, Mourning Dove 70, White-breasted Nuthatch 55, Northern Cardinal 50, Common Redpoll 44, Red-bellied Woodpecker 39, Hairy Woodpecker 31, Cedar Waxwing 30, Ring-necked Pheasant 28, House Finch 26, Canada Goose 24, Red-tailed Hawk 17, American Finch 14, Bald Eagle 13, Blackbird ten, Pileated Woodpecker four, American Kestrel four, Brown Creeper four, Cooper’s Hawk three, American Robin three, Barred Owl three, Purple Finch two, Northern Flicker two, Mallard one, Sharp-shinned Hawk one, Rough-legged Hawk one, Northern Harrier one, Eastern Screech Owl one, Great Horned Owl one, Merlin one, Northern Shrike one.
Birds seen during Bird Count Week but not included in bird totals were a Belted Kingfisher and Red-Breasted Nuthatch.
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December 22, 2023 at 02:21PM
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