New year, new record
Walkabout: PI
Happenings in the Star City
Speaking of “walkabout,” there was a group of folks who did just that to start the new year, and logged some record-breaking observations.
On New Year’s Day, 23 participants turned out to canvass a 15-mile-diameter circle around Presque Isle for the city’s 67th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count, an event held around the holidays in communities nationwide. About 10 others monitored their home feeders that day to add to the total.
Bill Sheehan, president of Aroostook Birders, said Monday that though a lot of people thought it was a “slow year,” observers actually spotted a record total of 5,570 birds, of over 37 species.
Sheehan reported temperatures ranged in the 20s, with calm winds and about a foot of snow on the ground. The moderate amount of snow and good weather resulted in what he called a “fantastic field effort.”
“We logged over 40 hours in the field and drove more than 370 miles in search of birds,” he said. “Though it may come as a surprise to most of us, we broke the previous record of 4681 for numbers of individual birds seen.”
The count is far from random; each birder, or team, has their own assigned spot to search.
“There is a specific area,” Sheehan explained. “This is registered with National Audubon, and has been since back in 1936 or ’37.
“Glen Chamberlain, a biology teacher from Presque Isle High School, started the count before World War II. The middle [of the area] is downtown, where Maine and State streets cross, and goes out 7 1/2 miles in radius from there,” he said, adding the circle includes parts of Easton, Westfield, Fort Fairfield, Mapleton, Chapman and even a little bit of Washburn.
By far the most abundant species recorded during this year’s count was the European starling, with a final tally of 1,632. There were numerous snow buntings, with 886 seen; rock pigeons, 672; and black-capped chickadees, 382. Mallard ducks, crows and goldfinches numbered in the 200s. There were also blue jays (182) and even wild turkeys (25).
“Fruit eaters had a big showing with record counts of American robins (18) and Bohemian waxwings (434),” Sheehan added.
The count isn’t all about big numbers, though. “No new count species were found this year, but the first barred owl in many years was found by Jason Johnston (of the University of Maine at Presque Isle), as was a northern goshawk and brown creeper,” Sheehan said. “Other rarities included a couple common grackles, at least one northern shrike and two northern cardinals.”
Observers also tallied 16 bald eagles.
Wintry wonders
Though the weather was warmish for the Bird Count, temperatures have begun their usual winter nosedives, leaving one to wonder: how do these tiny, winged creatures survive?
Very well, actually, Sheehan said. They burrow into sheltering branches or bark, fluff out their down and feathers and settle in.
“They all have downy coats, so they can handle cold quite well. They find good little spots out of the wind, they go to sleep and save calories, and they’re insulated, so they do all right. The thing is when we get rain or coatings of ice,” he continued. “It can really restrict their feed. Those are the times when you might want to scatter feed on the crust and make it more available.”
Wondering what to provide? Suet works for some feathered friends, but black oil sunflower seeds are the best for attracting the most birds. “The birds really like them because they have a lot of oil and protein, which is energy for them. They need to keep the fuel in the furnace,” Sheehan explained.
Though there may not be as many types of birds around in the winter, Sheehan said there are still 30-40 species around.
“The common ones that come to feeders are chickadees, nuthatches, tree sparrows, juncos — which are a kind of sparrow — and woodpeckers,” he reflected. “There is also a family of birds called the finches, which includes about six or seven species that come to the feeders.”
He offered a caution to those helping to nourish backyard birds through the winter: Put feeders up high enough so they’re away from fascinated felines or other critters.
Most of all, enjoy. Scatter a bit of food for them and observe these little winged marvels.
For more information about Aroostook Birders, visit sites.google.com/site/aroostookbirders, or check them out on Facebook.
