The 38th Algonquin Park CBC was held on Friday, 30 December 2011. Conditions for birding were fairly good all day: mostly calm, light snow flurries throughout, and temperatures from minus 13 to minus 6 degrees C. All still water was frozen but there was some open water on the Madawaska River. Snow depth was unusually low (maximum of about 15 centimetres or six inches in the open and less under trees) which allowed observers to cover more area.
A limited cone crop resulted in a very good variety of finches but in relatively low numbers compared to years with a bumper crop. There were many more finches than during the last two winters when cones were virtually nonexistent on nearly all conifers. Total Observers: 82 (second highest ever) Birds per Party Hour: 21 (compared to 4 and 8 on the last two counts) Total Species: 32 (average is 28; highest ever is 34) Total Individuals: 4.977 (average is 4,780) New Species for the Count: none Noteworthy Species: -Wild Turkey: 1 (Sunday Lake Road) -Great Horned Owl: 1 (heard in late afternoon on Lookout Trail) -Northern Saw-whet Owl: 1 (photographed on Leaf Lake Ski Trail) -Winter Wren: 1 (heard at seepage area along old railway between East Boundary and Rock Lake) Finches: -Pine Grosbeak: 16 -Purple Finch: 26 -Red Crossbill: 36 -White-winged Crossbill: 792 -Common Redpoll: 567 -Hoary Redpoll: 1 -Pine Siskin: 836 -American Goldfinch: 219 -Evening Grosbeak: 80 (all at the Visitor Centre feeders) Notable Missed Species: -Spruce Grouse A big thanks to all those who participated in the count, many of whom travelled a long distance. The work of those who arranged the excellent catered meal for over 100 people, facilitated the electronic tally, and carried out fee payment by credit and debit card is much appreciated. Ron Tozer Algonquin Park CBC Compiler Directions: Algonquin Park is three hours north of Toronto, via Highways 400, 11 and 60. Follow the signs which start in Toronto on Highway 400. >From Ottawa, take Highway 17 to Renfrew, then follow Highway 60 to the park. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
