2009 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT, CHARLESTON, WV

Handlan Chapter - Brooks Bird Club

To view the archives of the Handlan Christmas Bird counts for 1944-2004 click here.

 

Christmas Count website: http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/index.html

Fox Sparrow (By Roger Mayhorn)

                                                                                                          

2009 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT, CHARLESTON, WV

Handlan Chapter - Brooks Bird Club

The count area consists of all points within a 15 mile diameter circle centered at La-Z-Boy Showroom site located at 38 22'N, 81 43'W. The circle extends from Kanawha City west to St. Albans, and from Kanawha State Forest north to Rocky Fork and Wallace Heights. The area is about 40% residential, 35% deciduous woods, 17% farm and grassland, and 17% streams and ponds. The count took place Saturday, December 19, 2009. Skies were overcast. Temperature was 32-34° F, northwest wind 0-9 mph, still water mostly open, moving water open, heavy snow, and wild food crop fair. A winter storm moved through the area the previous night resulting in hazardous driving conditions, and thus limiting participation. There were seven observers in three parties, and five feeder counts.

Record Counts

Party Number (see other side)

Feeder

 Since 1944

Species

1

2

3

Count

Total

Count

Year
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Canada Goose  

8

11

4

23

1498

2002
Mallard

1

28

  

 2

31

886

1989
Great Blue Heron  

1

    

1

25

1988
Black Vulture

2

      

2

6

2007
Turkey Vulture

180

      

180

259

2007
Northern Harrier

1

      

1

1

2009
Sharp-shinned Hawk

1

      

1

5

1996
Rock Pigeon  

310

100

  

410

942

2007
Mourning Dove

5

2

27

34

554

1982
Great Horned Owl

2

      

2

3

1980
Barred Owl    

1

  

1

4

1955
Red-bellied Woodpecker

2

  

1

5

8

60

2008
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

2

1

  

3

6

18

1986
Downy Woodpecker

3

4

  

9

16

147

1963
Hairy Woodpecker      

1

1

36

1971
Northern Flicker

2

1

    

3

108

1981
Pileated Woodpecker

1

      

1

33

1970
Blue Jay  

1

  

3

4

513

1981
American Crow

37

7416

  

12

7465

12279

2007
Carolina Chickadee

24

10

3

19

56

594

1981
Tufted Titmouse

12

6

3

17

38

446

1979
White-breasted Nuthatch

6

2

2

11

21

165

1968
Brown Creeper

1

      

1

25

1963
Carolina Wren

9

3

  

7

19

183

1976
House Wren      

1

1

4

1970
Winter Wren

4

      

4

15

1947
Golden-crowned Kinglet

7

      

7

70

1976
Eastern Bluebird

1

1

    

2

140

1981
Hermit Thrush

1

      

1

27

1947
American Robin

24

2

40

2

68

7775

2008
Northern Mockingbird

1

2

  

1

4

89

1971
European Starling

23

240

    

263

26703

1968
Yellow-rumped Warbler

8

23

    

31

86

2008
Eastern Towhee

1

    

1

2

383

1971
Chipping Sparrow

12

      

12

39

2005
Song Sparrow

4

5

2

4

15

505

1949
White-throated Sparrow

6

8

  

9

23

865

1971
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)

27

4

1

33

65

886

1965
Northern Cardinal

20

13

7

46

86

745

1969
House Finch

1

  

14

11

26

302

1983
American Goldfinch  

7

11

28

46

324

1949
House Sparrow      

9

9

559

1953
Totals: Species

32

24

14

24

42
Individuals

426

8101

198

265

8990

 

Observers in parties numbered above

  Party Area Covered Hours

Miles

On Foot

Miles

By Car
#1 Jim Waggy, Jerry Westfall,

Donna Joy

 Kanawha State Forest, Coonskin Park, Spring Hill Cemetery 7.5 5  
#2 Doren Burrell, Laura Miller Capitol Complex, Northern Arc,

Crow Roost

 7

1.5

40

#3

 

 Joan Steven, Barbara Smith Carriage Trail

3

3

  

At feeders: Willis & Betsy Trammel, Charles Wirts, Connie Bergmark, Diana Green, Don & Marilyn Morton

 

Total: 17.5 hours, 9.5 miles on foot, 40 miles by car,

.75 hours owling, 22 hours at feeders.

 
  • Compiler: Marilyn Morton

    • 2720 Lakeview Drive

    St. Albans, WV 25177 (304-727 5077)

    (oldsquaw2@aol.com)