Eight intrepid bird observers from Dallas County and environs spent Saturday, Dec. 17 conducting the annual Christmas bird count. Despite cold, snow and wind, the birders spotted a total of 34 species.
Among the highlights were large numbers of horned larks, with 508 individual birds counted. Some flocks of horned larks also included Lapland longspurs, totaling seven birds. Several small groups of eastern bluebirds were found near winter food sources, such as honeysuckle berries and rose hips.
A lone golden-crowned kinglet fed actively at Hanging Rock Park near Redfield.
Seventeen bald eagles were counted, including 13 along the Middle Raccoon River at Kuehn County Conservation Area. The stretches of open river were no doubt attractive as fishing locations. Eagles of all ages, from those born this year to full adults, were seen.
In past years, a few thousand Canada geese might be heard and seen in corn fields, but on Saturday only 500 were present, with a few on the Middle Raccoon at Redfield and two larger flocks northeast of Redfield and north of Adel in fields near the North Raccoon River.
Several common birds were seen in very low numbers or not at all. American kestrels continue a noticeable decline, with only one male seen on Saturday. No northern flickers were found. The once-common black-capped chickadees, usually found playing noisily in snow storms, totaled a mere eight birds. And white-breasted nuthatches amounted to only six birds.
Also seen during count week — Dec. 14-20, excluding count day — were a few meadowlarks and a short-eared owl.
Christmas bird counts are conducted annually under the sponsorship of the National Audubon Society and participating local, regional and state ornithology and wildlife organizations. Each count area is a 15-mile diameter circle that is driven and walked by volunteer participants who enjoy the outdoors, are interested in bird life, and want to contribute to citizen science.
The more than 40 years of North American count data helps scientists understand major shifts in winter bird populations.
This year’s eight participants in the Dallas County bird count were Dallas County Conservation Board naturalists Chris Adkins and Mike Havlik, Raccoon River Watershed Association member Lee Searles and bird-loving volunteers Dan Case, Justin Ferguson, Jon Markus, Joseph McGovern and Steve Wenzl.
Public areas in the count circle include Big Bend, the Brenton Arboretum, Hanging Rock Park, Island Park, Kuehn Conservation Area and Voas Nature Center.
