Lycoming Audubon Christmas Bird Count

TheLycoming Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was held on Saturday, December 22, 2001. A total of 64 species were confirmed and 8,260 individual birds were counted. Twelve parties and 33 individual participants spread out across a 15-mile circle, centered in Montoursville.

The goal was to count every individual bird spotted over a 24-hour period. This year's participants put in a grand total of 76.75 hours and 512.25 miles. (On foot: 38.5 miles and 38.75 hours; by car, 38.25 hours and 473.5 miles; nocturnal birding: 10.25 hours and 40 miles.) Temperatures varied from 24° F. to 37° F.

The CBC has been conducted every year in the United States since 1900 and locally since 1968. Historically, the Williamsport CBC has a total of 122 species, but an average of 60 species are found each year. Highlights for the 2001 count include three Saw-whet Owls, which had never been recorded on our count, and Pine Grosbeaks, which are a large northern finch, rarely spotted south of New York State. Eight species either tied or broke the record for yearly totals. They include Ring-neck Duck, Coopers Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Wild Turkey, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Wood Duck. A Snowy Owl was also spotted on the Allenwood Federal Prison property. We are still trying to determine if the owl was within our count circle. Another item of interest: The Peregrine Falcon was not seen during the CBC despite the fact that it has been spotted nearly every day from August 31 to the present.

The counts are listed below:

– Dave Ferry, CBC Chairman