An Abundance of Birds in Winter

Weather conditions were nearly perfect for this time of the year, with brilliant, sunny skies, no wind, and a temperature range of 20-28 degrees F. Snow depth averaged one to two inches. A hard crust covered most exposed areas, with occasional patches of open ground. Southerly hillsides and the sheltered Hemlock forest were largely free of snow cover. Esopus Creek was completely open and flowing moderately in the channel, the cove was 95% frozen. During their five hours on the preserve, Steve and Henry recorded their observations. The result is a Winter Bird Population Survey. Here are their findings prepared by Steve:

A total of 30 species and 451 individuals were recorded during a five- hour period from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Highlights include: two GRAY CATBIRDS feeding side-by-side in a multiflora rose; nine HERMIT THRUSHES; twelve GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS; six RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH; and one adult BALD EAGLE, soaring overhead against the backdrop of a deep blue sky. Several White-throated Sparrows and one Song Sparrow were heard in full song.

Actual numbers of White-throated Sparrows in the preserve at this time likely exceeds 200 individuals, as indicated two days prior when a selective sampling was conducted at dusk, during a period of increased vocal and physical activity for White-throated Sparrows. Numerous Wild Turkey tracks and sign reveal their presence in the preserve, but we failed to detect any individuals during our survey. One Eastern Screech-Owl was detected during a limited nocturnal survey on 21 January, and we noted one small, fresh owl pellet located under a dense Douglas Fir tree. Several additional bird species have been reported in the preserve subsequent to the formal survey, including a small mixed flock of COMMON REDPOLLS and PINE SISKINS, nomadic visitors from the north.

Apparent food sources consist of extensive multiflora rose hips and Asiatic Bittersweet fruits; limited Staghorn Sumac, and minor to exhausted crops of Poison-Ivy and Wild Grape. Approximately 80% of potential weed seeds were encased in snow or ice. Eastern Hemlock cone crops were light to moderate, and Red Cedar is nearly non-existent in the preserve, a factor that may explain the absence of American Robins, Northern Mockingbird, and Cedar Waxwings, species present in good numbers during late November, but not encountered during this winter survey.

Tabulated below is the complete list of 36 bird species recorded in the preserve this winter, and the number of individuals detected during our survey. (* denotes species recorded subsequent to the survey.)

American Black Duck - 6 Hairy Woodpecker - 3 Eastern Bluebird - 1 Mallard - 34 Northern Flicker - 1 Hermit Thrush - 9 Hooded Merganser - 2 Pileated Woodpecker - 1 Gray Catbird - 2 Wild Turkey * Blue Jay - 22 American Tree Sparrow - 16 Bald Eagle - 1 Adult American Crow - 10 Song Sparrow - 11 Red-shouldered Hawk * Black-capped Chickadee - 86 White-throated Sparrow - 68 Red-tailed Hawk * Tufted Titmouse - 23 Dark-eyed Junco - 24 Ring-billed Gull - 15 Red-breasted Nuthatch - 6 Northern Cardinal - 14 Herring Gull - 1 White-breasted Nuthatch - 26 House Finch - 14 Eastern Screech-Owl *- 1 Brown Creeper - 1 Common Redpoll * Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4 Carolina Wren - 12 Pine Siskin * Downy Woodpecker - 20 Golden-crowned Kinglet - 12 American Goldfinch - 6