I conducted my breeding bird survey route with the welcomed
assistance of Devin and Aidan on Sunday. It was a perfect weather day to conduct the
survey route which starts in Belchertown and travels south for 25 miles through
Ware, Palmer and Monson. The survey consists of three minute stops every 1/2
mile during which a census of all birds seen and heard is recorded. We managed
to find a total of 75 species which is the best year since I have done the
route. The previous years had the following totals (2014-70 species, 2013-67
species, 2012-56 species, 2011-64 species, 2010-71 species). A total of 1036
individuals were tallied which is also one of my highest totals on the route.
Highlights included an amazing number of cuckoos (seven Black billed Cuckoo and
five Yellow billed Cuckoo)...most years just finding one is good so this year
was incredibly productive for these two species. The overall highest represented species was Chipping
Sparrow which was present at 64% of the stops. The last two years the American
Robin held this position (72% last year and 80% the year before). The other top
ten (as a percentage) are as follows: American Robin (60%), Tufted Titmouse
(58%), Northern Cardinal (38%), Gray Catbird (50%),
Red eyed Vireo (48%), Black capped Chickadee
(46%), Mourning Dove (46%), American Redstart (42%) and American Crow
(38%).
 |
| Common Gallinule, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 14, 2015 |
 |
| Common Gallinule, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 14, 2015 |
 |
| Hooded Mergansers, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 14, 2015 |
After completing the survey route we made a few
other stops on the way back toward home with a stop in Palmer to try to turn up
a Grasshopper Sparrow (no luck) and a stop over to Lake Wallace to try to find
the Common Gallinule (we had luck there).
No comments:
Post a Comment