Breeding Bird Survey this morning

American Redstart, Ware, MA, Jun 14, 2020

Killdeer, Monson, MA, Jun 14, 2020

This morning I conducted my annual breeding bird survey route that runs from Belchertown south to the Connecticut (more on the breeding bird survey at the following link).  The survey consists of 50 stops at half mile intervals with each stop lasting 3 minutes (which doesn't allow much time for any photography but I got a couple shots nonetheless).  The surveys were initially cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic but then I heard that if the survey could be safely completed then the route should be completed so that is exactly what I did.  This is the 11th year I have completed the route and I found a total of 76 species with 1353 individuals which is around average but a bit off my record setting total of 83 last year.  Below are the totals for species for each year I have conducted the survey.

year                 # of species

2010                 71

2011                 64

2012                 56

2013                 67

2014                 70

2015                 75

2016                 78

2017                 73

2018                 71

2019                 83

2020                 76

Highlights for species this year included multiples of both species of cuckoo (less than previous years but thankfully the gypsy moths that have fed them are much reduced so not too surprising the number of cuckoos are down slightly), an American Woodcock, all four expected species of vireo, Bank Swallows, a Swamp Sparrow and a dozen species of warbler.  The Bank Swallows and Swamp Sparrow were new species for the route during the years I have conducted it and these two bring the total number of species I have had on the route up to 107.

The ten most abundant species this year are listed in the table below (% of sightings for all stops)

American Robin                         76%
Red eyed Vireo                           72%
Ovenbird                                     64%
Northern Cardinal                       64%
Gray Catbird                               60%
Chipping Sparrow                      58%
American Crow                          58%
Black capped Chickadee            52%
Common Yellowthroat               52%
Tufted Titmouse                         50%