The 13th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) results are in. The Birdfreaks birded three locations and two states, coming up with a (modest) grand total of 22 species this year and 233 total individuals based on the highest number seen over all four days.
Birding the backyards this time of year can be hit or miss. The Saturday prior to the count, Jennie and Dakota were witness to over a hundred American Robins. The highest number for the count was only 30.
American Robins (last week)
Highlights from Genoa, Illinois
New GBBC species for the Birdfreak Team this year were Snow Buntings, Horned Larks and American Tree Sparrows.
Downy Woodpecker, Dark-eyed Junco, American Crow, House Sparrow and Mourning Dove completed the list.
Total Species: 8
Total Birds (based on overall highest number of individuals): 44
American Tree Sparrows
Highlights for Rockford, Illinois
In past winters we have seen Pine Siskins, Red-breasted Nuthatches and Common Redpolls in the Callaway yard. Not one of these showed up for the GBBC this year. The locals still made an appearance – Northern Cardinals, American Goldfinches and American Crows as well as lots of Dark-eyed Juncos, House Finches and House Sparrows.
Total Species: 10
Total Birds (based on overall highest number of individuals): 33
Black-capped Chickadee
Highlights from Findlay, Ohio
The Findlay location is a good place for the GBBC because of the amount of viewing area and variety. Two farm fields, a road with power lines, a large open yard and two tree lines are well within eyesight of counting from the living room and bedroom windows.
This large field of view however did not produce much in the way of numbers. The numbers came mostly from Canada Geese.
Two Northern Mockingbirds, some American Robins and the new Findlay “yard bird” (Rock Pigeons) added numbers along with some boisterous Northern Cardinals and a small number of American Crows.
Total Species: 15
Total Birds (based on overall highest number of individuals): 156
Northern Cardinal
Cold weather, blowing and falling snow and fog all affected counting this year in the three locations. Nonetheless, we had a good time and did our best to help provide a snapshot of birds across the country.
Good birding!
Which backyard bird is recorded as having livd the longest according to banding rcords??
Nannette – a Mourning Dove was recorded as being 31 yrs old and 4 months (http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/homepage/long3120.cfm) and a Common Grackle was documented being 23 yrs old and 1 month (http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/homepage/long4930.cfm). I think the dove is the oldest “backyard bird” recorded.