Christmas Bird Count: Rutland County, Vermont

We’re reposting several Christmas Bird Count results from neighboring towns. Email us at museum@birdsofvermont.org if you want us to post yours, too. Final results may become available on the VTBIRD mailing list and/or at Audubon’s 110th Christmas Bird Count pages. We’ll be happy to post final tallies when we receive them.

Rutland County, Vermont

from Roy Pilcher, via e-mail
RUTLAND COUNTY AUDUBON COUNT # 110/36
Boxing Day proved to be an unfortunate choice of date for our 36th annual Christmas Bird Count. Observer participation was negatively impacted. The traditional 8 field teams was reduced to 7, and their own. The anticipated sleet and rain did not materialize but winds of from 10-15 mph with gusts of 30-35 mph appeared to depress avian activity.

6333 individual birds were recorded, considerably less than the ten year running average of 9103. The species count of 43 (with 5 on Count Week) was well below the ten year running average of 49.5. Mallard and Common Merganser numbers set new highs.

White-breasted Nuthatch on suet
White-breasted Nuthatch

Species

Canada Goose — 485
American Black Duck — 11
Mallard — 474
Common Merganser — 16
Bald Eagle — 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk — 1
Cooper’s Hawk — CW
Red-tailed Hawk — 11
American Kestrel — 1
Peregrine Falcon — 1
Ruffed Grouse — 7
Wild Turkey — 181
Ring-billed Gull — 2
Rock Pigeon — 356
Mourning Dove — 215
Barred Owl — CW
Belted Kingfisher — 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker — 1
Downy Woodpecker — 47
Hairy Woodpecker — 20
Pileated Woodpecker — 3
Blue Jay — 258
American Crow — 1167
Common Raven — 14
Black-capped Chickadee — 749
Tufted Titmouse — 104
Red-breasted Nuthatch — 9
White-breasted Nuthatch — 86
Brown Creeper — 4
Carolina Wren — 4
Golden-crowned Kinglet — CW
Eastern Bluebird — 9
American Robin — 1
Cedar Waxwing — 116
Northern Shrike — CW
European Starling — 1246
Northern Cardinal — 45
American Tree Sparrow — 56
Chipping Sparrow — 1
Song Sparrow — 2
White-throated Sparrow — 2
Dark-eyed Junco — 142
Snow Bunting — 26
Red-winged Blackbird — 2
House Finch — 88
Pine Siskin — CW
American Goldfinch — 104
House Sparrow — 264

Totals

INDIVIDUALS
6333

SPECIES
43 + 5 CW

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