2006 Christmas Bird Count Recap

The Portland Christmas Bird Count enjoyed sunny skies, once the patchy morning fog burned off, and chilly temperatures for our 81st count.

We're still awaiting some returns but the species total stands at 105.  Here are some highlights:

"Best Bird" of the day was a 1st year male LONG-TAILED DUCK, spotted by Ariel Zimmerman and identified by Bob Stites.  Ariel and Bob are the winners of this year's coveted Eagle-eye Award. Congratulations!

Other unexpected birds, all reported from the North Portland/Columbia Riparian area, were:

EARED GREBE
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (2)
NORTHERN SHRIKE
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (2)

Our extra effort in Forest Park didn't produce any grouse,
alas, but was responsible for a CBC total of 17 PILEATED
WOODPECKERS and 12 HAIRY WOODPECKERS, one of the latter found by Tom McAllister, who has been doing the Portland CBC since 1939.  RED CROSSBILLS were reported from all 5 areas.

EUROPEAN STARLINGS continue to decline.  The ~2900 reported was the lowest number in 45 years.  In the category of "Thanks for Nothing", zero Brown-headed Cowbirds were reported.

There were no egregious misses, but the absence of Greater
Scaup, Glaucous Gull, Orange-crowned Warbler and Savannah
Sparrow was lamented.  Unfortunately, the Pine Grosbeak was also a no-show on count day.

Best of all, however, was the record number of field
participants: 149, smashing last year's record of 101!
I want to send out a big "Thank You!" to my terrific area
leaders: Char Corkran, Linda Craig, John Fitchen, Lynn Herring, and Pat Muller.  They did a fabulous job ensuring that a large number of birders, many of them newbies, had a great time!

Wink Gross, compiler
Portland CBC