32nd Annual BUFFALO BAYOU, TX, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
28 December 2008-- Count Summary
(Count History: January 1978 - December 2006)
Species reported Count Day: 123 (+ 1 ADDITIONAL FORM + 3 EXOTICS) (+ 5 SPECIES COUNT WEEK, BUT NOT COUNT DAY)
TOTAL INDIVIDUAL BIRDS REPORTED COUNT DAY: 17,639
PARTICIPANTS: 103 (93 IN THE FIELD + 10 AT FEEDEERS/YARDS)
On 28 December 2008, 103 participants in the 32nd annual Buffalo Bayou CBC observed 130 species (results still unofficial until CBC Regional Editor passes judgment). That is seven more species then what was recorded on last years count. Four additional species were found during count week for a total of 134 species for the whole count period. We added a new bird to the count the Northern Waterthrush. This unofficial species count is above average for the history of the count and only three species off the record. Our species totals continue to reflect an impressive diversity in an urban setting. The unfortunate trend is habitat loss in the portions of the circle between the West Loop and Highway 6. Thankfully Barker Reservoir and Addicks Reservoir (including Bear Creek Park) on the west side of the count circle and Memorial Park and the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center on the east still provide large, continuous areas of open space and good habitat.
For the 2nd year in a row we have missed a Black Phoebe that had been seen for the past several counts. At least one Vermillion Flycatcher continues to be seen in the Addicks Reservoir/Bear Creek Area for now seven years running, making it a regular entry allowing us to report it as non-unusual species. A Bald Eagle (1) Solitary Sandpiper (2) were recorded on the count for the second straight year and an Ovenbird was found for only the second time on the count. The number of American Woodcock observed during the count was about average with 4 individuals being recorded. All-time high counts for Hooded Merganser (9), Roseate Spoonbill (13) (3-years running), Osprey (13), Spotted Sandpiper (28), Solitary Sandpiper (2), Forster’s Tern (21) (4-years running), Barred Owl (10), and Winter Wren (14) were recorded on count day. Additional species of note include: Tri-colored Heron, White-faced Ibis, Crested Caracara, Laughing Gull, Common Ground-Dove, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird,Red-breasted Nuthatch, Marsh Wren, Fox Sparrow and Pine Siskin. Birds observed during count week were: Northern Pintail, Peregrine Falcon and Palm Warbler.
Like most other Christmas Bird Counts there was high diversity but low density in what was being observed. Some of these aforementioned species reflect that this winter seems to be a high-count year for some of the seed/insect eaters. (The complete species list and other data can be found on the CBC web site) Thanks again to the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, which has hosted our organizational meeting for many years, and also hosts our web site as well and to everybody who participated in this count and we will hope for better weather for next years count.
– Adam Wood, Co-Compiler