LISLE
ARBORETUM CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
2017 Count Summary
The 69th Lisle-Arboretum Christmas Bird Count was held on Sunday, 17 December 2017. The total species count was 85. Though this is a good number, tying for 6th highest all-time for the Lisle count, it ranks 6th among the last 10 counts. That is, the six highest species totals have all been in the last 10 years!
"Good birds" were dominated by waterfowl and included
- Trumpeter Swan (7) [5th year on count among 69 counts]
- Tundra Swan (1) [5th year on count]
- Canvasback (1) [12th year on count]
- Redhead (1) [13th year on count]
- Greater Scaup (1) [10th year on count]
- Ruddy Duck (2) [14th year on count]
- Eurasian Collared-Dove (5) [9th year on count]
- Barred Owl (4) [12th year on count]
- Merlin (1) [12th year on count]
- Northern Mockingbird (1) [6th year on count]
Record high counts were numerous, with all-time highs recorded for six species.
- The seven Trumpeter Swans bested the prior record of three from 2012 and 2015.
- The four Barred Owls topped counts of two from 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2014. (Do we see a trend here?)
- The prior high count of 220 Red-bellied Woodpeckers in 2003 was smashed by this year's total of 309.
- The 13 Pileated Woodpeckers topped last year's record of nine.
- Our count of 708 Blue Jays broke the prior record of 690 setting in 2003.
- We had an amazing 300 Lapland Longspurs (all in one flock). You have to go back all the way to 1966 for the previous high count of 190.
Other notable high counts:
- 320 House Finches
- 243 Pine Siskins
Low counts were disturbingly plentiful. This year's count and the recent 15-year average are noted below for species with poor showings.
- Only 105 Ring-billed Gulls compared to the average of 283.
- Just 359 Rock Pigeons in comparison to 1039.
- 26 Eastern Bluebirds down from 58 on average.
- A small 165 American Robins compared to an average of 2007 (though it should be noted that that high average is driven by superb counts of 9967 in 2005 and 6867 in 2010).
- The 46 Cedar Waxwings comes in at less than 10% of the average of 521.
- Only 319 American Tree Sparrows versus the average of 718.
- The 55 White-throated Sparrows is less than half the average of 124.
Credit for the count's success is due in large part to the area leaders: Bob Dolgan, Bob Fisher, Carl Giometti, Steve Constantelos, Jenny Vogt, and Ken Wysocki. Their work is essential to all aspects of the CBC. Carl Giometti was responsible for organizing the count participants into the six areas. Christine Williamson again arranged the countdown dinner.
- Geoff Williamson (compiler)