The 37th annual Oliver-Osoyoos CBC was held yesterday with 23 participants going out in 11-12 parties plus 4 feeder watchers. This is our lowest number of participants since 1992 but despite the poor turnout we managed to get 112 species. I’m still waiting for some feeder watchers to report but I don’t expect any additional species. Ruddy Duck and Lapland Longspur were both new to the count, previously only being reported for count week. Highlights included:
Wood Duck-2
Ruddy Duck-1
Chukar-255
Mew Gull-1
Barn Owl-1
Barred Owl-2
Long-eared Owl-5
American Three-toed Woodpecker-1
Horned Lark-1
Bewick’s Wren-8 (new record high)
Varied Thrush-4 (new record high)
American Pipit-1
Lapland Longspur-1
Yellow-rumped Warbler-5
Spotted Towhee-10 (new record high)
Fox Sparrow-1
Swamp Sparrow-1
Western Meadowlark-1
Doug Brown
Osoyoos
The 37th annual Oliver-Osoyoos Christmas Bird Count was held on Sunday, December 27th with 23 observers in 11 parties taking part plus 3 additional feeder watchers. This is our lowest number of participants since 1992. It was a decent day for doing the count with light winds but there was some snow in the afternoon. This year there were 22,130 birds of 110 species found. Although the total birds is well above the 36 year average the number is well below the average for the last 10 years which is probably a better comparison to look at. Canada Goose had their lowest total in 20 years. This is probably because many of the birds left before the snow. Not much grass for them to feed on now. Our 110 species recorded this year is the highest total in the BC interior with Kelowna being second with 101 species followed by Penticton with 100 species so our count again retains it’s title as the best count in the BC interior.
Our most abundant species this year was Bohemian Waxwing with 3400 birds found The Bohemian Waxwings flocks often perch in the tops of cottonwoods or poplars before descending to feast on berries such as mountain-ash and juniper. There were a few interesting highlights for the day. Two male Wood Ducks on the river in Oliver were only the 9th count record. A Ruddy Duck at the Osoyoos sewage lagoons provided our first record for the count. A Lapland Longspur that was found at the SIBCO feedlot was also our first ever record for the count. A Mew Gull found at the tip of Haynes Point is only our 4th count record while our 5th record for Horned Lark and American Pipit were certainly good rarities to find. Our 6th record for Fox Sparrow and our 8th record for Swamp Sparrow rounds out the rarities. Record high numbers were recorded for Bewick’s Wren (8), Varied Thrush (6) and Spotted Towhee (10).
The data collected from our Christmas Bird count, along with the 2400 other counts done throughout the Americas, is part of the longest running wildlife survey in the world. The information collected is critical to the monitoring of the health of our bird populations and helping to guide conservation actions. Thanks to all those who took part and helped make the count a huge success.