Jamestown Area Bird Count Finds 35 Species

Article taken from The Jamestown Sun, Friday, January 29, 1999

Eighteen area residents took part in the annual Jamestown Christmas Bird Count Dec. 18.

Participants traveled 25 miles (20 hours) on foot and 328 miles (34 hours) by car in the Jamestown area to identify and count various bird species. Organizers were Larry Igl of Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center and Pam Pranke of Jamestown College.

The milder-than-normal weather leading up to the count provided opportunities to observe birds that typically do not winter in the Jamestown area. Thirty-five species and 6,280 birds were observed on count day.

Noteworthy species included a female Pileated Woodpecker, a Snow Goose (white phase), a Drake Lesser Scaup, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Two immature Golden Eagles, a young Bald Eagle, a Cooper's Hawk, a Short-eared Owl, and a Northern Flicker were observed durig the week of, but not on the day of the count.

The Christmas Bird Count was initiated in 1901 by the National Audubon Society. This was the 29th count in the Jamestown area.

The species and numbers found are as follows: Canada Goose, 31 (highest ever recorded); Snow Goose, 1; Mallard, 5; Lesser Scaup, 1 (rarely observed); Redhead, 3; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 (rarely observed); Rough-legged Hawk, 1; Red-tailed Hawk, 1; Sharp-tailed Grouse, 3; Ring-necked Pheasant, 3; Wild Turkey, 16; Rock Dove (pigeon), 131 (low number); Morning Dove, 14; Great horned Owl, 1; Pileated Woodpecker, 1 (very unusual); Hairy Woodpecker, 8; Downy Woodpecker, 9; Horned Lark, 2312; Blue Jay, 72; American Crow, 597 (highest ever recorded); Black-capped Chickadee, 82; White-breasted Nuthatch, 26; Brown Creeper, 2; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 12; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 3 (rarely observed); European Starling, 23 (low number); Lapland Longspur, 836; Dark-eyed Junco, 13; Snow bunting, 75; Common Grackle, 11; House Finch, 482; Common Redpoll, 35; Pine Siskin, 79; Red Crossbill, 13; House (English) Sparrow, 1376.