by Will Cook
The Chapel Hill spring count on Saturday, May 1, 2021, recorded an 126 species and 10698 individual birds, both above the average for the past 10 counts (120.5 species, 7992 individuals). Effort on the count was outstanding, with 153.9 party hours (average 123.2) and 47 counters in 27 parties (average 38.6 counters, 19.5 parties). However, the number of birds per party hour, 69.5, was not far above the average of 65.1. The relatively early date of the count (a week earlier than average) resulted in larger numbers of lingering winter birds, including the irruptive winter species that were present in large number the past winter, and may have helped the impressive count of warblers.
There were no new species this count, but the highlight was a flock of 9 Evening Grosbeaks seen by Norm Budnitz's team at a private feeder where up to 40 were regular during the winter. Evening Grosbeak flocks were not unusual in the 1970s and 1980s, but this is our first since 1998! Other goodies included 1 American Coot (Evans Lodge at Jordan Lake), 2 American Woodcocks (Brian Bockhahn, Steve Backus), 1 Caspian Tern (Marc Ribaudo at Jordan Lake), 1 American Kestrel (Richard Snow at Duke Forest), 4 Red-breasted Nuthatches (4 parties, first since 2008), 29 Ruby-crowned Kinglets (15 parties, early count date came into play), and 1 Wilson's Warbler (Ribaudo).
We set quite a few record highs: 51 Barred Owl (average 18), 135 Great Crested Flycatcher (average 89), 97 White-eyed Vireo (average 36), 15 Blue-headed Vireo (average 4), 4 Red-breasted Nuthatch (average 0, ties 1970), 108 Brown-headed Nuthatch (average 76), 57 Prothonotary Warbler (average 30). Barred Owl, Great Crested Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, and Brown-headed Nuthatch were also at or near record highs on the previous year's count. Also higher than usual: 78 Wood Duck (average 33), 17 Green Heron (highest since 1996), 144 Black Vulture, 145 Turkey Vulture, 5 Great Horned Owl (average 1.3), 32 Pileated Woodpecker, 29 Ruby-crowned Kinglet (average 0.7), 23 Veery (average 6), 67 Pine Siskin (average 9), 258 Chipping Sparrow, 79 White-throated Sparrow (average 6, undoubtedly helped by the early date of the count), 19 Swamp Sparrow (average 2, same reason), 23 Northern Waterthrush (average 8.6, highest since 1979), 65 Hooded Warbler (average 33), 231 Northern Parula (second highest behind last year, average 95), 17 Yellow Warbler (average 6), 130 Myrtle Warbler (average 17, early count date in play), and 36 Prairie Warbler. The total of 1376 wood warblers is our second highest ever (average 701), only bested in 1984!
Our big miss was Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, the first miss since 2007. The count of 35 Wood Thrush is our second lowest, only ahead of 30 in 2019.
Team honors: Brian Bockhahn covering Stagecoach Road and the Eagle Spur Trail to Jordan Lake had an excellent 88 species, followed by two teams with 85 (Evans Lodge, Jan Hansen). Jon Bennett and his son Will Bennett counted the most individual birds, with 695.
Weather in brief: low 51F, high 73F; wind W 0-8 mph; fair, no rain.
We had 47 field counters in 27 parties (average 38.6 in 19.5 parties). Thanks to all counters for their efforts on this spectacular day!
Detailed Results (PDF format)