by Will Cook
The Chapel Hill spring count on Saturday, May 4, 2024, recorded 112 species and 6098 individual birds, both below the average for the past 10 counts (121 species, 8255 individuals). Effort on the count was also low, hampered by rain in the afternoon, with 93.9 party hours (average 126.9) and 31 counters in 20 parties (average 39 counters, 21 parties). However, the number of birds per party hour, 64.9, was close to the average of 65.3. So perhaps the low numbers of this count were from counters stopping early because of the rain, not from an unusually low number of birds about. However, it was a very slow migration day, with only 17 warbler species found, the lowest in the 68 year history of the count.
The highlight of the count was a Swallow-tailed Kite, found buoyantly flying over Damascus Church Road near Belle Vie Farm by Rachelle Roake. She reported the sighting to a local rare bird alert and several Chapel Hill counters gave chase, relocating the bird and documenting the kite with good photos. This is only the second Swallow-tailed Kite on the count; the first was in 2020. Other super rarities were the first Common Loon in a decade (Marc Ribaudo at Jordan Lake), our 4th Anhinga and 6th Marsh Wren (both by Alex Nickley at the Little Creek impoundment on Farrington Road), our first White-crowned Sparrow in 15 years (Bob Lewis at Union Grove Church Road). More goodies included 7 Great Egrets (Nickley), a lingering Hermit Thrush (Jon Bennett), a Grasshopper Sparrow (Lewis), a Palm Warbler (Nickley).
We set no record highs, but several species were higher than usual: 30 Solitary Sandpipers (highest since 1986, average 11.7), 7 Great Egrets (average 0.8), 8 Yellow-crowned Night-Herons (avg 2.5), 14 Swamp Sparrows (avg 3.6), and 37 Yellow-breasted Chats (avg 25.1).
Our big miss was Field Sparrow, which has been declining for years. Last year was a record low of 3, this year our first miss; they were found on all the previous 67 counts. We set one other record low this year, another species that's been in serious decline for years: Wood Thrush, with only 24 recorded this count, compared to an average of 43. Many other species were recorded in very low numbers: 15 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (avg 37, lowest since 1974), 16 Double-crested Cormorants (avg 123, lowest since 1982), 16 Black Vultures (avg 90, lowest since 1998, 53 Turkey Vultures (avg 117), 23 Red-shouldered Hawks (avg 41), 6 Red-tailed Hawks (avg 18, lowest since 1974), 117 Red-bellied Woodpeckers (avg 179, lowest since 1994), 6 Northern Flickers (avg 12, lowest since 1974), 49 Blue Jays (avg 130, lowest since 1957), 134 American Crows (avg 227, lowest since 1975), 119 Carolina Chickadees (avg 243, lowest since 1974), 20 White-breasted Nuthatches (avg 46, lowest since 1996), 111 American Robins (avg 203, lowest since 1975), 29 Brown Thrashers (avg 55, lowest since 1972), 80 Northern Mockingbirds (avg 123, lowest since 1974), 80 Common Grackles (avg 148, lowest since 1969), and 19 Hooded Warbler (avg 35, lowest since 1978)
Team honors: Alex Nickley covering area 21, which includes the NC Botanical Garden, Parker Preserve, and impoundments on Little Creek, had an outstanding 83 species, followed closely by Roger Shaw, at the former Maple View Farm and University Lake, with 80. Will Cook, at Mason Farm and the Eagle Spur Trail, counted the most individual birds, with 701.
Weather in brief: low 67F, high 77F; wind ENE 5-10 mph; cloudy, intermittent rain.
Thanks to all counters for perservering on a rainy day!
For photos of the Swallow-tailed Kite, see https://ebird.org/checklist/S171928154
Detailed Results (PDF format)