Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Fall Census

September 11,  2004
By Dwight Chasar

It was a great day for birding but migrants were hard to find.  Maybe the fact that this was the earliest fall census we have had may have been a factor.  We had 45 participants out in 14 groups.  We found 95 species (18 species of warblers), which was the 5^th highest to 103 in 2000. 

Firsts for a fall census: Northern Parula and Rough-winged Swallow

First:  Blue-winged Teal since 1999, Peregrine Falcon since 1986, Eastern Meadowlark since 1998

First miss since: Philadelphia Vireo since 1997, Swamp Sparrow since 1996, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher since 1999, Swainsons’s Thrush since 1988

Noteworthy numbers:  only one Red-headed Woodpecker, Double-crested Cormorants higher (seven groups had one or more), Cedar Waxwings were nearly double the normal number, American Crow numbers increased substantially since a drop in 2000-2003. 

Thanks a bunch again. Christmas bird count is December 19.  Spring 2005 count May 7. Reported by Dwight Chasar.