PAST CLEVELAND CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT REPORTS
2024 Cleveland Christmas Bird Count
December 21, 2024
December 21, 2024
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Report by Laura Gooch, Compiler
Weather The weather for the 2024 Cleveland Christmas Bird Count could certainly have been worse, but conditions were a bit more challenging than they bhave been in the past few years. Temperatures remained stubbornly in the low to mid 20s Fahrenheit throughout the day, and brisk northwest winds averaged about 10-15 mph inland. Those surveying the Lake Erie shore braved gusts up to 40 mph, along with some splashing spray. Surveyors reported up to 3 inches of snow on the ground, but there was no ice on Lake Erie and not much on inland ponds. |
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Effort
Seventeen party leaders organized 79 field observers for the day, with 3 additional participants counting
at feeders. Field observers covered 81 miles in 81 party hours, thoroughly surveying the likely habitat
within our 15-mile diameter count circle on the east side of Cleveland. The number of observers was
consistent with the high participation of the past several years. The party hours were a bit lower than in
recent years, probably due to the weather, but were in line with effort since 2000. Examination of the
data since 1940 suggests that adding more observers would be unlikely to yield many additional species.
More party hours might net us another species or two, but our level of effort and our coverage of the
circle is enough to be highly effective.
Count Totals
Together, we observed 75 species and counted 12,507 individual birds in our circle, which includes the
Lake Erie shore from Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve east to Eastlake and features popular inland
birding areas such as Lake View Cemetery, North Chagrin Reservation, and Shaker Lakes. The number of
species was just above the average of 74 (Note 1) , and the number of individual birds was below the average of 30,396.
At first glance, it seems that this year’s species count was unexceptional and that the number of
individuals was low. As has been true in recent years, though, the picture changes when gulls and
waterfowl are excluded from the totals. We counted 59 “land bird” species, tying the record high species
counts observed in only three previous years since 1940 (1966, 2013, and 2020). We observed 4,616
individual birds, below the median of 5,843 and the mean of 7,677 (Note 2) but in line with observations since 2005. The species tally was particularly impressive because few “winter finch” species were present this year.
A steep decline in the number of gulls counted in our circle since the 1970s and 1980s creates the false
impression that overall numbers of all types of birds have declined. Reasons for the decline in gull
numbers may include a steady decrease in the ice cover on Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes or
changes in warm water outlets along the Lake Erie shore near the Cleveland count circle. This year’s count of individual gulls was again low, and the observation of only two gull species was exceptionally
low. Waterfowl numbers were about average, and waterfowl species diversity was somewhat below
average.
A Circle First and an Unusual Sighting
Buster Banish’s party at Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve counted the first Turkey Vulture ever
recorded on our circle’s CBC. The presence of a Turkey Vulture is perhaps not surprising given the
increasing number of this species in our area and warming temperatures, but it is nonetheless a first.
Craig Caldwell and Tim Colborn heard at least two Sandhill Cranes calling from the east in the inland part of Eastlake. This was only the second time that Sandhill Cranes have been observed, with a previous
record of two birds in 2015.
Species High Counts
We tallied record high counts for an impressive 6 species this year! The most exciting of these was the
observation of a total of 569 Tundra Swans, with flocks seen and heard along the eastern edge of the
circle and lakeshore by multiple parties. (Note 3) This eclipsed the previous high count of 124 observed in 1999.
Four of the other record high counts were continued increases for species that have had steep upward
trends: Common Goldeneye, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Carolina Wren.
Although Common Goldeneye have generally increased consistently since about 2015, this may have
more to do with the low ice cover on Lake Erie than with actual population shifts. Carolina Wren counts
have been trending upwards, but this species tends to move north as long as winters are mild. A bout of
harsh winter weather will reduce their population for a few subsequent years. The remaining two record highs, Dark-eyed Junco and White-throated Sparrow, are species that have been increasing more gradually and less consistently. Although not a record high, this year’s count of Northern Flickers was the second highest ever recorded, continuing an upward trend.
Species Low Counts
No species was recorded in record low numbers this year, but there were some notably low counts.
Rock Pigeons were recorded in the second lowest numbers since 1973 (Note 4) . Only one Cooper’s Hawk was recorded, which was the lowest count since the early 1980s, with between 4 and 18 recorded in other years during that period. Similarly, only one Northern Mockingbird was observed, while between 4 and 12 have been recorded every year since the late 1990s except one.
American Crow numbers remain low in our area, never having recovered after the West Nile virus
outbreak in 2002. It is interesting to note that the counts since 2002 are similar to those recorded prior
to about 1970, when the American Crow population in our circle increased dramatically.
No Shows
As mentioned above, this was a poor year for irruptive species like Red-breasted Nuthatches, Pine
Siskins, and the other “winter finches.” We recorded no Red-breasted Nuthatches on count day,
although several observers saw them at their feeders during count week. Matt Lindley’s Gilmour
Academy party recorded a lone Pine Siskin and a lone Purple Finch in the southwest part of North
Chagrin Reservation. Also as mentioned above, gull variety along the lakefront was particularly poor this year, with only Ring-billed Gull and Herring Gull reported, rather than the 3 to 7 species more typical in recent years.
THANKS!!
Last, but far from least, thanks to all who participated! Thanks especially to the hard-working party
leaders, who step up promptly when I ask, organize all the individual parties, quickly send me their data,
and patiently answer all my questions. Y’all are awesome! Thanks to Dick and Jean Hoffman for
collecting historical records for the Cleveland circle and updating them annually. See our website for
Dick’s historical count data.
Notes:
1 - Unless otherwise noted, averages are calculated from 1970 to the present. Count effort was significantly lower before 1970, so that including earlier years skews the average.
2 - Figures for the number of species and individuals counted do not consider the observation effort, weather, or ice cover, which vary considerably from year to year. A simple normalization of count numbers by the number of count participants or by total party hours produces confusing and contradictory results, demonstrating the complexities of comparing observations over time when effort and other factors vary.
3 - Parties compared flock sizes, direction of flight, and observation times to avoid double-counting flocks that may have been observed by more than one party.
4 - For some reason, there are no records of Rock Pigeons between 1947 and 1972, inclusive, although they were certainly present during those years.
Click HERE to see a table for this year’s counts and information about previous highs.
Click HERE to see historical count data.
Seventeen party leaders organized 79 field observers for the day, with 3 additional participants counting
at feeders. Field observers covered 81 miles in 81 party hours, thoroughly surveying the likely habitat
within our 15-mile diameter count circle on the east side of Cleveland. The number of observers was
consistent with the high participation of the past several years. The party hours were a bit lower than in
recent years, probably due to the weather, but were in line with effort since 2000. Examination of the
data since 1940 suggests that adding more observers would be unlikely to yield many additional species.
More party hours might net us another species or two, but our level of effort and our coverage of the
circle is enough to be highly effective.
Count Totals
Together, we observed 75 species and counted 12,507 individual birds in our circle, which includes the
Lake Erie shore from Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve east to Eastlake and features popular inland
birding areas such as Lake View Cemetery, North Chagrin Reservation, and Shaker Lakes. The number of
species was just above the average of 74 (Note 1) , and the number of individual birds was below the average of 30,396.
At first glance, it seems that this year’s species count was unexceptional and that the number of
individuals was low. As has been true in recent years, though, the picture changes when gulls and
waterfowl are excluded from the totals. We counted 59 “land bird” species, tying the record high species
counts observed in only three previous years since 1940 (1966, 2013, and 2020). We observed 4,616
individual birds, below the median of 5,843 and the mean of 7,677 (Note 2) but in line with observations since 2005. The species tally was particularly impressive because few “winter finch” species were present this year.
A steep decline in the number of gulls counted in our circle since the 1970s and 1980s creates the false
impression that overall numbers of all types of birds have declined. Reasons for the decline in gull
numbers may include a steady decrease in the ice cover on Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes or
changes in warm water outlets along the Lake Erie shore near the Cleveland count circle. This year’s count of individual gulls was again low, and the observation of only two gull species was exceptionally
low. Waterfowl numbers were about average, and waterfowl species diversity was somewhat below
average.
A Circle First and an Unusual Sighting
Buster Banish’s party at Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve counted the first Turkey Vulture ever
recorded on our circle’s CBC. The presence of a Turkey Vulture is perhaps not surprising given the
increasing number of this species in our area and warming temperatures, but it is nonetheless a first.
Craig Caldwell and Tim Colborn heard at least two Sandhill Cranes calling from the east in the inland part of Eastlake. This was only the second time that Sandhill Cranes have been observed, with a previous
record of two birds in 2015.
Species High Counts
We tallied record high counts for an impressive 6 species this year! The most exciting of these was the
observation of a total of 569 Tundra Swans, with flocks seen and heard along the eastern edge of the
circle and lakeshore by multiple parties. (Note 3) This eclipsed the previous high count of 124 observed in 1999.
Four of the other record high counts were continued increases for species that have had steep upward
trends: Common Goldeneye, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Carolina Wren.
Although Common Goldeneye have generally increased consistently since about 2015, this may have
more to do with the low ice cover on Lake Erie than with actual population shifts. Carolina Wren counts
have been trending upwards, but this species tends to move north as long as winters are mild. A bout of
harsh winter weather will reduce their population for a few subsequent years. The remaining two record highs, Dark-eyed Junco and White-throated Sparrow, are species that have been increasing more gradually and less consistently. Although not a record high, this year’s count of Northern Flickers was the second highest ever recorded, continuing an upward trend.
Species Low Counts
No species was recorded in record low numbers this year, but there were some notably low counts.
Rock Pigeons were recorded in the second lowest numbers since 1973 (Note 4) . Only one Cooper’s Hawk was recorded, which was the lowest count since the early 1980s, with between 4 and 18 recorded in other years during that period. Similarly, only one Northern Mockingbird was observed, while between 4 and 12 have been recorded every year since the late 1990s except one.
American Crow numbers remain low in our area, never having recovered after the West Nile virus
outbreak in 2002. It is interesting to note that the counts since 2002 are similar to those recorded prior
to about 1970, when the American Crow population in our circle increased dramatically.
No Shows
As mentioned above, this was a poor year for irruptive species like Red-breasted Nuthatches, Pine
Siskins, and the other “winter finches.” We recorded no Red-breasted Nuthatches on count day,
although several observers saw them at their feeders during count week. Matt Lindley’s Gilmour
Academy party recorded a lone Pine Siskin and a lone Purple Finch in the southwest part of North
Chagrin Reservation. Also as mentioned above, gull variety along the lakefront was particularly poor this year, with only Ring-billed Gull and Herring Gull reported, rather than the 3 to 7 species more typical in recent years.
THANKS!!
Last, but far from least, thanks to all who participated! Thanks especially to the hard-working party
leaders, who step up promptly when I ask, organize all the individual parties, quickly send me their data,
and patiently answer all my questions. Y’all are awesome! Thanks to Dick and Jean Hoffman for
collecting historical records for the Cleveland circle and updating them annually. See our website for
Dick’s historical count data.
Notes:
1 - Unless otherwise noted, averages are calculated from 1970 to the present. Count effort was significantly lower before 1970, so that including earlier years skews the average.
2 - Figures for the number of species and individuals counted do not consider the observation effort, weather, or ice cover, which vary considerably from year to year. A simple normalization of count numbers by the number of count participants or by total party hours produces confusing and contradictory results, demonstrating the complexities of comparing observations over time when effort and other factors vary.
3 - Parties compared flock sizes, direction of flight, and observation times to avoid double-counting flocks that may have been observed by more than one party.
4 - For some reason, there are no records of Rock Pigeons between 1947 and 1972, inclusive, although they were certainly present during those years.
Click HERE to see a table for this year’s counts and information about previous highs.
Click HERE to see historical count data.
2023 Cleveland Christmas Bird Count
December 16, 2023
Report by Laura Gooch, Compiler
The weather gods were once again in our favor for the 2023 Cleveland Christmas Bird Count. Count day skies varied from cloudy to clear, winds were light, and temperatures were unseasonably warm. There was no snow on the ground and almost no ice on streams and lakes.
Twenty party leaders organized 80 field observers for the day, almost topping the record high of 83 observers in 2019. We racked up 92 party-hours in the field, which is on the high-side for the past 20 years and just a bit below average for counts stretching back to 1970. We covered all parts of the count circle more thoroughly than we have in recent years.
Together, we observed 66 species and counted 12,140 individual birds in our 15-mile diameter circle on the east side of Cleveland. The circle includes the lakeshore from Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve east to Eastlake and features popular inland birding areas such as Lake View Cemetery, North Chagrin Reservation, and Shaker Lakes. The number of species was below the average of 74 (Note 1) , and the number of individual birds was below the average of 30,727.
This year’s counts seem at first glance to be quite low compared to average, but the picture changes when gulls and waterfowl are excluded from the totals. We counted 51 “land bird” species, right at the long-term average, and we counted 6,017 individuals, between the median of 5,846 and the mean of 7,733 (Note 2). The number of gulls counted in our circle has decreased dramatically since the 1970s and 1980s, so inclusion of these species in the count totals gives the false impression that overall numbers have declined. Reasons for the decline in gulls may include a steady decrease in the ice cover on Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes or changes in warm water outlets along the Lake Erie shore near the Cleveland count circle.
A closer look at the details behind this year’s seeming routine total numbers reveals that there were four
species with record high counts and six more species with unusually high counts. Bald Eagles continued
their upward trend (begun in about 2000) with a record count of 16 individuals. Other record highs were
Double-crested Cormorant (41), Pileated Woodpecker (20), and Winter Wren (5). Unusually high
numbers were recorded for Green-winged Teal (2 – first time on the count since 1997), Red-shouldered
Hawk (10), Red-bellied Woodpecker (140), Northern Flicker (19), Golden-crowned Kinglet (19),
Carolina Wren (19), and American Robin (1,270).
This large number of high counts most likely stems from the abnormally warm weather that we had this fall and early winter and from the extraordinarily good conditions for count day, with good visibility and observers who were warm and happy enough to stay out a bit longer. None of the species that we observed this year exhibited strikingly low numbers, and none of the “no-show” species was surprising, although duck variety was generally low, perhaps because there was little ice farther north on the Great Lakes to push waterfowl our way. We observed few irruptive “winter finch” species, with only two flocks of Pine Siskins and 3 individual Red-breasted Nuthatches. Black-capped Chickadees (166) show a surprising, continued decline since peak numbers were observed around 1980.
December 16, 2023
Report by Laura Gooch, Compiler
The weather gods were once again in our favor for the 2023 Cleveland Christmas Bird Count. Count day skies varied from cloudy to clear, winds were light, and temperatures were unseasonably warm. There was no snow on the ground and almost no ice on streams and lakes.
Twenty party leaders organized 80 field observers for the day, almost topping the record high of 83 observers in 2019. We racked up 92 party-hours in the field, which is on the high-side for the past 20 years and just a bit below average for counts stretching back to 1970. We covered all parts of the count circle more thoroughly than we have in recent years.
Together, we observed 66 species and counted 12,140 individual birds in our 15-mile diameter circle on the east side of Cleveland. The circle includes the lakeshore from Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve east to Eastlake and features popular inland birding areas such as Lake View Cemetery, North Chagrin Reservation, and Shaker Lakes. The number of species was below the average of 74 (Note 1) , and the number of individual birds was below the average of 30,727.
This year’s counts seem at first glance to be quite low compared to average, but the picture changes when gulls and waterfowl are excluded from the totals. We counted 51 “land bird” species, right at the long-term average, and we counted 6,017 individuals, between the median of 5,846 and the mean of 7,733 (Note 2). The number of gulls counted in our circle has decreased dramatically since the 1970s and 1980s, so inclusion of these species in the count totals gives the false impression that overall numbers have declined. Reasons for the decline in gulls may include a steady decrease in the ice cover on Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes or changes in warm water outlets along the Lake Erie shore near the Cleveland count circle.
A closer look at the details behind this year’s seeming routine total numbers reveals that there were four
species with record high counts and six more species with unusually high counts. Bald Eagles continued
their upward trend (begun in about 2000) with a record count of 16 individuals. Other record highs were
Double-crested Cormorant (41), Pileated Woodpecker (20), and Winter Wren (5). Unusually high
numbers were recorded for Green-winged Teal (2 – first time on the count since 1997), Red-shouldered
Hawk (10), Red-bellied Woodpecker (140), Northern Flicker (19), Golden-crowned Kinglet (19),
Carolina Wren (19), and American Robin (1,270).
This large number of high counts most likely stems from the abnormally warm weather that we had this fall and early winter and from the extraordinarily good conditions for count day, with good visibility and observers who were warm and happy enough to stay out a bit longer. None of the species that we observed this year exhibited strikingly low numbers, and none of the “no-show” species was surprising, although duck variety was generally low, perhaps because there was little ice farther north on the Great Lakes to push waterfowl our way. We observed few irruptive “winter finch” species, with only two flocks of Pine Siskins and 3 individual Red-breasted Nuthatches. Black-capped Chickadees (166) show a surprising, continued decline since peak numbers were observed around 1980.
Several counters from Kirtland Bird Club at Highland Community Park
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This large number of high counts most likely stems from the abnormally warm weather that we had this fall and early winter and from the extraordinarily good conditions for count day, with good visibility and observers who were warm and happy enough to stay out a bit longer. None of the species that we observed this year exhibited strikingly low numbers, and none of the “no-show” species was surprising, although duck variety was generally low, perhaps because there was little ice farther north on the Great Lakes to push waterfowl our way. We observed few irruptive “winter finch” species, with only two flocks of Pine Siskins and 3 individual Red-breasted Nuthatches. Black-capped Chickadees (166) show a surprising, continued decline since peak numbers were observed around 1980.
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Thanks to all who participated, and especially to the hard-working party leaders. The success of the count depends on all of you! Thanks to Dick and Jean Hoffman for collecting historical records for the
Cleveland circle and updating them annually. Click HERE for Dick Hoffman’s historical count data reflecting 83 years of Christmas Bird Counts.
Notes:
1 - Unless otherwise noted, averages are calculated from 1970 to the present. Count effort was significantly lower before 1970, so that including earlier years skews the average.
2 - Figures for the number of species and individuals counted do not consider the observation effort,
weather, or ice cover, which vary considerably from year to year. A simple normalization of count
numbers by the number of count participants or by total party hours produces confusing and contradictory results, demonstrating the complexities of comparing observations over time when effort and other factors vary.
Cleveland circle and updating them annually. Click HERE for Dick Hoffman’s historical count data reflecting 83 years of Christmas Bird Counts.
Notes:
1 - Unless otherwise noted, averages are calculated from 1970 to the present. Count effort was significantly lower before 1970, so that including earlier years skews the average.
2 - Figures for the number of species and individuals counted do not consider the observation effort,
weather, or ice cover, which vary considerably from year to year. A simple normalization of count
numbers by the number of count participants or by total party hours produces confusing and contradictory results, demonstrating the complexities of comparing observations over time when effort and other factors vary.
2022 Cleveland Christmas Bird Count
Saturday, December 17, 2022
Report by Laura Gooch, compiler
The weather gods smiled on the 2022 Christmas Bird Count, at least in a gloomy Cleveland mid-winter kind of way. Count day (Saturday, December 17, 2022) was overcast and a bit chilly, but not frigidly cold or windy, and there was almost no snow and little ice on streams and lakes. Seventeen party leaders organized 53 field observers, which is right at the average number of observers since 1970. An additional 5 participants counted at feeders. We racked up 72 party-hours in the field, which is on the high-side for the past 10 years, although well below average for counts stretching back to 1970.
Saturday, December 17, 2022
Report by Laura Gooch, compiler
The weather gods smiled on the 2022 Christmas Bird Count, at least in a gloomy Cleveland mid-winter kind of way. Count day (Saturday, December 17, 2022) was overcast and a bit chilly, but not frigidly cold or windy, and there was almost no snow and little ice on streams and lakes. Seventeen party leaders organized 53 field observers, which is right at the average number of observers since 1970. An additional 5 participants counted at feeders. We racked up 72 party-hours in the field, which is on the high-side for the past 10 years, although well below average for counts stretching back to 1970.
Although this year’s count seemed poised to emerge from beneath the cloud of COVID-19, the pandemic continued to cast a shadow: participants in the party that was to cover Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve were diagnosed with COVID, and that party scrubbed. Illness also led to limited observations in Euclid Creek Reservation. Fortunately, no one became seriously ill. However, the lack of observations from these areas probably had some impact on both the number of species and the number of individual birds observed.
Together, we observed 69 species and counted 15,219 individual birds in our 15 mile diameter circle on the east side of Cleveland. The circle includes the lakeshore from Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve east to Eastlake and features popular inland birding areas such as Lake View Cemetery, North Chagrin Reservation, and Shaker Lakes.
The number of species was well above last year’s poor-weather count of 60 species, but below the average of 74 species observed since 1970. The lower-than-average species count may reflect the missing observations from CLNP, since the number of species excluding gulls and waterfowl was actually above average, while the number of gull and waterfowl species was low.
The 15,219 individuals counted was also well below the 31,078 average since 1970, but at about the middle of counts from the past 10 years. Again, if gulls and waterfowl are excluded, the number of individuals observed is only slightly below the average since 1970[1].
Perhaps the most exciting observation this year was the Fish Crow that Dot Bambach and Joe and Lisa Cellura heard at Acacia Reservation. Although Fish Crows have become an almost routine summer sighting in parts of our circle since they were first documented here in 2011, they are not common in winter, and they had never been observed on our CBC before. Congratulations to the Acacia survey team for their excellent job catching and documenting this observation!
This year’s count also yielded some record highs for individual species. Jerry Talkington and Ray Hannikman counted a record 560 Common Goldeneye offshore at Sims Park, and our combined observations tallied record highs of 142 Red-bellied Woodpeckers and 494 Blue Jays. Although less than last year’s record high of 14, this year’s count of 10 Bald Eagles was higher than any other previous year, continuing the eagle’s population recovery trend. Finally, this year’s count of 239 Red-winged Blackbirds was higher than any count since a spike in the mid-1980s.
We counted a lone Snow Goose this year, marking only the 6th time the species has been observed on our count since 1940. Gautam Apte made the most impressive single-handed contribution to our species total, observing 6 species in North Chagrin Reservation that were not seen elsewhere (Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Fox Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird, Purple Finch, and Pine Siskin).
None of the species that we observed this year exhibited strikingly low numbers. However, there were a few species that we missed altogether that were a bit surprising: Double-crested Cormorant, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Duck, and Great Black-Backed Gull particularly stand out as missing in action. None of these species is guaranteed every year and, again, a party in the Gordon Park/CLNP area might well have added some of them or some other waterfowl species that were missing from this year’s count.
Thanks to all who participated, and especially to the hard-working party coordinators who were patient with my learning my way around CBC data forms and count compilation. The success of the count depends on all of you! Thanks also to Andy Jones and Craig Caldwell for their help with my first year as compiler. Please congratulate Craig on his final year as the Ohio state editor and welcome Marc Hanneman who will take over that role next year. Thanks to Dick and Jean Hoffman for collecting historical records for the Cleveland circle and updating them annually. Also thanks to Dick for filling me in on some Cleveland count history. See our website for Dick’s historical count data.
[1] It is worth noting that the figures for the number of species and individuals counted do not consider the observation effort, weather, or ice cover, which vary considerably from year to year. A simple normalization of count numbers by the number of count participants or by total party hours produces confusing and contradictory results, demonstrating the complexities of comparing observations over time when effort and other factors vary.
Click HERE to review count data. Click to see photo of counters at Squire Vallevue Farm in Hunting Valley and the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes in Shaker Heights.
Together, we observed 69 species and counted 15,219 individual birds in our 15 mile diameter circle on the east side of Cleveland. The circle includes the lakeshore from Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve east to Eastlake and features popular inland birding areas such as Lake View Cemetery, North Chagrin Reservation, and Shaker Lakes.
The number of species was well above last year’s poor-weather count of 60 species, but below the average of 74 species observed since 1970. The lower-than-average species count may reflect the missing observations from CLNP, since the number of species excluding gulls and waterfowl was actually above average, while the number of gull and waterfowl species was low.
The 15,219 individuals counted was also well below the 31,078 average since 1970, but at about the middle of counts from the past 10 years. Again, if gulls and waterfowl are excluded, the number of individuals observed is only slightly below the average since 1970[1].
Perhaps the most exciting observation this year was the Fish Crow that Dot Bambach and Joe and Lisa Cellura heard at Acacia Reservation. Although Fish Crows have become an almost routine summer sighting in parts of our circle since they were first documented here in 2011, they are not common in winter, and they had never been observed on our CBC before. Congratulations to the Acacia survey team for their excellent job catching and documenting this observation!
This year’s count also yielded some record highs for individual species. Jerry Talkington and Ray Hannikman counted a record 560 Common Goldeneye offshore at Sims Park, and our combined observations tallied record highs of 142 Red-bellied Woodpeckers and 494 Blue Jays. Although less than last year’s record high of 14, this year’s count of 10 Bald Eagles was higher than any other previous year, continuing the eagle’s population recovery trend. Finally, this year’s count of 239 Red-winged Blackbirds was higher than any count since a spike in the mid-1980s.
We counted a lone Snow Goose this year, marking only the 6th time the species has been observed on our count since 1940. Gautam Apte made the most impressive single-handed contribution to our species total, observing 6 species in North Chagrin Reservation that were not seen elsewhere (Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Fox Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird, Purple Finch, and Pine Siskin).
None of the species that we observed this year exhibited strikingly low numbers. However, there were a few species that we missed altogether that were a bit surprising: Double-crested Cormorant, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Duck, and Great Black-Backed Gull particularly stand out as missing in action. None of these species is guaranteed every year and, again, a party in the Gordon Park/CLNP area might well have added some of them or some other waterfowl species that were missing from this year’s count.
Thanks to all who participated, and especially to the hard-working party coordinators who were patient with my learning my way around CBC data forms and count compilation. The success of the count depends on all of you! Thanks also to Andy Jones and Craig Caldwell for their help with my first year as compiler. Please congratulate Craig on his final year as the Ohio state editor and welcome Marc Hanneman who will take over that role next year. Thanks to Dick and Jean Hoffman for collecting historical records for the Cleveland circle and updating them annually. Also thanks to Dick for filling me in on some Cleveland count history. See our website for Dick’s historical count data.
[1] It is worth noting that the figures for the number of species and individuals counted do not consider the observation effort, weather, or ice cover, which vary considerably from year to year. A simple normalization of count numbers by the number of count participants or by total party hours produces confusing and contradictory results, demonstrating the complexities of comparing observations over time when effort and other factors vary.
Click HERE to review count data. Click to see photo of counters at Squire Vallevue Farm in Hunting Valley and the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes in Shaker Heights.
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2021 Cleveland Christmas Bird Count
Saturday, December 18, 2021 Report by Andy Jones, compiler The 2020 count was impacted by the COVID19 global pandemic, and for the 2021 count the omicron variant reared its ugly head and continued to keep pandemic rules in place that involved rules such as wearing masks while in shared vehicles and maintaining social distancing. However, the weather was the bigger interruption to the day's plans. |
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December 2021 was mostly mild, following a mostly mild fall. However, the actual count day - Saturday, December 18th, 2021 - was a soggy affair that kept participation down. Several observers did not go afield at all, leaving some key areas unsurveyed. The rest of the parties tended to hit the traditional sites but spent fewer hours in the field, and with smaller parties overall. We only eked out 60 species (plus a hybrid, American Black Duck x Mallard). Ten parties went afield, and several of them still put in very long days surveying their traditional areas. I particularly thank the parties headed up by Paula Lozano, Mary Huey, and Laura Gooch for their tenacity. With the lower participation, there were no record high tallies of any species, though 18 Northern Flickers was a strong showing, and the 3 Great Horned Owls tied the record for the count. This is an off winter for irruptive species, with just three Red-breasted Nuthatches seen, and no siskins, redpolls, crossbills, or other northern finches. Nevertheless observers found several less common species, including Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe, Northern Mockingbird, and a few others that are certainly not guaranteed during a typical soggy winter's day of birding. It was lovely to find 45 Eastern Bluebirds out on the dreary day. All told, parties reported 5,437 individual birds. THANK YOU to everyone who joined us in the field effort, and I appreciate everyone staying safe and following COVID protocols. My thanks to Dick and Jean Hoffman for their ongoing curation of the historical data for this count, and Craig Caldwell for supervision of the statewide series of counts. This is my final year as compiler of the Cleveland Christmas Bird Count. Thank you to Laura Gooch for agreeing to take over as compiler for next year!! Report submitted by Andy Jones.
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2020 Cleveland Christmas Bird Count
Saturday, December 19, 2020 Preliminary Count: 84 species! Prize Winners:
Full report is in the KBC Spring newsletter! |
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2019 Cleveland Christmas Bird Count
by Andy Jones The Cleveland Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was conducted on Saturday, December 21st, 2019. The count is sponsored by the Kirtland Bird Club and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. |
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The 15 mile diameter circle is located on the east side of Cleveland, including the lakeshore from Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve east to Eastlake, and featuring popular inland birding areas such as Lake View Cemetery, North Chagrin Reservation, and Shaker Lakes. For this year's count, observers were afield for day that was unseasonably warm; a cloudy morning gave way to blue skies and a high around 50°F. Ponds were frozen but Lake Erie and large rivers were ice free. There were a few inches of snow on the ground.
The Cleveland CBC has averaged around 76 species per year for the last half-century; this year, observers found 79 species plus an additional 5 "count week" birds. We NEARLY broke the record! The highest counts for this circle were in the late 1970s, when two counts hit 86 species. This year's 84 species total is the highest in 41 years, and the third highest in the history of the count.
What is a "count week" bird? Any species seen within the circle up to three days before or after the actual count is allowed to be included in the overall species total. This year we had five such species. In a typical year, we have zero or one count week species. The count week birds reported this year were Canvasback, Barn Owl, Harlequin Duck, Lincoln's Sparrow, and Swamp Sparrow. This was the second CBC record for Barn Owl, the second Lincoln's Sparrow record, and the third Harlequin Duck record. All five species came from the heavily birded Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve. The Barn Owl had been present for most of December, but was unfortunately not spotted during the count itself. This site stays warmer than the rest of the Cleveland region thanks to the temperature influence from Lake Erie, and has been a consistent spot for so-called "half-hardy" wintering birds for many years (recent years have included December sightings of Eastern Phoebe, LeConte's Sparrow, etc.).
Many observers commented to me that they had lower overall numbers than usual, so I looked into the history of total individuals reported on the count. Indeed, this was the lowest number of individuals in decades, with just 6,549 individual birds counted. The December 2011, 2014, and 2018 totals were also below 10,000 birds. But the total individuals varies wildly from year to year depending on the presence of European Starling roosts (over 60,000 in 1986!) and the numbers of Ring-billed and Bonaparte's Gulls as well as Red-breasted Mergansers. Scanning through numbers of common songbirds, we were indeed lower overall, but not by large margins.
There were few irruptive species noted this year, with no redpolls reported, a single Pine Siskin, two Red-breasted Nuthatches, and just twenty Cedar Waxwings. A careful check at Cuyahoga County Airport turned up a Wilson's Snipe, just the 15th record for this count. Other goodies included Merlin (5 individuals, tying the high count), Northern Mockingbird (11 individuals, one shy of the record), Common Goldeneye (346 is an impressive total), and Northern Saw-whet Owl (11th record for the count). Woodpeckers have been on the increase in general this past decade; the 19 Red-headed Woodpeckers reported this year ties the record set a few years ago, and the 115 Red-bellied Woodpeckers were 16 shy of the record set two years ago.
The count may have been shy of a record for species, but we did break the record for number of participants! THANK YOU to the incredible eighty-five people who participated this year. I am particularly grateful to Laura Gooch, Mary Huey, and Julie West who organize the large parties that cover the Shaker Lakes and Willoughby areas. Both groups are very welcoming to birders of all skill levels. One of my formative birding experiences as a teenager was joining in a local Christmas Bird Count in Tennessee, and I appreciate everyone who brings new birders afield during the Cleveland CBC.
My thanks to Dick and Jean Hoffman for their ongoing curation of the historical data for this count. Click HERE to learn more about their historical data and to view their records.
Below are the totals
Canada Goose 783
Wood Duck 1
Gadwall 2
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 228
Northern Pintail 1
Redhead 1
Ring-necked Duck 1
Greater Scaup 8
Lesser Scaup 10
White-winged Scoter 2
Long-tailed Duck 1
Bufflehead 14
Common Goldeneye 346
Hooded Merganser 13
Common Merganser 26
Red-breasted Merganser 499
Ruddy Duck 4
Wild Turkey 15
Common Loon 1
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Horned Grebe 6
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 14
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 6
Bald Eagle 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 11
Red-tailed Hawk 26
Wilson's Snipe 1
Bonaparte's Gull 7
Ring-billed Gull 448
Herring Gull 398
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 15
Rock Pigeon 255
Mourning Dove 143
Barred Owl 4
Northern Saw-whet Owl 1
Belted Kingfisher 6
Red-headed Woodpecker 19
Red-bellied Woodpecker 115
Downy Woodpecker 99
Hairy Woodpecker 21
Northern Flicker 5
Pileated Woodpecker 12
American Kestrel 2
Merlin 5
Peregrine Falcon 1
Blue Jay 391
American Crow 68
Horned Lark 1
Black-capped Chickadee 153
Tufted Titmouse 100
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 85
Brown Creeper 1
Winter Wren 2
Carolina Wren 22
Golden-crowned Kinglet 7
Eastern Bluebird 67
American Robin 304
Northern Mockingbird 11
European Starling 494
Cedar Waxwing 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
American Tree Sparrow 78
Field Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco 225
White-throated Sparrow 82
Song Sparrow 69
Eastern Towhee 4
Northern Cardinal 141
Red-winged Blackbird 1
House Finch 105
Pine Siskin 1
American Goldfinch 155
House Sparrow 370
Plus five count week birds:
Barn Owl
Harlequin Duck
Harlequin Duck
Swamp Sparrow
Canvasback
79 species plus 5 count week species, for a total of 84
The Cleveland CBC has averaged around 76 species per year for the last half-century; this year, observers found 79 species plus an additional 5 "count week" birds. We NEARLY broke the record! The highest counts for this circle were in the late 1970s, when two counts hit 86 species. This year's 84 species total is the highest in 41 years, and the third highest in the history of the count.
What is a "count week" bird? Any species seen within the circle up to three days before or after the actual count is allowed to be included in the overall species total. This year we had five such species. In a typical year, we have zero or one count week species. The count week birds reported this year were Canvasback, Barn Owl, Harlequin Duck, Lincoln's Sparrow, and Swamp Sparrow. This was the second CBC record for Barn Owl, the second Lincoln's Sparrow record, and the third Harlequin Duck record. All five species came from the heavily birded Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve. The Barn Owl had been present for most of December, but was unfortunately not spotted during the count itself. This site stays warmer than the rest of the Cleveland region thanks to the temperature influence from Lake Erie, and has been a consistent spot for so-called "half-hardy" wintering birds for many years (recent years have included December sightings of Eastern Phoebe, LeConte's Sparrow, etc.).
Many observers commented to me that they had lower overall numbers than usual, so I looked into the history of total individuals reported on the count. Indeed, this was the lowest number of individuals in decades, with just 6,549 individual birds counted. The December 2011, 2014, and 2018 totals were also below 10,000 birds. But the total individuals varies wildly from year to year depending on the presence of European Starling roosts (over 60,000 in 1986!) and the numbers of Ring-billed and Bonaparte's Gulls as well as Red-breasted Mergansers. Scanning through numbers of common songbirds, we were indeed lower overall, but not by large margins.
There were few irruptive species noted this year, with no redpolls reported, a single Pine Siskin, two Red-breasted Nuthatches, and just twenty Cedar Waxwings. A careful check at Cuyahoga County Airport turned up a Wilson's Snipe, just the 15th record for this count. Other goodies included Merlin (5 individuals, tying the high count), Northern Mockingbird (11 individuals, one shy of the record), Common Goldeneye (346 is an impressive total), and Northern Saw-whet Owl (11th record for the count). Woodpeckers have been on the increase in general this past decade; the 19 Red-headed Woodpeckers reported this year ties the record set a few years ago, and the 115 Red-bellied Woodpeckers were 16 shy of the record set two years ago.
The count may have been shy of a record for species, but we did break the record for number of participants! THANK YOU to the incredible eighty-five people who participated this year. I am particularly grateful to Laura Gooch, Mary Huey, and Julie West who organize the large parties that cover the Shaker Lakes and Willoughby areas. Both groups are very welcoming to birders of all skill levels. One of my formative birding experiences as a teenager was joining in a local Christmas Bird Count in Tennessee, and I appreciate everyone who brings new birders afield during the Cleveland CBC.
My thanks to Dick and Jean Hoffman for their ongoing curation of the historical data for this count. Click HERE to learn more about their historical data and to view their records.
Below are the totals
Canada Goose 783
Wood Duck 1
Gadwall 2
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 228
Northern Pintail 1
Redhead 1
Ring-necked Duck 1
Greater Scaup 8
Lesser Scaup 10
White-winged Scoter 2
Long-tailed Duck 1
Bufflehead 14
Common Goldeneye 346
Hooded Merganser 13
Common Merganser 26
Red-breasted Merganser 499
Ruddy Duck 4
Wild Turkey 15
Common Loon 1
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Horned Grebe 6
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 14
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 6
Bald Eagle 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 11
Red-tailed Hawk 26
Wilson's Snipe 1
Bonaparte's Gull 7
Ring-billed Gull 448
Herring Gull 398
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 15
Rock Pigeon 255
Mourning Dove 143
Barred Owl 4
Northern Saw-whet Owl 1
Belted Kingfisher 6
Red-headed Woodpecker 19
Red-bellied Woodpecker 115
Downy Woodpecker 99
Hairy Woodpecker 21
Northern Flicker 5
Pileated Woodpecker 12
American Kestrel 2
Merlin 5
Peregrine Falcon 1
Blue Jay 391
American Crow 68
Horned Lark 1
Black-capped Chickadee 153
Tufted Titmouse 100
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 85
Brown Creeper 1
Winter Wren 2
Carolina Wren 22
Golden-crowned Kinglet 7
Eastern Bluebird 67
American Robin 304
Northern Mockingbird 11
European Starling 494
Cedar Waxwing 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
American Tree Sparrow 78
Field Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco 225
White-throated Sparrow 82
Song Sparrow 69
Eastern Towhee 4
Northern Cardinal 141
Red-winged Blackbird 1
House Finch 105
Pine Siskin 1
American Goldfinch 155
House Sparrow 370
Plus five count week birds:
Barn Owl
Harlequin Duck
Harlequin Duck
Swamp Sparrow
Canvasback
79 species plus 5 count week species, for a total of 84