The 125th Christmas Bird Count in Kentucky

Forty-two Christmas Hen Counts (CBCs) have been performed this yr within the Commonwealth of Kentucky, together with a brand new CBC in Clark County, Legacy Grove. A complete of 139 species was recorded, which is six lower than final yr. There have been no first-record kind rarities this yr as there have been for the earlier two CBC seasons. Three extra species have been seen throughout Depend Week: Black Scoter, Lengthy-tailed Duck, and Franklin’s Gull, all in Louisville. The whole variety of people counted have been 339,198 birds, considerably down from final yr by over 83,000 birds. The highest species rely for this CBC season was Lexington with a powerful 96 species, its highest ever; subsequent was Allen County East with 92 species; Louisville was third with 91 species; adopted by Elkton and Ballard County, every with 90 species. 5 rely circles reported between 81 and 87 species; ten noticed between 70 and 75 species; and the remaining 22 counted between 36 and 68 species.

Climate was barely cooler in Kentucky in contrast with final yr. Lows ranged from 15°F to 55°F, with a mean of 34.2°F. There have been 24 CBCs with low temperatures at or under freezing, 5 greater than final yr. The excessive temperatures ranged from 32°F to 61°F, with a mean of 48.5°F. Like final yr, all-day or most-day cloudy climate predominated the rely interval (35 counts in comparison with 28 final yr). Mild rain was reported on six counts, solely one in every of which was all-day gentle rain. Heavy rain fell all day on two counts, and on another CBC, within the afternoon solely. Mild snow was famous on 5 counts, solely one in every of which was all-day gentle snow. There was no heavy snow, nor was there any accumulation on the bottom. Rivers and creeks have been flowing with out ice, besides two CBCs reporting some freezing on the edges. Lakes and ponds have been largely open, with 11 rely circles indicating some ice; none indicated fully frozen nonetheless water. The distribution of rely days throughout the rely interval widened, occurring throughout 20 of the 23-day span, in comparison with 18 final yr. As soon as once more, the standard holidays occurred mid-week this yr. Apparently, 22 counts occurred on six of the eight weekend days, whereas final yr, solely eight CBCs have been held on weekend days. The largest rely day was Saturday, December 14, with eight CBCs performed.

There have been quite a few highlights this CBC season. Most are on eBird checklists, documented by images, and all have identification notes on the rarities. Birders tallied 28 species of waterfowl this yr, which is another than final yr. Vital observations embody Ross’s Goose (11 on 4 counts); Cackling Goose (5 at Elkton); Blue-winged Teal (one at Ballard County); Black Scoter (rely week at Louisville); and Lengthy-tailed Duck (rely week at Louisville). Extra water hen species of be aware embody Pink-necked Grebe (one at Lexington); Virginia Rail (4 on two counts); Dunlin (three at Allen County East); Least Sandpiper (eight at Allen County East and rely week at LBL); Franklin’s Gull (rely week at Louisville); Lesser Black-backed Gull (seven on 5 counts); Forster’s Tern (67 on two counts); Pink-throated Loon (one at Barren River Lake); and Black-crowned Evening-Heron (4 on two counts). Notable raptor experiences embody Golden Eagle (two on two counts and rely week on a 3rd); Tough-legged Hawk (one at Elkton); Barn Owl (16 on six counts); Brief-eared Owl (21 on eight counts); Merlin (13 on six counts, persevering with the upward development of this species in winter in Kentucky); and Peregrine Falcon (5 on 4 counts).

Additional highlights embody White-eyed Vireo (one at Louisville); Frequent Raven (three on three counts); Northern Home Wren (three on three counts); Grey Catbird (one at Lexington); LeConte’s Sparrow (two on two counts); Lincoln’s Sparrow (one at Burlington); Western Meadowlark (one at Ballard County); Baltimore Oriole (one at Paintsville); Brewer’s Blackbird(six at Otter Creek); Orange-crowned Warbler (three on two counts and rely week on a 3rd); Frequent Yellowthroat (one at Elkton); and Dickcissel (one at Elkton).
The ten most quite a few species have been European Starling (83,535); Frequent Grackle (37,181); Pink-winged Blackbird (33,966); American Robin (18,319); American Crow (12,510); Ring-billed Gull (10,838); Snow Goose (9,237); Mourning Dove (8,464); Mallard (8,301); and Canada Goose (8,830). There have been 16 frequent species that have been reported on all 42 counts (down three from final yr), and 16 species have been noticed on just one CBC every (down eight from final yr). Ten CBCs tallied over 11,000 birds: Elkton (39,550); Lexington (29,013); Ballard County (25,576); Sorgho (18,593); Paradise (18,173); Allen County East (17,880); Land Between the Lakes (16,207); Louisville (15,094); Daviess County (13,128); and Danville (11,075).

A shocking variety of species had excessive numbers this yr. These large numbers are absolutely a mirrored image of extra observers and energy by Kentucky birders (see under), amongst different components. All the next numbers are the best statewide complete for the previous 18 years1: Wooden Duck (122); Bonaparte’s Gull (4,807); Forster’s Tern (67); Pink-shouldered Hawk (454); American Barn Owl (16); Barred Owl (75); Pink-headed Woodpecker (307); Pink-bellied Woodpecker (1,676); Downy Woodpecker (1,143); Bushy Woodpecker (258); Northern Flicker (1,232); American Crow (12,510); White-breasted Nuthatch (1,293); Brown Creeper (209); Carolina Wren (2,202); Winter Wren (173); American Pipit (1,794); Darkish-eyed Junco (5,910); White-throated Sparrow (6,534); and Tune Sparrow (4,212).

CBC participation has continued to develop over the previous ten years. Our 528 individuals in 2024-25 exceeded final yr by 32 observers. This CBC season, individuals spent 646.5 hours strolling 479.75 miles. They spent 787.25 hours driving 6,643.75 miles of their sections of the rely circle. Bicyclists rode 23.75 hours, masking 110.5 miles. They rode horses and buggies for 29.5 hours over 69 miles. Lastly, they spent 5 hours in a motorboat for 7 miles. The next effort measurements are above the ten-year rolling common. These averages seem in parentheses after the present numbers within the following: The 528 individuals (443) in 285 events (215.7), together with some multi-CBC observers, logged a complete of 1,492.25 (1,255) party-hours and seven,310 (6,960.2) party-miles. With 32 extra individuals this yr (and another CBC), we elevated social gathering hours by about 100 and social gathering miles by about 400 miles from final yr. Birders spent 37.25 (26.8) hours owling whereas touring 97.25 (85.4) miles. Thirty-three feeder watchers (25.8) logged 39.5 hours (42.2) observing birds. Placing these information in context, this yr’s 42 CBCs examine to the ten-year common of 37.4. Our species complete of 142 compares with the ten-year common of 140.9 species. Kentucky birders at all times put in a powerful effort!

Thanks to the 528 observers who participated on this yr’s counts. My particular gratitude goes to the 35 hard-working compilers who organized and executed their counts, submitted rely outcomes on-line, and endured my many requests and questions. I wish to commend particularly compilers who volunteer to run a number of CBCs: Roseanna Denton (three), Blaine Ferrell (two), Ed Groneman (two), Steve Kistler (two), and Brainard Palmer-Ball (three). To those that accomplished Uncommon Hen Stories or in any other case documented the weird birds, thanks very a lot on your contributions to the CBCs and to group science.

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¹Detailed statewide numbers have been aggregated solely again to the 2007-08 CBC season; this work is constant. Previous to the 2017-18 CBC season, not all Kentucky CBCs have been submitted to Audubon’s CBC Portal, thus the information not included in that database needed to be compiled manually by the writer.