The 125th Christmas Bird Count in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania birders made their regular wonderful contributions to the Christmas Chook Depend’s milestone 125^th season, as yearly performed since 1900. Eighty-one websites reported for Pennsylvania, one fewer than the earlier 12 months. The statewide effort of 5,592 party-hours was an eight-year low, the 756 feeder-watch hours was on the low aspect, however the 334 nocturnal hours was common.

The statewide complete of count-day species was 157, an eight-year low and 7 lower than the development signifies was anticipated. Bay-breasted Warbler at Dallas Space was a brand new species for the Pennsylvania CBC. A 12 months after 21 species set new statewide excessive tallies for the Pennsylvania CBC, six species set new statewide highs this season: Eurasian Collared-Dove, Golden Eagle (tie), Bald Eagle, Merlin, Widespread Raven, and Orange-crowned Warbler. Whereas 2023 was an distinctive 12 months for prime counts, this didn’t carry over to this season. A number of northern species and several other unusual species which can be usually discovered weren’t discovered this time. Nevertheless, six count-week species weren’t discovered on any Pennsylvania rely day: Black Scoter, Pink-throated Loon, Pink-necked Grebe, Purple Sandpiper, and Snowy Owl at Erie, and Home Wren at Southern Bucks County.

Southern Lancaster County was the highest website for species quantity with 110 species, probably the most in Pennsylvania in 12 years; Southern Bucks County was second with 104 species; and Higher Bucks County was third with 99 species.

Waterfowl. A complete of 118,000 Snow Geese had been reported, with 76,000 at Lehigh Valley, 19,700 at Bernville, and 14,400 at Bethlehem-Easton. The 673 Snow Geese at Rector was sudden. This complete was the 9^th highest for the state CBC, nevertheless it was lower than half of the 253,000 excessive rely from 2019. Inside the final three a long time, Snow Geese have included the Lehigh, decrease Delaware, and decrease Susquehanna Valleys as a part of their core jap wintering space.

4 Ross’s Geese had been noticed, with two at Johnstown and singles at Lititz and Pittsburgh. Three Better White-fronted Geese had been noticed, with two at Southern Lancaster County and one at Audubon. A single Brant was at Pittsburgh, solely the 27^th time that Brant has been recorded within the state CBC and the primary occasion west of Chambersburg.

A complete of 38 Cackling Geese at 14 websites was additionally a prime 10 complete, with the excessive being 11 at Lehigh Valley. The 135,000 Canada Geese had been in step with counts of current years, however continued to be decrease than in the course of the peak interval of 1998-2017, when totals exceeded 200,000 a number of instances. The 126 Mute Swans had been the fewest since 95 had been tallied in 2000. 5 Trumpeter Swans had been reported, with two at York and singles at Erie, Southern Lancaster County, and West Chester. The 634 Tundra Swans had been in step with current years, however many extra had been generally counted not way back. The excessive rely was 5,093 in 1991, however the final time 2,000 had been recorded was in 2012.

The 112 Wooden Geese was the 4^th consecutive 12 months with a comparatively excessive rely. Blue-winged Teal was missed for the 4^th time within the final 10 years. The 472 Northern Shovelers was the three^rd highest historic rely and included 349 at Delaware County and 102 at Southern Bucks County. The 779 Gadwalls was the 6^th highest complete and included 202 at Delaware County and 132 at Southern Bucks County. Gadwall is the one dabbling duck that clearly exhibits an rising development. Three Eurasian Wigeons had been reported, solely the 20^th 12 months for this species within the Pennsylvania CBC and the primary in 15 years. Two Eurasian Wigeons had been at Higher Bucks County and one was at Southern Bucks County. Mallards and American Black Geese have been experiencing lengthy declines of about 24 and 54 years, respectively. Numbers have held comparatively regular lately, so it’s doable that the 16,989 Mallards and a couple of,035 American Black Geese signify a bottoming out within the decline.

The 28 Canvasbacks continued their low numbers, whereas the 227 Redheads was an honest complete. The 1,594 Ring-necked Geese was 2^nd highest to 2023’s 1,842 and included 307 at Elverson, 302 at Southern Bucks County, 152 at Dallas Space, and 140 at Dubois. A complete of 11,562 scaup had been tallied, with 11,473 at Erie and 89 elsewhere. This was the two^nd highest scaup complete to the almost 16,000 scaup reported in 2022, with all however 11 at Erie.

The one scoters had been seen at Erie, together with 7 Surf Scoters, 158 White-winged Scoters, and 33 scoter sp. Black Scoter was missed for the three^rd time within the final 10 years. The 158 White-winged Scoters was 2^nd highest to 2023’s 406.

The 40 Lengthy-tailed Geese at 11 websites was a median rely. Whereas Buffleheads have usually been rising, the 970 complete was a number of hundred decrease than within the three earlier years, with highs of 173 at Lineville and 147 at Erie. Hooded Mergansers have additionally been rising; the 1,522 Hooded Mergansers was the 7^th highest complete and included 161 at Linesville and 144 at Dallas Space. The 6,060 Widespread Mergansers was a median complete for our 2^nd most typical duck, with a excessive of 1,260 at York Springs. The two,142 Ruddy Geese within the current rely is a superb complete and the two^nd highest this century, with 358 at Delaware County, 308 at Southern Bucks County, 239 at Wild Creek-Little Hole, and 235 at Erie.

Phasianidae. The 16 Ruffed Grouse at eight websites was the two^nd lowest complete throughout many a long time, behind solely the 14 in 2022. In accordance with CBC information, 1980-1995 was a peak interval for Ruffed Grouse in Pennsylvania, with a excessive of 314 in 1987. The bottom Ruffed Grouse imply counts per 10 party-hours have occurred over the last 5 years, when CBC grouse totals have additionally been lowest, 14-33. Ruffed Grouse is our state chicken.

The two,927 Wild Turkeys was significantly greater than the 1,984 of 2023 and much like totals of different current years. The 86 Ring-necked Pheasants was additionally the two^nd lowest complete throughout many a long time and continued a development of being reported at fewer websites; most, if not all, had been doubtless pen-reared birds launched for searching.

Grebes-Doves. The 230 Horned Grebes was the 4^th highest historic complete, with most, 214, counted at Erie. The 20 Eurasian Collared-Doves was a brand new statewide excessive and included 16 at Chambersburg, three at Newville, and one at Bernville. The rising numbers of the final two seasons means that their Nice Valley inhabitants could possibly be rising.

Hummingbirds. Rufous Hummingbird was missed for the 4^th consecutive 12 months; the height interval within the state CBC was 2010-2016, when it was reported yearly. Nevertheless, Allen’s Hummingbird at Lehigh Valley was solely the three^rd report within the Pennsylvania CBC.

Rails-Sandpipers. 4 Virginia Rails had been reported, together with three at Elverson and one at Higher Bucks County. The latest 5 years have seen probably the most sustained CBC studies of Virginia Rails. The 230 Sandhill Cranes was the 6^th highest rely, with 221 recorded at Linesville. Two American Woodcocks had been at Bethlehem-Easton.

Gulls. The 32,000 Ring-billed Gulls was a typical complete. The 43,000 Herring Gulls included 40,500 at Southern Bucks County, which once more led all CBC websites by a big margin. The 16 Iceland Gulls was a traditional quantity and included 12 at Southern Bucks County and singles at Central Bucks County, Elverson, Pittsburgh, and Higher Bucks County.

The 951 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at eight websites was the two^nd highest statewide complete to the 1,257 recorded in 2022. This season’s complete included 408 at Southern Bucks County, 297 at Higher Bucks County, and 220 at Central Bucks County. Southern Bucks and Higher Bucks ranked 2-3 amongst all CBC websites for counts of this species, whereas Central Bucks ranked 8^th.

Glaucous Gull was missed for the primary time since 1990, though totals had fallen to single birds within the earlier three years. Glaucous Gull has by no means been frequent; it has been recorded by Pennsylvania CBC websites 90 instances, normally 1-3 at a time, with 11 being probably the most at any website. The 188 Nice Black-backed Gulls was the fewest in lots of a long time and included 163 at Southern Bucks County and 17 at Pennypack Valley.

Loons-Cormorants. Pink-throated Loon was missed for the primary time since 2013; normally a number of are reported. The 2 Nice Cormorants, one every at Pennypack Valley and Southern Bucks County, had been the fewest since 1988, after they had been missed. The excessive 12 months was 2007, with 76, however within the final 4 years, solely single digits have been reported.

Herons. The 886 Nice Blue Herons was a median tally, with 65 at Erie and 53 at Southern Bucks County. Three Nice Egrets had been reported, two at Harrisburg and one at Western Chester County. It’s now been seven years with out a Black-crowned Night time Heron.

Vultures. Turkey Vulture numbers continued at a excessive degree, however Black Vultures have been barely fewer than beforehand in 5 of the final six years, much like Pennsylvania’s Winter Raptor Survey development.

Raptors. Three Ospreys had been reported, one every at Bushy Run SP, New Bloomfield, and York Springs. This was the 5^th highest statewide complete, the excessive being 5 in 1985, 2000, and 2003.

The 17 Golden Eagles tied the earlier excessive from 2021. As regular, Golden Eagle counts had been principally seen at ridge migration websites and northern wintering areas. This included seven at Williamsport, the place hawk watcher David Brown recorded all seven on the Route 15 overlook on Bald Eagle Mountain. This can be a new particular person website report for Pennsylvania, the earlier excessive being 4.

The 244 Northern Harriers at 61 websites was the 4^th highest complete for the Pennsylvania CBC and probably the most in 16 years. There have been 22 harriers at Clarion, 16 at Western Chester County, 11 Linesville, and 10 at Culp. The 22 harriers at Clarion ranks 15^th amongst Pennsylvania website totals, the excessive rely being 50 at Hamburg in 1985.

The 169 Sharp-shinned Hawks was their lowest CBC complete in 40 years. Their current decline within the East began to change into obvious round 2009. The reply to what’s inflicting this decline is sort of actually within the boreal forest; WNV is a believable trigger if WNV is current in boreal forest mosquitoes (Bolgiano 2022), however a decline in boreal songbird populations may additionally clarify this.

The 463 Cooper’s Hawks was in step with an obvious plateau in Cooper’s Hawk wintering numbers. Many now seem to stay on or close to their breeding territories and never migrating.

American Goshawk was missed for the two^nd time in 4 years; the final earlier miss was in 1965.

The 1,156 Bald Eagles was a brand new statewide excessive, exceeding the 1,092 in 2022. Excessive counts included 105 at Southern Bucks County, 69 at Juniata County, 66 at Linesville, and 57 at Lititz. Their numbers proceed to extend, however the charge of improve could also be slowing.

A complete of 412 Pink-shouldered Hawks had been reported, 2^nd highest to the 439 in 2022, and persevering with their steep improve in wintering numbers. CBC densities are highest in northwestern Pennsylvania and within the southern half of the state, notably at southeastern websites close to the state’s southern border.

Though the Pink-tailed Hawk remained Pennsylvania’s most counted raptor within the CBC, the three,088 Pink-tailed Hawks continued their gradual decline from their mid-2000s peak. The 18 Tough-legged Hawks had been recorded at 14 websites, with 4 at Clarion. This low quantity is now typical for the Pennsylvania CBC.

Owls. Juniata County-Lewistown reported probably the most owls, with 78; Higher Bucks County was second, with 67; and West Chester was third with 59.

The 17 American Barn Owls had been probably the most recorded since 1992 and solely the 4^th double-digit tally this century. The Nineteen Seventies was the height interval for Barn Owls, with a excessive rely of 45 in 1975.

The 678 Japanese Screech-Owls was a median rely, however the 270 Nice Horned Owls was on the low aspect and in step with a gradual restoration from WNV. Snowy Owl was missed for the 6^th time within the final 10 years. The 87 Barred Owls was the 4^th highest rely and their development has been rising. Eight Lengthy-eared Owls had been reported, the 4^th consecutive 12 months with single digits, though detections are doubtless affected by eBird now not reporting detection areas to be able to shield roosts.

A spotlight of this CBC was the 30 Brief-eared Owls at 11 websites, tied for the 5^th highest Pennsylvania CBC complete. There have been 9 Brief-eared Owls at Clarion, 4 at Linesville, and three every at Bedford County, Butler County, Dallas Space, and Juniata County. A complete of 41 Northern Noticed-whet Owls had been recorded, the 4^th highest Pennsylvania complete; the excessive rely was 62 in 2023.

Woodpeckers. This season’s woodpecker counts weren’t fairly as excessive because the 2023 information for all woodpeckers besides Downy Woodpecker. This season’s 878 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers was 3^rd highest after 2023’s report 1,020. This season’s 103 Pink-headed Woodpeckers was many fewer than 2023’s report 196, however nonetheless a part of a modest upswing within the long-term development. For each Pink-bellied Woodpecker and Pileated Woodpecker, comparatively small oscillations now seem round close to all-time excessive numbers, apparently representing alternate-year variations within the meals provide. That sample continued this season, with this 12 months’s counts being barely decrease than 2023’s highs.

Falcons. The 817 American Kestrels had been probably the most in 12 years and included 60 at Juniata County, 49 at York Springs, and 45 at Bloomsburg. The 91 Merlins was a brand new statewide excessive, as their steep rise in wintering numbers continued. The 46 Peregrine Falcons was in step with a current plateau in totals. Merlin and Peregrine Falcon numbers elevated in tandem till the final 10 years, when the rise in Peregrine Falcon numbers slowed, however there is no such thing as a signal that the Merlin growth in wintering numbers is slowing.

Flycatchers-Shrikes. The 18 Japanese Phoebes was a median quantity. Say’s Phoebe at Lancaster was a ten^th report for the state CBC and the third consecutive 12 months with one recorded on the Washington Boro Water Therapy Plant alongside the jap shore of the Susquehanna River. After 2023’s 9 Northern Shrikes, this season’s two, at Clarion and Potter County, was extra typical of the final decade.

Corvids. American Crow numbers, a lot affected by WNV, haven’t modified a lot within the final 20 years, totaling 56,900. The 1,118 Widespread Ravens was a brand new statewide excessive, exceeding the 1,019 of 2023 and apparently nonetheless in a interval of speedy improve.

Parids. The three,684 Carolina Chickadees and the 8,648 Tufted Titmice are tallies partway between pre-WNV ranges and the 2018 WNV-induced low, and the third consecutive 12 months at such ranges. Nevertheless, the 6,200 Black-capped Chickadees remained low with none signal of a rebound.

Horned Larks-Gnatcatchers. The 5,754 Horned Larks was a median rely. The 40 Tough-winged Swallows at Pennypack Valley was the identical quantity as in 2023, persevering with the observations that started there in 2005. The two,599 Golden-crowned Kinglets was the second consecutive 12 months with a wholesome quantity. After a report 562 Ruby-crowned Kinglets in 2023, this season’s 440 was 4^th highest. The 166 Pink-breasted Nuthatches indicated a second consecutive low 12 months. This was the 5^th miss on Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in 10 years.

Wrens. The five hundred Winter Wrens was the three^rd highest tally, with the best being 2023’s 704 wrens. The 6,291 Carolina Wrens was the 4^th highest tally, with two earlier counts exceeding 7000 in 2019 and 2023. Marsh Wren was at Delaware County. This was the three^rd miss of Northern Home Wren in 10 years.

Mimids-Waxwings. The final 4 years have seen alternating high-low Grey Catbird totals; this was a off-season, with 38, in comparison with 2023’s 3^rd-highest 104. The two,067 Northern Mockingbirds was much like the counts of the earlier two years, representing a modest improve from the 2018 low which will have been WNV-related. Japanese Bluebird quickly elevated over the last 20 years of the 1900s. Since then, their development has proven oscillations inside a comparatively excessive inhabitants degree, suggesting that harsh climate might periodically knock them again. The excessive complete was 9,395 in 2006, with the current rely’s complete being 7,347. Hermit Thrush has been present in steadily rising numbers, with a lot larger counts over the last 4 years. The 656 Hermit Thrushes within the current season was 3^rd highest to 2023’s excessive of 1,095, with a excessive of 47 in Huntingdon. Two frequent frugivores, American Robin and Cedar Waxwing, have additionally proven alternating high-low numbers over the last 4 years; this season additionally being a off-season for them. It appears believable that these observations could be associated to the fruiting cycles of invasive bushes and vines.

Home Sparrow-Pipit. The 12,440 Home Sparrows had been the fewest since 1958, as their gradual decline continued. The 1,024 American Pipits represented the three^rd of 4 seasons with good numbers, with 427 at Bernville and 226 at Buchanan Path.

Finches. Finch numbers had been a mixture of excessive and low counts. The winter finch forecast predicted an excellent motion of Purple Finches and a modest motion of Night Grosbeaks, however no vital winter finch irruptions (Hoar 2024). A very good variety of Purple Finches had been reported, however not many grosbeaks. The 658 Purple Finches had been probably the most in 16 years, though not almost as excessive as in lots of prior years. The 9,413 American Goldfinches was barely above common.

Single-digit low counts had been noticed for 4 winter finch species: Night Grosbeak, with three at Cowanesque Lake and two at Butler County; Widespread Redpoll, with eight at Hamburg and one at Central Bucks County; Pink Crossbill, with three at Huntingdon and two at Dingman’s Ferry; and White-winged Crossbill, with all three at Chambersburg. The 192 Pine Siskins indicated a small siskin flight into Pennsylvania.

Calcariidae. Seven Lapland Longspurs had been reported, at 4 southeastern websites, the place most anticipated, plus at Northern Lycoming County and Potter County. The 160 Snow Buntings at 15 websites had been probably the most in seven years, with 65 at Potter County, 25 at Philipsburg, and 15 every at Linesville and Northern Lycoming County.

Sparrows. Sparrow numbers had been principally common. The two,527 American Tree Sparrows was a four-year excessive, however 25 years in the past, it was routine to rely thrice as many. Fox Sparrows confirmed the same high-low four-year sample because the above-noted frugivores, whereas Japanese Towhees confirmed the same six-year high-low sample, with lows within the current CBC. Vesper Sparrow was at Juniata County and Lancaster. 4 Lincoln’s Sparrows had been recorded, with two at Delaware County and singles at Huntingdon and Lebanon County. After 2023’s report six Clay-colored Sparrows, singles had been recorded at Dallas Space and Lancaster.

Blackbirds. The 89 Japanese Meadowlark was the three^rd consecutive season with respectable numbers, with 27 at Juniata County and 21 at Gettysburg. Baltimore Oriole was at Bethlehem-Easton, Central Bucks County, and Southern Lancaster County. The 304 Rusty Blackbirds was additionally an honest quantity, with 150 at Mansfield-Wellsboro and 32 at Elverson.

Warblers. 9 warbler species had been reported, a median complete. This was the 4^th of 10 seasons with Black-and-white Warbler, this time at Lancaster. The 12 Orange-crowned Warblers was a brand new statewide CBC excessive, exceeding the ten in 2022, and all however one recorded within the southeast. There have been 5 at Southern Bucks County, three at Audubon, two at Pennypack Valley, and singles at Indiana and West Chester. Nashville Warbler at Delaware County was a 12^th report. The six Widespread Yellowthroats, six Palm Warblers, and 307 Yellow-rumped Warblers had been common numbers. The 13 Pine Warblers was the three^rd highest complete. Bay-breasted Warbler at Dallas Space was a brand new species for the Pennsylvania CBC, whereas Prairie Warbler at Harrisburg was the three^rd report.