Posted by Bill Boeringer on January 13, 2017 at 04:04:18
The preliminary results of the Kendall CBC indicate another successful count, despite the difficulty of conducting the count on Christmas Eve this year. It looks as if we tallied 143 species, with another during Count Week (Cave Swallow), and 11 exotics as well. Our impressive numbers of warblers and vireos were comparable to last year, when we had the highest numbers in the entire nation. Of particular note were new high counts of Yellow-throated Vireo (13) and Blue-headed Vireo (44), Black-throated Green Warbler (21), American Redstart (34), Northern Waterthrush (6), and Common Yellowthroat (51), and tying last year’s record 74 Black-and-white Warblers. We also tallied a Warbling Vireo for the 2nd year in a row (likely the only one in the nation). We also had a Hooded Warbler for the first time ever, and Yellow Warbler for only the second time. Other wintering birds were found in record numbers, including Eastern Phoebe (77) and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (29). The most common birds tallied were (as always) Turkey Vulture and White Ibis. On the down side, fresh water ducks were unusually scarce, likely due to the disappearance of suitable habitat in the count circle. Excluding ubiquitous Muscovy Ducks, Egyptian Geese, feral Mallards and exotics, we tallied only 16 individual ducks — 3 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks (new for the count) 4 Mottled Ducks, 8 Green-winged Teal, and a jaw-dropping 1 Blue-winged Teal. Bay/sea ducks fared much better, including 22 Ring-necked Ducks, 12 Black Scoters, 10 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Ruddy Ducks, plus 2 Horned Grebes. We had several new additions to the count: the aforementioned Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, the long-present Hooded Warbler at Kendallwood, a photo-confirmed Rufus Hummingbird at ZooMiami, and the day’s best find, a Groove-billed Ani on the west side of Tamiami Airport found and photographed by Noah Frade (which had birders running over there all day!). Biggest miss? Not a single Least Sandpiper, the first time none was tallied. Since we usually see in the same habitat where we find dabbling ducks, habitat again seems to be key. We also had submissions from our largest number of feeder/yard watchers yet, and this year benefited because the only Brown Thrasher on the count was a yard bird. I’ll publish the final numbers when everything is double-checked, hopefully by the end of the weekend.