2009-2010 Winter Sightings

Eagle Survey On 9 January Phil Krajewski and Gary Tyson started a new eagle survey route between Ansonia and Tiadaghton along the Pine Creek Rail Trail. Although surveys have been conducted in the past along most of Pine Creek from about 4.5 miles north of Blackwell (to a bald eagle's nest near Pine Island Run/Steel Hollow that has been active since 1987) to Jersey Shore in the south, the gorge (Important Bird Area #28) has not been regularly covered during winter surveys. Three adult bald eagles were seen in this new section-- a pair near the well-known nest at Darling Run and a third adult; and five adults were reported in the section between Jersey Shore and Blackwell. The survey program is coordinated locally by Cecil Houser (formerly of the PA Fish and Boat Commission) and statewide by Doug Gross, a biologist who works for the PA Game Commission. Thanks are due to DCNR and the Bureau of Forestry for providing a driver and truck equipped with chains for the trip down Pine Creek. Special thanks are also due to Jim Losinger, the forest ranger who did the driving and pointed out many of the places where eagles are most often seen.

110th Christmas Bird Count. The weather was a little bit kinder here in Tioga County for this year's annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count held on 19 December (PAMA circle). Nevertheless, most of this year's 17 participants felt that they did not see as many individual birds or species as they have seen in the past. The count is a one-day event that takes place throughout the United States and draws as many as 55,000 volunteers. Count data is used to detect trends in the bird population as well as to monitor ecosystem health. The CBC is the nation's longest running database for natural history information. The local count is sponsored by the Tiadaghton Audubon Society of Tioga and Potter Counties (www.tiaudubon.org) and takes place within a 177-square-mile circle, 12 miles in diameter, with its center in Whitneyville and with Mansfield and Wellsboro on its periphery, thus including Tioga-Hammond Lakes, Marsh Creek and the Muck, Nessmuck Lake, and the area just north of Arnot. A total of 5,244 individual birds were counted, comprising 45 species. The total count was actually higher than in most years, last year being an exception because of the large number of migrating Canada geese that happened to pass over the area on the day of the count. The species number was down, though, from an average number of about 50. Highlights include a peregrine falcon, a northern mockingbird (these are not often seen this far north), 3 rough-legged hawks, 3 great-horned owls, and 111 wild turkeys. Although most lakes and streams were frozen, there were many patches of open water this year, resulting in the sightings of 2 lesser scaup and a bufflehead. Almost all observers saw red-bellied woodpeckers, which are another species of milder climes that have started to move north. The most abundant species seen was the European starling with a count of 1,818 followed by American crows with a count of 490. The brown-headed cowbird count was high at 402, which is not particularly encouraging because of their parasitic breeding habits. Missing this year were sightings of northern birds such as pine siskins, snow buntings, redpolls, and evening grosbeaks. However, local residents will be happy to hear that there were plenty of eastern bluebirds --37, and some may be surprised to hear that 9 robins were reported. Participants this year included Larry Biddison, Arlene Brown, Larry Brown, Martha Copp, John Erich, Rich Faber, Charlotte Goldsmith, Jeff Holbrook, Phil Krajweski, Sue Lyons, Joan Mason, Ken Meyer, Lori Redell, Nancy Redell, Gary Tyson (compiler), Ann Vayansky, and Beth Walker.

If you have seen anything interesting that you would like to share or if you would like help identifying a particular bird, please let us know at raven@tiaudubon.org. We will try to help you out and/or pass the information on to our other readers.