Submitted article
Once again the Crawford Park District sponsored the annual Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count. Held Jan. 4, the annual event is the oldest citizen science project in North America. The goal was to count every bird inside a 15 mile diameter circle during a 24 hour period. With hundreds of counts taking place across the continent, researchers can use the data collected to monitor populations and movements of various bird species.
Despite the poor weather conditions – driving rain in the early morning and high winds in the afternoon – four participants went into the field while three others monitored activity at their feeders. A total of 2,399 birds representing 48 different species were recorded. Four species – European Starling, Canada Goose, Pigeon and House Sparrow – accounted for 73 percent of that total.
The most significant observation of the day was the first ever sighting of a Northern Shrike in Crawford County. Like the Robin, Cardinal and Red-winged Blackbird, the Shrike is considered to be a passerine bird, but its raptor-like hook shaped bill clearly separate it from other passerines. Shrikes often move south of their open spruce forest breeding grounds in winter. Nicknamed the butcher bird, the Shrike hunts mice, voles and small birds, often storing excess prey by impaling it on the thorns of such trees as Hawthorns.
Anyone wishing to participate in next year’s count should contact the Crawford Park District at 419-683-9000.