[birdky] RPT: Bernheim Forest CBC

Our forces were a bit thin this year, but 4 observers in two parties found
at least 66 species on the Bernheim Forest CBC yesterday, December 28th. 

Highlights included at least one Cacking Goose with a large flock of
Canadas, a great raptor day with multiples of both Accipiters, 11
Red-shouldereds, and 6 Northern Harriers (all great totals for this count).
Winter finches were limited to a few Purples. Mark Monroe and I were able to
get back to the "eagle area" along Wilson Creek despite some pretty icy
conditions. We had at least one and maybe two Golden Eagles and an adult
Bald Eagle, along with 3 flocks of Wild Turkeys.  Other good count birds
were 18 Black Vultures, a Red-headed Woodpecker, a flyover Ring-billed Gull,
a few random blackbirds, and 2 Eastern Phoebes. The "Big Meadow -- now Big
Prairie" at Bernheim now is dominated by native grasses and there were a
couple of nice sparrow flocks there that included many American Trees, a few
Savannahs, and a Chipping. As expected, Red-breasted Nuthatches were
present, but not abundant.

As is being reported elsewhere, berry-eating species such as Yellow-rumped
Warblers were low in numbers and the only expected species that was missed
was Cedar Waxwing.  The holly collection at the Forest was full of robins,
but elsewhere there seemed to be few fruits to eat.

This count was going to be one of my main "guages" for assessing Blue Jay
numbers in the area, and I must admit that even I was surprised to tally
only ONE bird among the two parties out!  My territory has yielded as few as
45 and as many as 160 in the past five years.

If anyone is interested in participating in the Otter Creek Park count on
Friday or the Paradise count on Sunday, let me know.

bpb, Louisville
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