[va-bird] ASNV BBS in parts Oakton, Fairfax and Vienna

Between June 4 and 22 I conducted 101 point
counts for the Audubon Society of Northen
Virginia's Breeding Bird Survey organized by
Carolyn Williams.  Phil Kenny assisted on one of
these days, the only day white-eyed and
yellow-throated vireos were found. This survey
protocol is similar to USGS BBS but each site is
surveyed for 5 minutes, not 3 minutes. Sixty-five
species were noted. Carolina Wrens were the most
widely distributed: 208 noted in 94 % of the
sites. They seemed to me to be particularly
abundant this year. Cardinal had 219 birds in 92%
of the sites.  It seemed to me that there were
more nuthatches and baltimore orioles, and fewer
chimney swifts than normal this year, but I have
not taken the time to dig out previous records to
compare the numbers.

54 of these sites are in Difficult Run Stream
Valley Park and Oak Marr Park which are primarily
wooded forest along Difficult Run, Little
Difficult Run and Rocky Branch. These sites
continue to have good numbers of wood thrush,
scarlet tanager, red-eyed vireo, wood pewee,
acadian flycatchers, crested flycatchers,
northern parula (found only here, not in other
sites I surveyed) and red-shouldered hawks. Also
here were coopers hawk, barred owl, wood duck,
yellow-billed cuckoo and belted kingfisher. In
early years Kentucky and Prairie Warblers could
be found here, but no more.  OakMarr this year
had no ovenbirds, acadian flycatchers, or
louisiana waterthrushes, even in suitable
habitat, all of which were common here in earlier
years.  I also couldn't find them here in my
numerous walks outside of the count times.

Twenty-four points were in small woodlots,
several of which were postage-stamp parks such as
Nottoway, Oakborough Square, East Blake Lane,
Edgelea, Mosby Woods, and Fairchester Woods.
Others were disjointed lots that just a few years
ago were extensive forests but are now engulfed
in a sea of townhouses and shopping plazas. Most
typical woodland birds were present in these
parks in smaller concentrations, but they were
especially suitable for towhees, catbirds, house
wrens, and song sparrows which had significantly
higher concentrations here than in other
habitats.  

Ten sites were in heavily wooded neighborhoods
with big trees. They also had higher
concentrations of house wrens, towhees, catbirds,
and song sparrows. The size of the trees and the
extent of the tree cover, as well as the
proximity to wooded parks probably enabled these
sites to be suitable for scattered scarlet
tanager, wood thrush, red-eyed vireo wood pewee,
acadian flycatcher, pileated woodpecker, and
red-shouldered hawk.  

Eight sites were in heavily developed suburban
habitats, 3 were in golf courses, 1 was at a
marsh. 

Here are the totals.  I also included the birds
that were noted at the sites that day but not
during the 5 minute time period, so these are NOT
the numbers reported on the ASNV BBS.  The first
number is the total, the second number is the
number of sites (out of 101) it was found in. 

Great Blue Heron 3/3 all fly-overs
Canada Goose 4/1
Wood Duck 3/2
Mallard 7/3 (with 11 fuzzy babies)
Red-shouldered Hawk 11/12
Red-tailed Hawk 1/1
Mourning Dove 33/26
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 4/4
Barred Owl 2 fledglings/1
Chimney Swift 17/7
RT Hummingbird 2/2
B Kingfisher 1/1
Red-bellied Wdpecker 85/54
Downy Woodpecker 80/57
Hairy Woodpecker 22/22
Flicker 15/15
Pileated 15/13
W Wood-pewee 28/25
Acadian FLycatcher 61/44
E Phoebe 15/13
Great Crested Fly 20/18
E Kingbird 10/6
Purple Martin 15/2 (Oak Marr golf course)
Tree Swallow 7/4 (Oak Marr and vicinity)
Barn Swallow 21/11
Blue Jay 67/45
Am Crow 97/55
Fish Crow 28/11
Crow sp 5/2
Carolina Chickadee 128/65
Tufted Titmouse 128/71
WB Nuthatch 61/48
H Wren 36/27
Carolina Wr 208/94
BG Gnatcatcher 18/16
E Bluebird 24/13
Wood Thrush 26/23
Am Robin 104/60
Gray Catbird 54/27
Mocker 45/35
Thrasher 3/3
Waxwing 7/4
Starling 71/12
White-eyed Vireo 4/3
Yellow-throated Vireo 1/1
Red-eyed Vireo 64/40
Northern Parula 9/9
Pine Warbler 1/1 Oak Marr
Ovenbird 2/2
Louisiana Waterthrish 4/4
C Yellowthroat 3/2
Scarlet tanager 10/9
Cardinal 219/92
Indigo Bunting 11/9
Towhee 37/26
Chipping Sp. 17/12
Song Sp. 66/41
Red-winged Bl 25/6
C. Grackle 115/35
BH COwbird 31/24
Orchard Oriole 4/4
Baltimore Oriole 10/10
House Finch 48/25
Am GOldfinch 58/41
house Sparrow 37/12

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!!!
All the best
fred




Frederick D. Atwood     fredatwood@xxxxxxxxx
Flint Hill School, 10409 Academic Dr, Oakton, VA 22124
703-242-1675     
http://www.agpix.com/fredatwood
http://www.flinthill.org
http://tea.armadaproject.org/tea_atwoodfrontpage.html
You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email 
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.

Other related posts: