The Cypress Creek / Katy Prairie CBC was held on January 1, 2016. 66 intrepid
field observers braved occasional sprinkles, overcast gray skies and
temperatures that struggled to reach 47 degrees in the afternoon. They logged
143 (plus 9 CW) species of birds within the 15 mile diameter circle centered on
the lands of the Katy Prairie Conservancy. The number of observers and number
of species found were consistent with other counts during the last 5 years.
More species than the 40 year average of 135 and well below the record of 162.
The total number of birds was 125,767 which is well above the five year average
of 109,000 but far below the long term average of 410,000 which reflects a loss
of wetland and fragmentation of the prairie. Waterfowl numbers and blackbird
numbers are about a tenth of the 1970 averages.
The best birds of the count were a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, the 4th record
for the count and the first since 2004 and a Green-tailed Towhee, the 5th
record for the count, last seen in 2012. Almost all species were at average
numbers or lower but diversity was equal to the last five year average. There
are more geese than the previous 5 years but no white-chinned ones. There were
more waders than normal and many species toward the high end of the range in
numbers. Roseate Spoonbill set a new high with 13 being found in the circle in
two area. The most noticeable feature of this count was the low numbers of
sparrows. Most species were about half or less there 5 year average. Savannah
Sparrow was about a third of its normal numbers.
Water and good habitat for waterfowl was abundant but ducks were lower than
average with the exception of Mottled Duck 164, just short of the high of 167.
Most shorebird habitat was too deep in water and shorebirds were dispersed far
and wide. The native food crop is abundant and birds are well dispersed.
The nine count week birds, many gleaned from Ebird data, suggest that if we had
more participation this count would routinely go above 150. The Katy Prairie
Conservancy again made much of its 20,000 acres available to counters and that
coupled with several thousand acres of other private land makes this count a
special opportunity for birders who want to get to know the Katy Prairie. Hope
you will join us next year on Jan 1, 2017.
Fred Collins & Kendra Kocab, co-compliers of the Cypress Creek CBC
Fred Collins, Director
Kleb Woods Nature Center
20303 Draper Road,Tomball TX 77377
281-357-5324
Harris County Precinct 3
Steve Radack Commissioner
www.pct3.com<http://www.pct3.com/>
Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at
//www.freelists.org/list/texbirds
Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission
from the List Owner
