[TN-Bird] Seventy-fifth annual Memphis CBC

From: "William Peeples" <wpeeples@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 11:14:18 -0600
Dec 20, 2002

    This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Memphis Christmas Bird Count, 
begun in 1928 by Ben Coffey, and conducted every year since.
    Our count on Sunday, Dec 15 was rewarded with favorable weather and a 
species total of 99; the highest ever was 101.
    Twenty-two observers in 7 parties covered our usual territory.  Sixteen 
species of waterfowl included 553 Snow Geese (by 4 parties) plus 60 Gr. 
White-fronted Geese and 10 Greater Scaups at The EARTH Complex.  An immature 
Bald Eagle was seen on the north side of town, and a LeConte's Sparrow was 
observed along the Wolf River.  A Fish Crow heard at Overton Park was the 
count's first in 30 years; they were frequently recorded long ago.
    Late lingerers included a Great Egret at Shelby Farms, 7 Least Sandpipers 
at The EARTH Complex, plus a Palm Warbler and a Common Yellowthroat on the 
north side.  There were 3 Orange-crowned warblers (Overton Park, Shelby Farms, 
& north side) and also 3 Blue-headed Vireos (a new high #; at Raleigh, Shelby 
Farms & north side).
    The most outstanding high count was the 78 Eur. Collared-Doves, found in 
southwest Memphis, President's Island, and north side.  Unfortunately, however, 
several species were found in unusually low numbers.  There were 116 juncos 
(only 1928 and 1932 were lower) and 28 towhees (after 1945, only two other 
years were lower).  The 46 Myrtle "Yellow-rumped" Warblers were the lowest 
since 1973.          Also, Blue Jays, American Crows and Carolina Chickadees -- 
birds known to be susceptible to WNV -- were all quite low.  Only one year 
after 1945 had a lower count of chickadees (86 this time), while only one year 
after 1932 had a lower number of jays (137 this year).  American Crows (82) 
were at their lowest since 1989.
    Probably the most surprising thing of note this year was the complete miss 
of Cedar Waxwing; only the fifth time out of 75 that this common bird was not 
found at all.

Rob Peeples
Memphis CBC Compiler
Germantown, TN 

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[TN-Bird] Seventy-fifth annual Memphis CBC

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