GORE BAY—A total of 4,866 birds made up of 49 species were counted in the 57th annual Gore Bay Christmas Bird Count circle held December 15. The event was sponsored by the Manitoulin Nature Club.
December 15 was the earliest possible date it could be held according to our formula to accommodate participants who might also want to be involved with the Mindemoya Bird Count held the previous day.
The weather was as good as it could possibly be for a mid-December count. It was mostly cloudy with temperatures ranging from -3° Celsius to plus two with light winds varying over the day from the east southeast, to east to southeast. The winds were somewhat gusty, up to 33 kilometres per hour but the water was mostly calm when the count began. Snow depth ranged from a trace to 20 centimetres. Though cloudy, visibility was at least 16 kilometres which is considered to be unlimited.
Lake Wolsey and the North Channel of Lake Huron were open as was that part of our circle that included Lake Kagawong. Inland, Ice Lake was frozen and there was some ice on the edges of creeks and ditches.
This year there were 15 field team members who covered their respective sections of the total of six count areas. Thirty households took part as feeder watchers. Some recruitment will have to be done to more effectively increase coverage of our Circle areas.
Notable on this count were 10 tundra swans, three in Gore Bay with seven north of Twilight Isle. From the data available to me these were the first sightings since the 45th count in 2012 when 17 were reported.
On our count this year was a king eider in Gore Bay, initially sighted during count week and again on count day, making it a first for our count. A king eider was previously noted as a count week bird in 2014.
We had two count week birds this year: a red-tailed hawk and a northern shrike.
Two common loons were seen on count day in Gore Bay, the first sightings since 2007.
For the first time ever, red-bellied woodpeckers (30) outnumber downy woodpeckers (23), hairy woodpeckers (23) and pileated woodpeckers (12).
Ring-necked pheasants continue to struggle, with sightings of only five individuals.
Ruffed grouse (partridge) (27) and sharp-tailed grouse (48) did well this year.
Local corvids also did well on our count: American crows (509), common ravens (177), and blue jays (271).
Outliers that would normally be done by December, but which were seen on count day included one Sandhill crane, four double-crested cormorants and two turkey vultures.
Everyone loves to see a northern cardinal and this year 42 were reported.
Some songbirds continue to thrive including black-capped chickadees (495), red-breasted nuthatches (20), white-breasted nuthatches (47), European starlings (501), snow buntings (115) and American goldfinches (381) in their brownish winter plumage.
The most common sighting this year was the common merganser at 1,040 individuals, one of the 11 species of ducks reported on this count.
For a more detailed look at the count see the tally included with this report.
Again, this year we thank the field teams and feeder watchers without whom there would be no accurate tally. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
We also thank Bruce Lindsay for updating the spreadsheets and making our work so much easier and more accurate.
Lastly, we thank the Manitoulin Nature Club for sponsoring the count and contributing some of their membership to this cause.
Happy New Year 2025.
Terry Land, count compiler.
Tally for the 57th Gore Bay Christmas bird count
December 15, 2024
Canada goose-7, tundra swan-10, American black duck-31, mallard-3, green-winged teal-3, white-winded scoter-5, long-tailed duck-12, bufflehead-7, common goldeneye-460, hooded merganser-9, ring-necked pheasant-5, ruffed grouse-27, sharp-tailed grouse-48, common loon-2, red-necked grebe-2, double-crested cormorant-4, turkey vulture-2, sharp-shinned hawk-1, bald eagle-42, rough-legged hawk-4, ring-billed gull-5, herring gull-204, rock pigeon (feral pigeon)-34, mourning dove-61, red-bellied woodpecker-30, downy woodpecker-23,hairy woodpecker-23, pileated woodpecker-12, blue jay-271, American crow-509, common raven-177, horned lark-26, black-capped chickadee-495, red-breasted nuthatch-20, white-breasted nuthatch-47, golden-crowned kinglet-1, European starling-501, snow bunting-115, American tree sparrow-8, dark-eyed junco-2, northern cardinal-42, red-winged blackbird-1, pine siskin-12, American goldfinch-381, evening grosbeak-5, sandhill crane-1, king eider-1.
by Terry Land
