2019-2020 Catoctin Area Audubon Christmas Bird Count

Kathy Brown
Frederick Bird Club

(1/2020) "In just the last 50 years, more than 1 in 4 birds has disappeared across North America." So begins a chilling article featured in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s autumn issue of Living Bird. The article discusses the results of a comprehensive analysis of population trends for 529 North American bird species published in September by the journal of Science.

The study confirms what many "birders" have suspected for some time – we are rapidly losing large numbers of our bird populations.

One of the key sources used in the research is the 120 years of data accumulated by the Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Started on Christmas Day 1900 with 27 conservationists in the United States and Canada, the CBC is now conducted by thousands of participants throughout the world.

Frederick County has two Audubon Christmas Bird Count circles: the Catoctin CBC covers a 15- mile diameter circle in north Frederick County which includes part of Emmitsburg; the Sugarloaf CBC covers a 15-mile diameter circle shared by Frederick and Montgomery counties. The Frederick Bird Club, a chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society, has sponsored the Catoctin CBC for many years. It is a very tangible example of citizen science and a great way to enjoy a winter’s day in beautiful northern Frederick County.

This year’s Catoctin CBC was held on Saturday, December 14, and as the count compiler, I was worried. Last year’s count results were alarming, showing significant drops in many common bird populations. Was it a one-year aberration, or evidence of rapidly accelerating population declines? The good news is that this year’s results were much improved; the bad news is that the results indicate continued declines in our bird populations.

The majority of the birds seen during winter counts are year-round residents, like chickadees, cardinals, woodpeckers, and crows. But there are also a few winter-only visitors, who migrate from colder northern climates due to lack of food or heavy ice/snow cover; the most common winter visitors are Juncos and White-throated Sparrows that can be seen at the base of many bird feeders throughout the winter. Of course, by the time of the count, our migrating summer residents, the original "snow-birds," have already headed south for warmer territories with open water and plentiful insects.

With the help of the CBC official database, I was able to look at 70 years of Catoctin CBC population and species data. For each bird species, I compared average population numbers for the last ten years (2010-2019) to the prior ten years (2000-2009) and clear patterns emerged.

Many of our common species show significant population declines and some species are increasingly rare in Frederick County. But results are mixed. A few species like the Bald Eagle show impressive population gains. Red-tailed Hawks are doing very well, but Northern Harrier numbers have dropped by 45% and numbers for the exquisite Kestrel have declined by 40%. Reported numbers for both Turkey and Black Vultures have increased by over 50% – no doubt aided by abundant deer road-kill. Alarmingly, virtually all song bird species continue to show significant population loss.

As noted, a few species are doing well. The Catoctin CBC’s first Bald Eagle was reported in 2001; now they are regularly sighted. This year 12 Bald Eagles were reported, the highest number in the history of the count! Ravens are another fabulous bird that is now seen regularly. The first Raven was observed in the 1973 count; this year 17 were sighted. Wild Turkeys were not reported until 1976; now somewhat common, flocks of 20-40 have been reported in 4 of the last 5 years. I was surprised to learn that the now common non-native Rock Pigeon was not reported until 1974.

The population numbers for our two common winter visitors, Juncos and White-throated Sparrows, have been constant for the last two decades. This may indicate that the factors affecting Frederick County’s resident birds are not a factor on these bird’s breeding territories in the north.

Sadly, many of the common birds we see every day are suffering noticeable declines. Comparing CBC average population numbers for the most recent 10 years vs. the prior 10 years: Carolina Chickadee, 27% decline; Tufted Titmouse, 42% decline; Northern Cardinal, 23% decline; Song Sparrow, 27% decline; American Goldfinch, 49% decline. There are still plenty of birds out there, but some of our most loved and familiar back-yard birds are rapidly disappearing.

The Science study determined that grassland bird populations in North America have declined by more than 50%. Habitat loss is a probable factor in these declines, say the authors, particularly agricultural intensification and development. Grassland birds include Bobwhites, Eastern Meadowlark, Ring-necked Pheasant, Northern Harrier, Horned Lark and many sparrow species, all of which have shown significant population losses in northern Frederick County.

The first years of the count (1950-1959) show a very different count circle population. Northern Bobwhite, Eastern Meadowlark and non-native Ring-neck Pheasant were common. Ruffed Grouse and Logger-head Shrike were seen regularly. The American Tree Sparrow averaged 240 birds a year the first 10 years of the count; the last 10 years the average was 3. Most of us remember seeing a covey of Bobwhites scurry across a field or hearing the beautiful song of the meadowlark calling from a fence post. When did you last see or hear either? Future generations may not know what they are missing, but we do.

If you are not one of the more than 50 million bird watchers in the United States, you may be thinking, it’s sad, but doesn’t really affect me. But scientist Ken Rosenberg, the main author of the Science report cautions, "These bird losses are a strong signal that our human-related landscapes are losing their ability to support birdlife, and that is an indicator of a coming collapse of the overall environment."

Scientists say it is possible to bring the birds back and protect our environment, but it will take collective action at a national and international scale. A variety of initiatives are already underway including: bird-safe building standards; conservation innovations in paper/wood production, agriculture and fisheries; cost-effective renewable energy; and bills recently introduced in Congress to expand state conservation efforts and restore critical provisions of The Migratory Bird Conservation Act.

According to the study, there are seven simple actions everyone can do to help birds:

• Make Windows Safer: Collisions with windows kill hundreds of millions of birds each year.
• Keep Cats Indoors: The 110 million cats in the US and Canada are a top cause of bird loss.
• Reduce Lawn, Use Native Plants: Cut chemical use and provide natural food sources.
• Avoid Pesticides: Many are toxic to wildlife, our pets, and humans - especially children.
• Drink Coffee That Helps Birds: Shade grown "Bird Friendly" coffee preserves tropical forests throughout the world.
• Avoid Single-use Plastic: It poses a major threat to seabirds and other ocean wildlife.
• Join the Citizen Science Effort: Participate in Project Feeder Watch and local bird counts.

Time is running out, but each of us can make a difference with everyday actions.

If you are interested in learning more about the birds of Frederick County, the Frederick Bird Club www.frederickbirdclub.org and Audubon Society of Central Maryland www.centralaudubon.org welcome guests and new members. Visit their websites to learn about meetings, bird-focused presentations, bird counts, and bird walks and outings throughout the year.