Toronto Ornithological Club
Christmas Bird Count Archive
Previous TOC Christmas Bird Count reports.
Summary
This is a report for the 82nd annual Toronto Christmas Bird Count, held on Sunday December 17, 2006.
Observers tallied 89 species including 56,022 individual birds.
The weather was partly sunny, breezy at times, very mild with a high of +13 degrees.
| Highlights |
|
Ovenbird - 1 (second record in count history)
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 (third record in count history)
Cackling Goose - 1 (second record in count history)
Chipping Sparrow - 1 (seventh record in count history)
Wilson's Snipe - 1 (seventh record in count history)
Hybrid Barrow's x Common Goldeneye - 1 (new record for the count)
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| Top 10 Species |
| European Starling (1) | 21523 |
| Long-tailed Duck (3) | 7180 |
| Ring-billed Gull (4) | 5668 |
| Rock Pigeon (6) | 3358 |
| Canada Goose (9) | 2913 |
| House Sparrow (7) | 2834 |
| Mallard (5) | 1888 |
| American Goldfinch (12) | 1198 |
| Greater Scaup (2) | 1033 |
| Black-capped Chickadee (10) | 973 |
| (Number in parantheses indicates rank in 2005 count.) | |
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| Record Highs |
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Great Blue Heron - 17 (17 also in 1996)
Blk-cr. Night Heron - 20 (12 in 1998)
Horned Grebe - 3 (also 3 in 1975)
Red-necked Grebe - 4 (2 in 1997 and 2003)
Northern Shoveler - 94 (51 in 1994)
Northern Pintail - 14 (8 in 1953)
Red-breasted Merganser - 309 (179 in 1993)
Cooper's Hawk - 16 (13 in 2005)
Peregrine Falcon - 10 (also 10 in 2005)
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 (ties 3 previous years)
Downy Woodpecker - 232 (222 in 2005)
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 70 (63 in 2003)
Northern Mockingbird - 34 (30 in 2005)
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 4 (3 in 1959)
Northern Cardinal - 478 (398 in 2005)
American Goldfinch - 1198 (1032 in 1963)
House Sparrow - 2834 (2618 in 2005)
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| Unusual Lows |
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Greater Scaup - 1033 (fewest since 1997)
Redhead - 340 (fewest since 1996)
Great Black-backed Gull - 7 (fewest since 1970)
Great Horned Owl - 1 (fewest since 1971)
American Crow - 72 (similar to last year, but still under 10% of the 10-year average 1992-2001)
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| Count Week Species |
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Seen during the three days before and/or after count day (Dec. 14-20)
Green-winged Teal
Northern Goshawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Fox Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
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Comments
It was an incredibly mild day for the count - certainly among the warmest ever, if not an absolute record. Pleasant as it was in
comparison to the very cold counts in some recent years, it did feel odd to be doing a Christmas Bird Count while countless people were
out barbecuing, and even wearing shorts and t-shirts! It seemed that the level of human activity in the parks made it more difficult than
usual to find birds, but on the whole the total numbers of species and individuals for the day were high anyway. However, the number of
individuals was high largely due to a big jump this year in the abundance of European Starlings, up over 12,000 individuals from 2005, which
more than accounts for the overall rise in total numbers.
The 17 species tying or exceeding old record highs were an unusually large number.
In addition, there were three other species that didn't set all time records, but were at their highest numbers in a long time - 76 Hairy
Woodpeckers were the most since 1965, 62 Song Sparrows the most since 1989, and 767 Dark-eyed Juncos also the most since 1989, and the second
highest total ever.
Thank you to the 95+ participants who contributed to this year's count!
Summary
This is a report for the 81st annual Toronto Christmas Bird Count, held on Sunday December 18, 2005.
Observers tallied 91 species including 47,220 individual birds.
The weather was cloudy, light breeze, with a high of -5 degrees.
| Highlights |
|
Savannah Sparrow - 1 (new for the count)
Eastern Bluebird - 5 (fifth record in count history)
Killdeer - 2 (thirteenth record in count history)
Barred Owl - 1 (fourteenth record in count history)
Field Sparrow - 1 (third record in past decade)
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| Top 10 Species |
| European Starling | 9518 |
| Greater Scaup | 5562 |
| Long-tailed Duck | 5032 |
| Ring-billed Gull | 3978 |
| Mallard | 3289 |
| Rock Pigeon | 3239 |
| House Sparrow | 2588 |
| Redhead | 2261 |
| Canada Goose | 1744 |
| Black-capped Chickadee | 1265 |
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| Record Highs |
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Mute Swan - 191(157 in 2000)
Lesser Scaup - 246 (147 in 2003)
Cooper's Hawk - 13 (11 in 2002)
Red-tailed Hawk - 89 (76 in 1989)
Merlin - 3 (2 in six years since 1995)
Peregrine Falcon - 10 (9 in 2001)
Downy Woodpecker - 226 (184 in 1999)
Eastern Bluebird - 5 (4 in 1950)
Hermit Thrush - 10 (7 in 1997 and 2004)
Northern Mockingbird - 30 (24 in 2003)
Northern Cardinal - 398 (397 in 2000)
House Sparrow - 2588 (2513 in 1996)
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| Unusual Lows |
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Common Goldeneye - 465 (fewest since 1994)
Long-tailed Duck - 5032 (fewest since 1995)
Great Black-backed Gull - 26 (fewest since 1985)
Blue Jay - 41 (highest since 2001, but still low compared to long-term)
American Crow - 74 (almost triple as many as last year, but still less than 10% of the 10-year average 1992-2001)
Cedar Waxwing - 14 (fewest since 1995)
European Starling - 9509 (fewest since 1995)
House Finch - 302 (fewest since 1987)
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Comments
The weather was better than it has been in many recent years, and this likely contributed at
least a bit to the long list of species with record counts. Four other species are worthy of mention for nearly achieving new records:
Red-breasted Merganser (177; record of 179 in 1993), Pileated Woodpecker (7; record of 8 in 1999), Black-capped Chickadee (1265;
record of 1294 in 2001), and American Tree Sparrow (237; highest count since 1972).
The chickadees are particularly notable in that they declined drastically in 2002 along with Blue Jays and American Crows, following
the arrival of West Nile Virus in Toronto. Though rebounding slightly on this year's count both the jays and crows remain at a
fraction of their former numbers. While the chickadees appear to have fully recovered, it is important to note that there was an
unusually significant fall migration for this species this year, and the numbers for the Toronto CBC (and many others also showing
record or near-record numbers this year) may be inflated by these northern immigrants.
Of the species that set new record highs in 2004, three were not recorded at all on the 2005 count: Double-crested Cormorant,
Ruddy Duck, and Bald Eagle. Other species commonly seen over the past decade but missed this year included Horned Grebe, Snowy Owl,
Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Warbler,and Common Grackle. Despite these misses, the 91 species recorded were a new record high
for the Toronto CBC.
Summary
This is a report for the 80th annual Toronto Christmas Bird Count, held on Sunday December 19, 2004.
Observers tallied 89 species including 48,223 individual birds.
The weather was partly sunny with a high of -13 and wind chill from -25 to -36 degrees.
| Highlights |
|
White-eyed Vireo - 1 (new for the count)
Wilson's Warbler - 1
Black-throated Gray Warbler - 1 (both recorded during Count Week only; also new for the count)
Purple Sandpiper - 1 (third ever, last in 1988)
Pine Warbler - 1 (third ever, last in 1994)
King Eider - 1 (fourth ever, last in 1996)
Bonaparte's Gull - 1 (sixth ever, last in 1997)
Wilson's Snipe - 1 (sixth ever, second year in a row)
Mute Swan - 132 (second highest only to 157 in 2000)
Great Horned Owl - 11 (highest since 1995)
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| Record Highs |
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Double-crested Cormorant - 10 (3 in 1994)
American Wigeon* - 68 (58 in 2003)
Ruddy Duck - 24 (2 in 1972, 1996, 2003)
Bald Eagle - 3 (1 in nine different years)
Merlin - 2 (ties seven other years)
Hermit Thrush - 7 (ties record set in 1997)
White-throated Sparrow - 53 (52 in 1980)
* fourth consecutive new record
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| Unusual Lows |
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American Black Duck* - 59 (lowest since 1946)
Herring Gull* - 237 (lowest since 1977)
Great Black-backed Gull* - 32 (lowest since 1985)
American Coot - 0 (missed for first time since 1993)
American Kestrel - 6 (lowest since 1959)
Belted Kingfisher - 1 (lowest since 1973)
Blue Jay* - 18 (lowest since 1949)
American Crow* - 26 (lowest since 1959)
European Starling - 9603 (lowest since 1995)
Song Sparrow - 14 (lowest since 1947)
* of note, five of these species also appeared in this category in 2003
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Summary
This is a report for the 79th annual Toronto Christmas Bird Count, held on Sunday December 21, 2003.
Observers tallied 89 species including 63,417 individual birds.
| Highlights |
|
Eurasian Wigeon - 1 (new for the count)
Wilson's Snipe - 1 (third ever, last in 1973)
American Woodcock - 1 (third ever, last in 2000)
Common Yellowthroat - 1 (eighth ever)
Hairy Woodpecker - 64 (highest since 1965)
Red-winged Blackbird - 18 (highest since 1987)
Red-necked Grebe - 2
Double-crested Cormorant - 2
Northern Goshawk - 2
Short-eared Owl - 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Purple Finch - 2 (first since 1997)
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| Record Highs |
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American Wigeon - 58 (44 in 2002)
Greater Scaup - 6896 (5866 in 2002)
Lesser Scaup - 147 (31 in 2001)
Hooded Merganser - 172 (111 in 2002)
Ruddy Duck - 2 (tied with 1972 and 1996)
Merlin - 2 (ties six other years)
Ring-billed Gull - 8241 (7494 in 2002)
Thayer's Gull - 2 (ties 1998)
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 63 (57 in 1997)
Northern Mockingbird - 24 (20 in 2002)
Swamp Sparrow - 11 (ties 1976)
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| Unusual Lows |
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American Black Duck - 82 (lowest since 1946)
Mallard - 2610 (lowest since 1990)
Herring Gull - 777 (lowest since 1986)
Great Black-backed Gull - 54 (lowest since 1990)
Blue Jay - 22 (second lowest since 1949)
American Crow - 76 (second lowest since 1983)
Glaucous Gull - 0 (last missed in 1988)
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Summary
This is a report for the 78th annual Toronto Christmas Bird Count, held on Sunday December 22, 2002.
Observers tallied 85 species including 68,367 individual birds.
| Highlights |
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Tundra Swan - 4 (fifth record for count)
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2 (only once previously - 1994)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1 (first since 1995)
Eastern Bluebird - 2 (first record since 1984)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 (only once previously - 1972)
White-crowned Sparrow - 3 (second highest total ever)
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| Record Highs |
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American Wigeon - 44 (36 in 2001)
Greater Scaup - 5866 (5482 in 2000)
Long-tailed Duck - 13938 (11724 in 1997)
Bufflehead - 1096 (736 in 1998)
Hooded Merganser - 111 (105 in 2001)
Cooper's Hawk - 11 (9 in 1998)
Merlin - 2 (ties 5 previous years)
Ring-billed Gull - 7494 (6540 in 2001)
Iceland Gull - 23 (11 in 2000)
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2 (1 in 1997)
Rock Dove - 3521 (2983 in 2001)
Winter Wren - 21 (14 in 1950)
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 88 (64 in 1952)
Northern Mockingbird - 20 (14 in 1999)
Fox Sparrow - 2 (ties high from 1947 and 1971)
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| Unusual lows |
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American Black Duck - 92 (lowest since 1975)
Herring Gull - 807 (lowest since 1986)
Glaucous Gull - 2 (lowest since 1990)
Mourning Dove - 279 (lowest since 1982)
Blue Jay - 21 (lowest since 1949)
American Crow - 49 (lowest since 1965)
Black-capped Chickadee - 296 (lowest since 1978)
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 6 (lowest since 1983)
White-breasted Nuthatch - 27 (lowest since 1978)
House Finch - 302 (lowest since 1987)
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Summary
This is a report for the 77th annual Toronto Christmas Bird Count, held on Sunday December 30, 2001.
Observers tallied 88 species including 53,500 individual birds.
| Highlights |
|
Bald Eagle - 1 (seventh record for count)
Swainson's Thrush - 1 (only once previously - 1998)
American Pipit - 2 (seventh record for count)
Common Yellowthroat - 1 (seventh record for count)
Fox Sparrow - 1 (eighth record for count)
Lapland Longspur - 1 (ninth record for count)
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| Record Highs |
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Double-crested Cormorant - 3 (ties 3 previous years)
Tundra Swan - 8 (3 in 1998)
Gadwall - 673 (620 in 1998)
American Wigeon - 36 (31 in 1997)
Redhead - 3208 (2301 in 1999)
Lesser Scaup - 31 (18 in 1998)
Hooded Merganser - 105 (51 in 1998)
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 18 (9 in 1998 and 1999)
Peregrine Falcon - 9 (5 in 1999 and 2000)
Ring-billed Gull - 6540 (6301 in 1990)
Rock Dove - 2983 (2508 in 1995)
Black-capped Chickadee - 1290 (1258 in 1997)
Carolina Wren - 5 (3 in 1993)
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| Unusual Lows |
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Blue Jay - 55 (lowest since 1983)
American Tree Sparrow - 72 (lowest since 1987)
Dark-eyed Junco - 309 (lowest since 1990)
Song Sparrow - 15 (lowest since 1947)
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Summary
This is a report for the 76th annual Toronto Christmas Bird Count, held on Sunday December 30, 2006.
Observers tallied 79 species including 49,195 individual birds.
| Highlights |
|
American Woodcock - 1 (only once previously - 1952)
Northern Goshawk - 1 (first since 1996)
Northern Harrier - 4 (highest number since 1961)
Red-tailed Hawk - 72 (highest since 1989)
Ring-necked Pheasant - 1 (first since 1994)
Long-eared Owl - 12 (highest since 1961)
Short-eared Owl - 9 (highest since 1951)
American Pipit - 1 (sixth record for the count)
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| Record Highs |
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Mute Swan - 157 (126 in 1996)
Greater Scaup - 5482 (3969 in 1972)
Peregrine Falcon - 5 (ties 1999 count)
American Coot - 8 (3 in 1997, 1998, and 1999)
Iceland Gull - 11 (8 in 1999)
Glaucous Gull - 20 (9 in 1992)
Northern Cardinal - 394 (392 in 1998)
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| Unusual Lows |
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Canada Goose - 1698 (lowest since 1989)
Common Merganser - 71 (lowest since 1987)
Red-breasted Merganser - 41 (lowest since 1988)
Great Horned Owl - 2 (lowest since 1971)
Blue Jay - 73 (lowest since 1985)
Black-capped Chickadee - 735 (lowest since 1988)
White-breasted Nuthatch - 37 (lowest since 1984)
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Summary
This is a report for the 75th annual Toronto Christmas Bird Count, held on Sunday December 27, 1999.
| Highlights |
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Heermann's Gull - 1 (new for the count)
Tufted Titmouse - 1 (new for the count)
Barred Owl - 1 (second record since 1983)
Hairy Woodpecker - 65 (highest since 1965)
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 49 (third highest ever)
Rusty Blackbird - 1 (third record this decade)
Pine Siskin - 90 (highest since 1987)
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| Record Highs |
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Redhead - 2301 (1108 in 1998)
Peregrine Falcon - 5 (2 in 1995)
Downy Woodpecker - 179 (162 in 1958)
Pileated Woodpecker - 8 (6 in 1962 and 1994)
White-breasted Nuthatch - 222 (214 in 1997)
Northern Mockingbird - 14 (13 in 1998)
Brown Thrasher - 2 (ties with 1973 and 1976)
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| Unusual Lows |
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Red-breasted Merganser - 49 (lowest since 1991)
American Tree Sparrow - 89 (lowest since 1990)
Song Sparrow - 27 (lowest since 1993)
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