ASWP Birding
Pittsburgh CBC 2003 Results
2003 Data Table (PDF, 45k)
The complete results of the 2003 Pittsburgh CBC, listed by species and count area.
Summary
By Jim Valimont. Pittsburgh, PA, 40o 30' 48" N, 79o 58' 50" W, center near junction of Anderson and Hahn Roads, ca. 1.33 miles SW of Glenshaw, as described in 1966; elevation 710' to 1370'. December 27, 2003, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Cold and mostly clear in the morning, mild and partly cloudy in the afternoon. Temperature 20 to 42oF. Winds 0-5 mph. Snow cover – none to one inch. Ponds frozen, rivers open and small streams mostly open. 115 observers, 87 in 40 parties, 36 at feeders. Total party-hours: 169 (150 by foot, 19 by car), 78 at feeders, 10 owling. Total party-miles: 399 (123 on foot, 276 by car), 20 owling.
Total: 61 species, 20,870 individuals.
The day began cold and mostly clear and warmed considerably with increasing clouds toward the end of the day. The temperature climbed from 20 to 42°F. 20,870 birds were counted, over two thousand more than our ten-year average of 18,433. We found a total of 61 species, which is six below our average over the past ten years. Participation was slightly lower than last year.
Noteworthy sightings:
- One Double-crested Cormorant remained on count day, despite the high water conditions, from a flock of six seen earlier in the week. John Roell, and Jim and Matthew Gray found this bird on the Ohio River at McKees Rocks.
- Our total of 1,435 Mallards was the lowest since 1984. I'm not sure if this was due to the swift high water on the rivers or the enforcement of feeding restrictions in many of the local parks.
- A Northern Harrier, seen by David Liebmann, Brian Shema, and the rest of the Fox Chapel group, was well documented in a field above Trillium Trail.
- Joyce Hoffmann and Dave Wilton found a single Red-shouldered Hawk in Shaler Township.
- 83 Red-tailed Hawks were just short of last year's new record of 85. This large raptor is possibly over-counted because of its easy visibility and mobility, but there is no doubt that it is the dominant raptor in our area at any time of year.
- Merlins have now been found in seven consecutive years.
- Peregrine Falcons were missed this year despite multiple attempts to find them in both downtown Pittsburgh and Oakland.
- A Barred Owl was located in Ohio Township by Paul Taiclet.
- Our count of 175 Downy Woodpeckers was the lowest total since 1964, while our count of 16 Pileated Woodpeckers was just two short of our count record.
- Last year, 3,117 American Crows set a new record thanks to a count at a roost in east Pittsburgh. This year, Ted Floyd and Steve Carbol counted over 9,000 leaving the same roost, helping to set a new record for this species at 10,060.
- Our total of all chickadees was the lowest total since 1964.
- 50 Eastern Bluebirds easily set a new record with 26 tallied in Indiana Township, 17 in North Park, and 7 in Hampton Township, showing that this northeast part of the count circle is a prime area for this species.
- A Gray Catbird in the Nine Mile Run area of Frick Park by Ted Floyd and Steve Carbol was the first seen in the count circle since 1988.
- It wasn't a new record, but our total of 24 Northern Mockingbirds was the second highest ever.
- Another great sighting in the Nine Mile Run area was a Brown Thrasher, again seen by Ted and Steve. 1990 was the last time that a Brown Thrasher was seen on the Pittsburgh CBC.
- 1,166 European Starlings was the lowest total recorded since 1963.
- Seven Eastern Towhees were the highest total recorded since 1995.
- Song Sparrows and White-throated Sparrows had their highest totals in over ten years.
- A White-crowned Sparrow found by Bernie Conley in Homewood Cemetery was a nice find, the first since 1995.
- The bird of the count was a Brewer's Blackbird found in Penn Hills on Lincoln Road near the entrance to Long Vue Country Club. Ron spotted the bird high in a sycamore tree with a small flock of starlings. He observed the bird for about 20 minutes until it flew off with the starlings. Several repeat visits later in the day failed to relocate the bird. This is a species that is probably often overlooked in our area, written off as just another starling when part of a large flock. This was a first record for this species in the Pittsburgh CBC. In 1998, an Euphagus blackbird was seen high in a tree in Oakmont by a group of observers, but because of poor light and the short duration of observation, it could not be identified to a particular species.
- Our total of 61 species is the lowest total since 1965, one less than the 62 species we had last year. The high water on the rivers contributed to a number of "misses," species that we normally would have expected to see. Among these were Pied-billed Grebes, Hooded Merganser, and other water birds. Field Sparrow was missed for the first time in the history of the count circle (since 1959). Numbers in the last decade have always been low and habitat has been declining, so missing this species at some time was almost inevitable.
Other birds found in count week, but not on count day, included Hooded Merganser, Peregrine Falcon, Swamp Sparrow, Pine Siskin, and Short-eared Owl! The Short-eared Owl was located in O'Hara Township by Dan Yagusic. Here's his description: "Around 4:00 PM this afternoon [Dec. 29], I went to visit my father's grave in St. Mary's Cemetery located in O'Hara Township. After I had finished my visit, Butterscotch [Dan's dog] and I walked to the new end of the cemetery, where they are filling in the valley. I no sooner got a pish out over the hill, when, from my left (40'), I saw a dark figure come up out of the scrub. It was an adult Short-eared Owl. He circled us again and again at a low altitude, allowing wonderful looks at the characteristic facial pattern, dark wrist marks, and those marvelous floppy wingbeats. After several minutes, the local crows discovered him, and chased him relentlessly until he was a mere dot in the sky. Funny thing, I had never found much at that cemetery besides a few bluebirds (and some solace). Today, however, was a true treat!"
Thanks again to all of the participants and special thanks to the count leaders for another job well done! Special thanks to Mike Fialkovich and Jack Solomon who organized and compiled the City of Pittsburgh portion of the bird count, which by itself is larger than most other Christmas Bird Counts.