On December 26, 1999, 40 hearty individuals met
and then dispersed to five assigned areas of Boyce/Mayview park in
order to count and record the winter bird species present that
day. The weather was windy, very gray and overcast with
temperatures in the mid to high 20's, and a 14 degree wind-chill
factor. Participants were all skill levels regarding bird
recognition. It was a great opportunity for those of us
learning the habitats and identity of birds. Watch for future
information regarding bird counts in the year 2000. We
continue our preparation to initiate an Audubon bird circle in the
Pittsburgh south hills.
It was a bitterly cold December 26, 1998 morning
when the first annual CLS Christmas Bird Count took place in
Boyce/Mayview Park and PennDot wetlands. Under the tutelage of local
expert Bill Judd, 29 hearty volunteers took to the trails to count the
birds in this daylong census. The clear, sunny sky finally pushed the
sub 20s temperatures into the low 30s by afternoon.
As this was the first wintertime count of bird
populations in this multi-habitat natural area, there was no recorded
base line data. This count will form the basis for future comparisons,
the first step in an ongoing monitoring process. Along with the
expected species, counted at Boyce/Mayview, were several less regular
species of special note. An American kestrel (a small falcon), a
Pileated Woodpecker, a Brown Creeper, an Eastern Phoebe, a Northern
Mockingbird, 2 Belted Kingfishers, and several Purple Finch, were
spotted, as were 3 Common Redpoll (a not-so-common boreal visitor). In
a year of unusual weather fluctuations, the presence of warm weather
species as well as irregular northern migrants was anticipated. The
Chickadee , Northern cardinal, American robin, American crow, Dark-eyed
junco, and House finch, all winter regulars, were the most numerous of
the day. For a complete list of all bird species counted, see the table.
Thirty-six (36) species were counted. This is a
significant number of species for a relatively small area
(Boyce/Mayview Park and wetland). The unofficial total for the
Pittsburgh area Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count Circle (a
fifteen-mile diameter circle) is 62 species.
This first Christmas Bird Count, with
experienced and novice counters sharing the desire to join in and find
out what is flying in our parkland, was a great success. It
substantiated birding specialists’ designation of this park
as a “significant birding area of Allegheny
County.” In addition, the participation and interest in the
event will help the CLS’s work to establish a National
Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count Circle in the South Hills. And,
what will we find next year? The comparisons will tell much about the
natural world of the birds we enjoy so much.
