Col. Sam Smith Park Friends Boxing Day Bird Count Report
The weather was good for birding on Boxing Day 2021. Hundreds of families were enjoying the park paths.
This year we counted 38 species compared to 29 last year in poor weather.
Watchers added 14 birds to the count not seen in 2020.
The two new water birds are: Great Black-backed Gull and Northern Shoveler
New Land Birds:
European Starling, Brown-headed Cowbird, Pine Siskin, Northern Mockingbird, American Goldfinch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, American Wigeon, Rock Pigeon, White-throated Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow, and a new raptor, the Merlin.
The following birds are on the increase.
Mallard, Scaups, Long-tailed Duck, Gadwall, Northern Cardinal, and House Sparrow.
No Crows or Blue Jays were seen by observers.
12 counters participated this year.
FOSS has a Boxing Day Bird Count each year to get people out into the park and to determine changes in our birds which inhabit the park.
Thank you to all who participated.
Brian Keaveney
President FOSS