 Although all major water bodies were open this year and free of ice, waterfowl species noted on the count were limited to Mallards, Black Ducks, Canada Geese, and Hooded Mergansers.  Only single Red-bellied Woodpeckers were observed on the 1995, 1996, and 1998 counts; by 2007, the number was up to 9. In 2008, it jumped to 20, and 2014 was the record high count of 39 individuals. Numbers each year fluctuate for a variety of reasons--change in the bird population, the amount of volunteer effort and expertise, weather conditions on the day of the count, etc. For whatever reason, only 23 Red-bellied Woodpeckers were noted this year. |  Considering that only 9 Tufted Titmouse were observed on the count in 1975, this year's tally of 178 demonstrates this species' expansion into the northeast over the past 40 years. Looking at all the counts since they began here, the highest number of titmouse was 339 in 2014.  Although the population of Northern Mockingbirds in the US overall is considered stable, the number being seen on our local CBC has declined since the 1980s. Interestingly, this species has been experiencing population decline in the southern part of its range while expanding northward to states like Massachusetts. No doubt his year's lower number--only 4--is partly due to last winter's brutal conditions, but what else is going on? |
 American Goldfinches and House Finches, the way we usually see them! |  A Black-capped Chickadee that is ambivalent about being seen and counted? More likely this one is practicing a good predator-aversion technique. There were 750 counted this year. Highest number seen/heard was in 1988 with 1,687 individuals. |