*74th Pickering CBC – December 28, 2022* We held our 74th Christmas Bird Count for Pickering on Wednesday December 28, 2022. The count was sponsored by Pickering Naturalists. A total of 65 species were tallied, somewhat lower than our ten-year average of 69.5 species. The highest count of the past decade was 83 species on the 2020 CBC. This year, there were 31 field observers and 11 watchers at 9 feeders, substantially less than our record of 51 observers in 2018. These participants tallied 29,447 individual birds, 60% more than last year and our third highest tally of the last 18 years. Our 16 teams were birding hard all day, and put in 92 hours of highly focused bird watching effort (including about 71 km of walking in 53 hours, and 639 km of driving in 38 hours). Weather was quite mild overall. The ground was snow covered to a depth of ~~5 cm, with some snowless patches in open areas. We were relieved to be spared the “possible freezing drizzle” that had been malevolently forecast by meteorologists. Temperatures on the day ranged from +1.1 C at daybreak to a high of +3.2 at 3 pm. Skies were cloudy up to about 11:30 am, then became mainly sunny from about 12:30 to 2:30 pm, before reverting to mostly cloudy for the rest of the day. Unsheltered areas experienced fairly strong winds from the southwest to SSW of 17 to 30 km/hr all day, gusting to 42. Creeks were open and flowing but ponds were frozen, aside from those tempting sewer outfalls. Since the beginning of the count in 1949, a total of 154 species have been recorded. No additional species were added on this year’s CBC (but see below re count week species). This was our highest-ever count for Trumpeter Swan – 58 (previous high of 47 in 2019), Cooper’s Hawk – 11 (previous high 9 in 2019), Red-bellied Woodpecker (previous high of 28 in 2017), and European Starling – 4590 (previous high of 4003 in 2019). The count for Double-crested Cormorant (1) ties our record-high (only seen on 5 previous counts and not observed since 2006). The counts for Red-breasted Nuthatch (34), American Robin (1297) and Northern Cardinal (232) were our second-highest ever. Tallies for Red-breasted Nuthatch and Northern Cardinal were well above the 10-year averages (20.3 and 126.4, respectively). As for robins, most of them (1008) were in large flocks flying towards an apparent roost at dusk. For Common Loon, this was our third record, and the first time 2 birds were seen. This CBC also marks our fourth year for Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – and, once again, the first record of 2 birds. We also had our third-highest for Mute Swan – 130 (maximum was 157 in 2020 – an alarming increase for this invasive species), Red-breasted Merganser – 318 (highest since 2011, maximum was 603 in 2011) and White-throated Sparrow – 37 (more than double the 10-year average of 16.8. Unusual species for this year’s CBC included Harlequin Duck – 1 (only seen on 4 previous counts, and not observed since 2008), Lesser Scaup – 1 (only seen on 8 previous counts), Merlin – 2 (only seen on 9 previous counts) and Great Horned Owl – 1 (not seen since 2016). Species seen in low numbers included Wild Turkey – 24 (well below our 10-year average of 63.1) and Golden-crowned Kinglet – 1 (one of the lowest tallies since1964, well below our 10-year average of 4.9 and perhaps related to the (ahem) “mature” auditory systems of many of our observers (present company included)). Our most notable miss for this year’s CBC was Barred Owl (seen on 8 of the last 10 counts). A number of our count week species (see full list below) were notable misses on count day – especially Glaucous Gull (seen almost annually since 1970, aside from 3 complete misses and 1 count-week-only-record), Northern Mockingbird (seen on every count since 1987, aside from 2 complete misses and 3 count-week-only-records) and Cedar Waxwing (only missed 3 times since 1970). Remarkably, almost a score of species were seen during count week, but were not found on the CBC day itself. These 18 Not Ready for Prime Time species (which refused to show themselves on the big day) were: Canvasback, Redhead, White-winged Scoter, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Ruffed Grouse, Bald Eagle, American Coot, Killdeer, Glaucous Gull, Eastern Screech-Owl, Hermit Thrush, Northern Mockingbird, both Bohemian and Cedar Waxwings, Swamp Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird and Evening Grosbeak. Barrow’s Goldeneye has never been seen on our CBC count day, and this is the first time it has been reported during count week. Thanks to those observers who reported sightings for these species – and to Rosemary Oliver – who heard the ESOW screeching in the wee small hours! The Pickering CBC was initiated by Dr. J. Murray Speirs on Jan. 2, 1949. The count area extends from the shores of Lake Ontario north to the Oak Ridges moraine. It is centred at latitude 43.902 degrees north, and longitude 79.097 degrees west. The CBC area incorporates the neighbouring community of Ajax, as well as portions of Lynde Shores Conservation Area, including part of Cranberry Marsh, in Durham Region. Please visit our website at www.pickeringnaturalists.org for more information on the club. A very large thank-you all of the field counters and feeder watchers. We also send our appreciation to Dan Shire and Karen McKillop, who put together the final figures and completed data entry, and to Carolyn King, who communicated with observers, provided much additional research, and analyzed enough spread sheets to reach from Pickering to Rankin Inlet*. *This year’s compilation, including responsibility for any misplaced top secret species files, tweets of avian disinformation, and breeches of the ornithologists’code of conduct, is entirely the fault of yours truly. Sorry for the late posting, Steve LaForest, Pickering Naturalists