Last Sunday seventy-three volunteers spent the morning counting birds in Central Park for the 113th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count – the longest running wildlife survey in the world. The count produced further evidence of this year’s large-scale southward irruption of birds from Canada’s boreal forests, where cone crops failed this year.
The total number of birds in 2012 was higher than 2011, with the addition of several species unusual to the area. Species of note include 2 Common Redpolls and 4 White-winged Crossbills. The number of Tufted Titmice doubled since last year.
Central Park, one of Audubon’s Important Bird Areas, is a critical stop for birds along the Atlantic Flyaway, and as many as 275 species can be found there during spring migration.
According to Audubon’s chief scientist Gary Langham, “Data from the Audubon Christmas Bird Count are at the heart of hundreds of peer reviewed scientific studies and inform decisions by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of the Interior, and the EPA. Because birds are early indicators of environmental threats to habitats we share, this is a vital survey of North American and, increasingly, the Western Hemisphere.”
Ornithologist Frank Chapman initiated the count at a time when slaughtering birds for hats was the fashion. Sprawl, development, loss of wetlands and climate change are the current threats.
The count is initiating several changes to attract greater participation, such as eliminating fees, going digital, offering the on-line information in Spanish, and extending observation year-round.
See the full list of birds by species here.
Follow CentralPark.com on Pinterest to see the Birds of Central Park.
Read the original article here.