Long Point Christmas Bird Count 2024

Photo (above): Sandhill cranes in flight (photo by Larry Monczka)

Report by Stu Mackenzie

The 64th Long Point Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was held on Saturday December 14. This count includes the Long Point Family Winter Bird Count and the traditional formalized count. The count covers a ~24-kilometre circle centered on the lighthouse south of St. Williams.

Over 120 participants surveyed sixteen territories in the count circle, dedicating 154 hours in the field, covering 400 km by car and more than 140 km on foot. Together we counted an astounding 40,556 birds of 112 species tying the fourth highest species count ever!

Counts were on par with the most recent 10-year average of ~42,000 birds of 107 species, and well above the long-term average of 29,543 of 102 species. Highlights are summarized below which include a number of record high and low counts, and a few interesting species.

Generally mild conditions in the first half of December kept a good number and diversity of birds lingering in the area. Cold temperatures and calm conditions in the days immediately leading up to the count caused the Inner Bay to mostly freeze, and most small ponds and wetlands to freeze tight. Springs and creeks remained open.

Conditions on count day began relatively cool with temperatures around -4°C, but with brisk easterly winds making it feel like -10°C or colder throughout the day. By late afternoon temperatures rose to approximately 2°C, with small isolated flurries. All in all it was a fairly typical December day at Long Point.

Mild late fall conditions up until the week before the count allowed for some species to persist longer than they normally would evidenced by a number of lingering shorebirds (Killdeer, Dunlin, Wilson’s Snipe and American Woodcock (2)), a Marsh Wren, the 3rd highest total for Ruby-crowned Kinglets with 10 observed, 4th highest total for Golden-crowned Kinglet (225) and the bird of the day, the first Brown Thrasher since 2007 !

We were lucky to have light snow cover which helped to concentrate some songbirds. The Long Point CBC mainstay, waterfowl, continued their reign contributing to 55% of the total numbers on the count, and 24% of the diversity. Mallards demonstrated an incredible concentration near the mouth of Big Creek in particular resulting in the highest total ever of 9,512. As has been the case for the past decade or so, Sandhill Cranes stole the show with a record-breaking 10,044 recorded in the count area, the vast majority observed going into roost on the ice at dusk.

Since the count started in 1960, volunteers have contributed more than 8,500 hours counting more than 1.75 million birds of 213 species. A very special thank you to all the landowners that allowed volunteers to survey their property.

The Long Point Family Winter Bird Count was made possible thanks to TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. Special thanks to the Long Point Biosphere Region for their assistance and sponsoring lunch provided by Old Tyme Deli, Vortex Canada for donating prizes, Armstrong Bird Food and Doerksen’s Country Store for keeping our feeders stocked.

A very special thanks to our dedicated volunteers listed below, and to Valley Heights Secondary School Cafe, Emma Buck, and Ruth Frost for their help with wrap-up setup, meal preparations and cleanup.

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is North America’s oldest standardized census providing valuable information on the early winter distribution and abundance of birds throughout the Western Hemisphere. It is also a vital outreach and birder/naturalist recruitment tool, and has become a proud holiday tradition for many.

Data from CBC are used to assess the State of Canada’s Birds. The CBC in Canada is coordinated by Birds Canada in partnership with the National Audubon Society.

CBC Participants and Volunteers:

Alison Abel, David Agro, Claire Atheron, Gregor Beck, Jack Bellegham, Brendan Boyd, Michael Bradstreet, John Brett, Cynthia Brink, George Bryant, Emma Buck, Ken and Jim Burrell, Kyle Cameron, John Carson, Peter Carson, Jamie Cockburn, Joe Cronin, Christian Friis, Matt Fuirst, Joseph Gabriel, Mary Gartshore, Daniel Geisbrecht, Paula Gent, Ted Gent, Jenn Geyde, Callum Gibson, Barb and Doug Gilbert, Eric Giles, Kevin Kavanagh, Audrey Heagy, Kyle Horner, Keith Hunter, Barry Jones, Bill and Sarah Lamond, James Lees, John Lounds, Lucas Liu, Stu Mackenzie, Samreen Munim, Kevin Norbury, David Okines, Ryan Ogilvie, Eila O’Niel, Cheryl, Scott and Zach Peck, Josh Pickering, Lynn Post, Ron Ridout, Aaron Rusak, Lydia, Ed Ruttle, Diane Salter, Sarah Sharp, Laurie Sherrit, Evan and John Sinclair, Bob Stamp, Liam Thorne, Adam and Matt Timpf, Doug and Elsa Tozer, Camryn Vestby, Graham, Karen and Ross Wood.

Long Point Bird Observatory and Birds Canada offer this land acknowledgment in recognition of the Indigenous peoples and communities on whose lands the Long Point Christmas Bird Count occur. Long Point is part of the traditional territories of the Attawandaron, Haudenosaunee, and Anishinaabe peoples, and show respect to the communities of the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and the Mississaugas of the Credit whose Treaty lands include the Long Point World Biosphere Reserve.

Indigenous peoples have long inhabited these lands, which are still home to diverse First Nations. Long Point Bird Observatory and Birds Canada understand that Indigenous voices, knowledge, and ongoing work on the land are critical for wild birds to thrive in sustainable ecosystems. We support the needs, aspirations, and rights of Indigenous peoples to care for the land.

We are privileged to have Indigenous volunteers and researchers as a regular part of our program, and welcome visitors from many Indigenous communities in the Western Hemisphere. We are committed to increasing that participation and collaboration, and Birds Canada has formed an Indigenous Engagement Committee to help us do ever better. We hope that, through birds and shared love of nature, we can come together in a spirit of respect and reconciliation across the Western Hemisphere.

Count Highlights:

Trumpeter Swan (Photo by Jan Grincevicius)

Double-crested Cormorant – Highest ever count of 8.

Great Blue Heron – 2nd highest count of 40.

Trumpeter Swan – Highest ever count of 14.

Mute Swan – Highest ever count of 359.

Mallard – Highest ever count of 9,512. Up to 8,000 in the area surrounding the mouth of Big Creek alone.

Redhead and Canvasback – Lower numbers due to freeze-up of the Inner Bay.

Northern Harrier – 54 were observed – decent numbers lingering in the wetlands and a noticeable migration during the day.

Red-shouldered Hawk – First time absent from the count since 2020.

Rough-legged Hawk – Similar to harriers, there was a noticeable movement with 18 observed.

Golden Eagle – One was observed throughout the count area. The first since 2017.

Short-eared Owl – First observed since 2017 at the Long Point Crown Marsh Trail.

Sandhill Crane – Highest count ever with 10,044 estimated.

Dunlin – One lingering bird was observed at Hastings Dr.

Wilson’s Snipe – One lingering bird was observed on The Causeway.

American Woodcock – Two were flushed in low lying areas during the count.

Carolina Wren – Highest total ever of 51. Recent mild winters would have increased the survival of this typically more southern species.

Brown Thrasher – Bird of the day! The first on the count since 2007 was observed along Deidrick Creek.

American Pipit – 99 were observed. The 2nd highest total ever behind 199 observed in 2016.

European Starling – 2nd lowest total ever with only 61 observed.

Lapland Longspur – First on the count since 2016.

Common Grackle – Lowest total ever with only 5 recorded.

Count week:

A group of 4 Greater White-fronted Geese were observed in the days leading up to the count in St. Williams, and after the count near The Coves). A Sanderling was at Gravelly Bay December 11 (EG).