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years old tradition The Daily Item
By Connie Mertz
For The Daily Item
For 112 years, the National Audubon Society has conducted an annual Christmas Bird Count which makes it a long running citizenscience survey group on the planet. Thousands of volunteers across North America brave winter's weather for just one day, from the predawn hours,canada goose jakke, to compile bird sightings.
"The data collected from the CBC allows researchers,parajumpers jakke salg, conservation biologists along with other interested visitors to read the longterm health insurance and status of bird populations across North America. When combined with other surveys, such as the Breeding Bird Survey, it provides a picture of how the continent's bird populations have changed over time and space in the last century," stated Dan Brauning, Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Diversity Division chief.
One of the CBC's count circles is Bloomsburg, including Montour Preserve.
"Our local count is just a stop by the bucket compared to the problem of the northeast or perhaps North America," Jon Beam, senior naturalist in the preserve, said. "However, the data demonstrates population trends.
"The data indicates where unusual birds are turning up,parajumpers," noted Beam.
Gross also said that the annual data monitors wintering birds as well.
The warmer weather this fall allowed for additional waterfowl sightings due to the fact Lake Chillisquaque was all open water.
"The mild weather has not pushed some birds south into Pennsylvania that usually show up this time around of the year. Notable examples are roughlegged hawks,www.fairhomeinteriors.ca/archives/1959, however the mild weather provided us sightings of the goldeneye, hooded and common mergansers, ruddy ducks, not to mention, black ducks, mallards and Canada geese," Beam added.
Once more two bald eagles were seen on Montour Preserve for the CBC, as well as doublecrested cormorants.
While winter may seem an offseason to determine bird species, you will find advantages, based on Gross. With binoculars and guide books in hand, birds are simpler to spot in leafless trees thus making it easier for the amateur bird watcher, including children.
"Birders find out more about habitat associations and the worth of cover and food sources to birds, such as winterberry, rose hips and sumac," he said.
Within the last several years, bluebirds happen to be sighted. "Some bluebirds still do migrate, but often males will tough the winter here. They find egg masses, insect pupa and even adult insects on warmer days. Several bluebirds will roost together during the night either in an all natural cavity or a nest box to keep warm," Beam commented.
Even some robins remain rather than migrate. According to Beam they prefer woodlands where they feed on berries. Gross adds that always bluebirds, hermit thrushes and robins in many cases are spotted where wild fruits can be found.
So what are the 10 most common wintering birds in Central Pennsylvania? Beam admits they can change from year upon year, but they are primarily Canada goose, European starling, mallard, mourning dove, downy woodpecker, blackcapped chickadee, tufted titmouse, darkeyed junco, Eastern bluebird and blue jay.
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