2017 CBC summary

2017 Skagway CBC -- Saturday, 16 December

Summary

Our count day weather was more typical of a September day. After two weeks of a strong pineapple express with temps as high as 53 F, all snow and ice had long since thawed except at high elevation. Over the pass and into the Canadian interior, road conditions were hazardous with black ice.

Due to the crazy weather and other concerns, all five of our Canadian regulars and three of our local regulars were unable to participate in this count. Fortunately, we had 5 new local participants and one out-of-town visitor to help fill out our crew. Still, our effort was lower than normal for this count. Twelve field observers covered 7 field routes, and 4 feeders were watched by 5 people.

Our count day total was 28 species. One additional species was seen during our count week, for a week total of 29. Total number of individual birds on count day came to 843.

Some notable birds included 2 American Dippers, one in Skagway and one in Dyea; a Pacific Loon and a Red-necked Grebe; 2 White-winged Scoters; and 4 hardy American Robins.

Small flocks of Bohemian Waxwings, Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins were seen. 84 Pine Grosbeaks were recorded and flagged as a higher than normal quantity. Up near the pass, 8 Ptarmigan sp. were observed.

Our Eurasian Collard-Doves have become a resident population, 16 were seen on count day and flagged as a high count. One of those was seen on the AB hillside - they have not often been seen on the hillside away from the town center; one had been observed in Dyea in summer of 2015. After the bird count and to the end of December, a number of observations were recorded of mating behavior, eggs, and juveniles.

- Elaine

species list below - for detailed table of results, see "results by year" at bottom