The 56th annual Athol Circle Christmas Bird count was held on December 16th, 2023. This hemisphere wide event is sponsored by the National Audubon Society and locally directed by the Athol Bird and Nature Club.
This year’s count broke the 2012 record of 70 species detected with a new high count of 72 species (plus 3 additional Count week birds) with a total of 10,328 individual birds counted. The mild fall, lots of water still unfrozen and an abundant natural food supply combined to have a diverse array of birds still in the local area. Many folks have been complaining that there are no birds coming to the feeders and we concur with that observation. Field teams noted the abundance of natural food sources in thickets and meadows, plus the abundant White Pine seeds resulted in high numbers of many species including Eastern Bluebirds, Juncos, Red Crossbills, and Pine Siskins. Notable birds included the first Pine Warblers on the count and the second occurrence of Red-breasted Merganser.
Canada Goose 302, Mallard 201, Am. Black Duck 3, Northern Pintail 3, Ring-necked Duck 27, Bufflehead 3, Common Goldeneye 9, Hooded Merganser 136, Common Merganser 373, Red-breasted Merganser 1, Common Loon 2, Ring-billed Gull 16, Herring Gull 21, Wild Turkey 19, Ruffed Grouse 1, Rock Pigeon 198, Mourning Dove 114, Northern Harrier 1, Sharp-shinned Hawk 4, Cooper’s Hawk 4, Bald Eagle 15, Red-shouldered Hawk 2, Red-tailed Hawk 16, Great Horned Owl 4, Barred Owl 4, Northern Saw-whet Owl 1, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1, Red-bellied Woodpecker 26, Downy Woodpecker 69, Hairy Woodpecker 28, Pileated Woodpecker 7, Northern Flicker 3, Blue Jay 267, American Crow 119, Common Raven 32, Gray Catbird 1, Northern Mockingbird 4, Eastern Bluebird 198, American Robin 113, Cedar Waxwing 217, Black-capped Chickadee 599, Tufted Titmouse 304, Red-breasted Nuthatch 22, White-breasted Nuthatch 146, Brown Creeper 22, Winter Wren 4, Carolina Wren 52, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet 116, Pine Warbler 3, Horned Lark 100, Snow Bunting 2, Field Sparrow 4, American Tree Sparrow 37, Fox Sparrow 2, Dark-eyed Junco 2644, White-throated Sparrow 392, Song Sparrow 64, Swamp Sparrow 6, Eastern Towhee 1, House Sparrow 467, House Finch 275, Purple Finch 7, Red Crossbill 53, White-winged Crossbill 8, Pine Siskin 877, American Goldfinch 442,Northern Cardinal 124, Red-winged Blackbird 123, Brown-headed Cowbird 11, Common Grackle 71, European Starling 898.
More than 40 members and friends of the Athol Bird and Nature Club participated in this year’s count. Birders who covered specific territories: Josh Rose, Jon Skinner, Ann Spring, Mark Taylor, Greg Watkevich, Jay and Bill Rasku, Jo-Ellen Harris, Bob Mallet, Ralene Williams, Jacob Morris-seigel, Bruce Scherer, Tom Pirro, John Henshaw, Steve Ferral, Chris Coyle, Dave Cass, Dale Monette, Steve Destefano, Jeff Johnstone, Jessica Johnstone-Darling, Ann Cerventes, Mark Morris, Chris Eddy , Mike Polana, James Mallet, Duane Truehart, Dave Small (compiler).
Back yard participants included: Katrina Walton, Lynn Harper, Beverly Taylor, Earl Baldwin, Morgan Ban Droai, Paul Goyetche, Bonnie House, Tom Henry, Anne Cutler-Russo, Deborah Vondal, Marti Harmon, Susan Paju, Heidi Strickland.
Many thanks to all that participated,