2020-2021 Christmas Bird Counts

Authors

Don Paseka, Nebraska Ornithologists' Union

Date of this Version

3-2021

Citation

The Nebraska Bird Review Vol. 89 No. 1, pp. 18-20 & 29-40.

Comments

Published by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union, Inc.

Abstract

Fourteen counts were run during the 2020-2021 CBC season, ten of which were run in the period December 14 through December 22. The other four were done December 28 or later. The weather was generally cooperative with little snow cover and some open water. While there were no weather issues that resulted in cancellation or postponement, four counts, Crawford, Harrison, Harlan County, and Omaha, were cancelled over concerns for the Covid situation. It would be expected that running fewer counts would have a noticeable negative impact on this year’s species count and overall numbers. The Harrison and Crawford counts usually produce some good western species although not in huge numbers. With the revival of the Harlan count in recent years, it has become a very productive circle for both waterfowl and land birds. The Omaha count had not been cancelled before in any of the years that this analysis covers going back to 1963, and it has consistently provided good numbers for the species expected along the Missouri River in the eastern end of the state. It is somewhat surprising that this year’s total of 136 species is close to the ten-year average. However, the total number of individual birds, 174,549, was the lowest number since 2009, a year which had many weather issues and only fourteen counts completed. Twenty-one species were found in all circles, compared to four last year. This is probably the only positive aspect of having four counts cancelled. Twenty-eight species were found in only one circle and thirteen of those were single birds. Eight species set new high counts including the first ever two Lesser Goldfinch which were found at Lake McConaughy. ...