Citizen Science: Bird count gives researchers hot data even in freezing cold

Audubon Christmas Bird Counts contribute valuable citizen science about winter bird populations — and they can be a lot of fun. But even your "Bird's-Eye View" columnists wondered what we were doing standing alongside the icy.

New River in 5-degree temperatures a month ago. Yet, there we were participating voluntarily in a count that covered the Mount Jefferson-New River area in Ashe County.

The count had been postponed because of snow two weeks earlier. On Jan. 3, there was still snow cover, and it was even colder. Ron and I knew we could be in for a tough day, when we first eyed about 20 Canada geese on a frozen shoal as chunks of ice flowed past. Our route took us along unpaved Bill Bledsoe Road, but the road was clear and off we went to find more birds.

At first, we just stayed in the car as we scanned for bird activity. Other than large numbers of crows overhead, we saw little until we arrived at one of our favorite birding spots along the river. We left the warm car — prepared for the worst. We wore several layers of clothing, including ski caps, scarves and gloves. The area is sheltered, though, and the wind was tolerable as we walked along the road.

We did not know whether many birds would be out and about. Would they come out to eat or would they just hunker down somewhere? In a few minutes, we discovered signs of life. First, it was four eastern bluebirds sitting in a tree with feathers fluffed out. Then it was a red-tailed hawk soaring overhead looking for a mouse or a rabbit. A few minutes later, Ron scared up a hard-to-find game bird called a ruffed grouse.

Further down Bill Bledsoe, feeders at a house were getting some action, but a large flock of birds had more interest in wild seed along the road. It was a mixed group that included juncos, house finches, white-throated and white-crowned sparrows, cardinals and more.

It was a balmy 15 degrees or so as we reached Fulton Reeves Road farther along the river. As I searched brush along the bank, a large bird flew from a nearby tree. I was surprised to see a broad-winged hawk. We see hundreds at Pilot Mountain during September migration, but now this bird should have been in Central or South America. Interestingly, Ron and other birders from Winston-Salem had seen one about nine miles away a few days earlier on another Christmas count. Perhaps this was the same bird.

After warming up at a local restaurant, we ventured out again in the afternoon. Although we saw many of the usual suspects, our highlight had to be Ron's spotting of an eastern screech owl watching us from a tree cavity. With that, we had reached a total of 34 species on our frozen jaunt. Crows were the most common, accounting for more than a third of the birds that we saw. Four other counters discovered 14 additional species for a respectable mountain total of 48 for the day.

A key to winter birding is being adequately dressed and prepared for the weather. We were, and it turned out to be an enjoyable outing.

The Forsyth County Christmas Bird Count was held a day earlier. Fifty-five counters found 77 species and more than 14,000 individual birds. Uncommon count sightings included a wild turkey and a fish-eating bird called a double-crested cormorant. Starlings and ring-billed gulls were the most common, with most feeding at our local landfill.

This year's Great Backyard Bird Count is Feb. 12-15. Count birds at home or local parks and report your findings at http://birdsource.org/gbbc/. On Feb. 13, Tanglewood is having a family-oriented program at the Administration Office/Nature Education Department on Nature Trail Drive from 10 a.m. to noon with an early walk at 9:30 a.m. Call 778-6334 for more information. There will be guided walks and displays. Admission to the Nature Education Department is free, but a $2 per-car fee applies to the rest of the park. In Bethania, the visitor center is the starting point for a guided walk, also at 9:30 a.m. Or meet at 9 a.m. at the Salem Lake marina for the regular Audubon Second Saturday walk. For information on Bethania or Salem Lake, contact me at pdickins@gmail.com.

Bird's-Eye View is a joint column by Ron Morris and Phil Dickinson. Today's column was written by Dickinson. Dickinson is a legal writer. He has been an active birder for 15 years, and is a past president of the Audubon Society of Forsyth County and is chairman of the conservation committee. Morris retired after 24 years as curator at the N.C. Zoo. He has studied birds around the world and is currently the vice president of the Audubon Society of Forsyth County. If you have a birding question or story idea, write to Bird's-Eye View in care of Features, Winston-Salem Journal, P.O. Box 3159, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27101-3159, or send an e-mail to birding@wsjournal.com. Please type "birds" in the subject line.