News Release
Eagle Nature Foundation, Ltd.
300 East Hickory Street, Apple River, IL 61001
Phone: 815-594-2306 Fax: 815-594-2305 Web Site: eaglenature.com
e-mail: eaglenature.tni@juno.com Tax Exempt No. 36-4015400
| For Immediate Release | December 26, 2018 |
Christmas Bird Count Results Announced
Apple River, IL) The results of the 2018 Jo Daviess County National Audubon Society ‘s Christmas Bird Count have been announced by Terrence Ingram, the compiler. This count is actually conducted within a 15 mile diameter circle that has a center at Schapville. This count has been conducted every year since 1966 when two people, Dale Carlson and Mr. Ingram, conducted the first count. These two people on the first count recorded 1,574 birds of 18 species. This year the count was conducted by 21 individuals divided into six teams. These individuals were all members of the Eagle Nature Foundation and/or the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation. The six teams recorded only 2,593 birds of 48 different species.
Over the years as many as 84 different bird species have been recorded on this count. Some years close to 6,000 birds have been counted. But now many birds are missing, especially near the farm fields where almost no birds were seen. When the first count was conducted, Apple Canyon Lake and Galena Territory were not even on the planning board. Both of these areas were just farms with pastures and fence rows. Now most of the fence rows have been removed from the crop land, so there is no habitat left for the birds near the farm fields. At least with both of these land developments, the agricultural spraying is some distance away and the trees and bushes are left, so some birds have been able to survive.
The pheasants which used to be common along these fence rows were absent except for a couple of male birds that were seen near a captive flock. The 16 wild turkeys were only seen in two locations, whereas in 2003 a total of 334 turkeys were counted. Only 58 red-tailed hawks were counted this year compared to 184 in 1995. Only 4 rough-legged hawks were counted compared to 36 in 1983. Only 63 pigeons were counted compared to 460 in 1996. Only 67 mourning doves were counted this year compared to 477 in 2004. Three red-headed woodpeckers were counted this year compared to 17 in 1981. Only 77 blue jays were counted this year compared to 281 in 2004. Only 25 horned larks, another field bird, were counted this year compared to 436 in 1999. Only 15 robins were counted this year compared to 821 in 1983. Only 72 cedar waxwings were counted this year compared to 750 in 1993. Only 52 American tree sparrows were counted this year compared to 1083 in 1981. Only 230 dark-eyed juncos were counted this year compared to 1536 in 2011. Only 48 cardinals were counted this year compared to 640 in 1968. Only 63 goldfinches were counted this year compared to 500 in 1966. Last but not least were house sparrows, where 262 were counted this year compared to 1800 in 1971.
Other birds that were seen on this year’s count include: 324 Canadian geese, 25 mallards, 2 great blue herons, 1 northern harrier, 20 bald eagles, 4 Eurasian collared doves, 1 great horned owl, 8 belted kingfishers, 17 red-bellied woodpeckers, 44 downy woodpeckers, 12 hairy woodpeckers, 3 pileated woodpeckers, 1 northern shrike, 230 crows, 95 black-capped chickadees, 23 tufted titmouse, 13 red-breasted nuthatches, 57 white-breasted nuthatches, 5 brown creepers, 1 carolina wren, 47 bluebirds, 439 starlings, 1 yellow-rumped warbler, 3 white-throated sparrows, 1 song sparrow, 72 house finches, 83 purple finches, 1 pine siskin, and 1 Eurasian tree sparrow.
A person can see that the habitat destruction of clearing the fence rows, waterways, and small woodlands is having a devastating effect on the bird life in the area, which is combined with the poisonous sprays, such as Roundup, that the farmers are using on their crop land. Both of these actions have got to be stopped before we lose many of the bird species that have been here for years.
Mr. Ingram used to use the results of this bird count to predict the kind of weather we were going to have for the rest of the winter. Because this year there were few summer birds counted and few winter birds sighted, he predicts that the rest of the winter is going to be basically average. But for the above mentioned reasons the number of birds that were seen are only those which have survived, so those numbers may not reflect anything this year.
For more information contact: Terrence N. Ingram, Exec. Director, Eagle Nature Foundation, 300 East Hickory St., Apple River, IL 61001 Phone 815-594-2306