Big Day Bird Count 2005
On Saturday, May 14, Greenbrook conducted its Big Day Bird Count 2005. Hiking the 6-½ miles of sanctuary trails, staff and members searched from dawn until dusk for resident and migrant species.
The count, yielding a total of 85 species—15 more than last year—was more in-line with Greenbrook’s normal totals and was a perfect example of how results can differ from year-to-year. While several notable birds from the 2004 count were missing this year: peregrine falcon, great horned owl and pileated woodpecker, their absence was more than compensated for by greater representation among the sparrows, vireos, shorebirds and other groups. There were four species of sparrows in 2005—only two last year. Four different vireo species were tallied this year as opposed to only two in 2004. Perhaps the most glaring difference was the inclusion of three species of shorebirds on the 2005 count: greater yellowlegs, spotted sandpiper, and solitary sandpiper. There were no shorebirds on the 2004 list. Other birds seen were a green heron, an osprey, a winter wren, sharp-shinned and broad-winged hawks, and a very late brown creeper.
As is the case every year, both staff and members had a great time on what has become one of Greenbrook’s most popular programs.
Big Day is part of the International Migratory Bird Day and is celebrated annually on the second Saturday in May. Greenbrook has been a longtime participant and submits its count totals each year. The table below is the final species list for Big Day 2005.
Double-crested cormorant
Green heron
Mute swan
Canada goose
Wood duck
Mallard
Turkey vulture
Osprey
Sharp-shinned hawk
Broad-winged hawk
Red-tailed hawk
Wild turkey
Greater yellowlegs
Solitary sandpiper
Spotted sandpiper
Ring-billed gull
Herring gull
Great black-backed gull
Rock dove
Mourning dove
Yellow-billed cuckoo
Red-bellied woodpecker
Downy woodpecker
Hairy woodpecker
Northern flicker
Eastern wood-pewee
Eastern phoebe
Great crested flycatcher
Tree swallow
Northern rough-winged swallow
Barn swallow
Cedar waxwing
Carolina wren
Winter wren
Gray catbird
Northern mockingbird
Veery
Gray-cheeked thrush
Swainson's thrush
Hermit thrush
Wood thrush
American robin
Black-capped chickadee
Tufted titmouse
White-breasted nuthatch
Brown creeper
Blue jay
American crow
Yellow-throated vireo
Blue-headed vireo
Warbling vireo
Red-eyed vireo
Nashville warbler
Northern parula
Yellow warbler
Chestnut-sided warbler
Magnolia warbler
Black-throated blue warbler
Yellow-rumped warbler
Black-throated green warbler
Blackburnian warbler
Blackpoll warbler
Black-and-white warbler
American redstart
Worm-eating warbler
Ovenbird
Northern waterthrush
Louisiana waterthrush
Common yellowthroat
Wilson's warbler
Canada warbler
Scarlet tanager
Eastern towhee
Chipping sparrow
Song sparrow
Swamp sparrow
White-throated sparrow
Northern cardinal
Rose-breasted grosbeak
Red-winged blackbird
Common grackle
Brown-headed cowbird
Baltimore oriole
House finch
American goldfinch
— 85 species seen—
