To the Editor:

As a follow-up to my letter in the Dec. 18 edition of The Enterprise, here is a brief summary of the results of the Schenectady Christmas Bird Count held Saturday, Dec. 20:

Thirty-one birders in nine field parties found 69 species in the 15-mile diameter count circle.

Highlights:  Wood Duck - 1, Northern Pintail - 4, Green-winged Teal - 1, Ring-necked Duck -1, Common Goldeneye - 9, Great Blue Heron - 8, Bald Eagle - only 1, Northern Harrier - 3, Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1, Rough-legged Hawk - 1, American Coot - 1 (fifth occurrence for this count), Black-backed Gull - 1, Eastern Screech-Owl - 10, Great Horned Owl - 3, Barred Owl - 1, Belted Kingfisher - 5, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1, American Kestrel - 1, Merlin - 3 (sixth occurrence).

Also: Peregrine Falcon - 1 (seventh occurrence), Fish Crow - 5, Common Raven - 3, Red-breasted Nuthatch - 7, Brown Creeper - 3, Carolina Wren - 22, Golden-crowned Kinglet - 3, Snow Bunting - 30, Common Yellowthroat - 1 (eighth occurrence), Swamp Sparrow - 1, Red-winged Blackbird - 4, Common Grackle - 1, Brown-headed Cowbird - 20, Purple Finch - 1, Pine Siskin - 1.  Finally, two species were added to the count composite: Black Vulture - 2, and Savannah Sparrow - 1.

A total of 138 species have been seen on the Schenectady Christmas Bird Count in its 85-year history.

Record high totals were found for the following species:  Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Merlin, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, and Dark-eyed Junco.

The total of 69 species is close to the count-high total of 70 species and is the highest total in the last seven years.  The average for the last 10 years is 62 species. 

The weather was cooperative and conducive for birding, with light wind and temperatures from the mid-20s to low-30s.  Ponds and slow-moving water were mostly frozen but streams and rivers were open.

Data from this Christmas Bird Count will be submitted to the National Audubon Society.  The results of all the CBCs can be found at the following link:  http://netapp.audubon.org/CBCObservation/CurrentYear/ResultsByCount.aspx

 Larry Alden

Altamont