Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) that was held February 12-15, 2021 is going into record books as the most successful count to date.  Bird records and participation is expanding every year.  For many years we have enjoyed participating and look forward to observing our feeders.

This Citizen Science Project is a partnership with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. The Count started in the United States in 1998 as a “backyard bird count” and went international in 2013. The GBBC is more than just a “backyard count” and any birds found anywhere can be reported on e-Bird.

The GBBC is only possible using e-Bird. How did e-Bird originate? Tim Eisele recently wrote on January 22 in Wisconsin Outdoors an article titled Stan Temple Headed into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame. Tim wrote that Stan “began a Wisconsin bird check-off list that eventually turned into the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s e-Bird program that encourages citizens to record bird observations. It is now described as the biggest citizen science program in the world.” In the 1990’s we remember making a weekly checklist on birds seen at Goose Pond and reporting the results. Congratulations to Stan.

If you would like to learn more about how to use eBird, sign up for Madison Audubon’s upcoming class, Learning the Ropes of eBird Mobile on March 25.

As of February 19, there have been 6,299 species reported for GBBC by over 275,000 birders on 307,700 checklists from 176 countries!

The United States has the most checklists in the world (214,700 checklists) and the eighth highest species count (659 species). The South American country of Columbia is ranked number 1 in the world with 1,096 species.  

Wisconsin ranks 18th with 4,573 checklists and 40th with 121 species in the United States. In Columbia County, 33 birders submitted 58 checklists with 36 species. Laura Wentz and JD Arnston both submitted five checklists.

Horned lark, photo by Tim Lenz

In Columbia County, Goose Pond is the number one “hotspot” with 21 species and 9 checklists submitted by Graham Steinhauer, Calla Norris, JD Arnston, John Lyons, Judi Benade and Mark. Interesting species found included 26 ring-necked pheasants, 60 mourning doves, 1 great horned owl, 55 horned larks, 90 snow buntings, 45 American tree sparrows, and 67 house finches. Graham found the highest number of pheasants in Wisconsin. Wisconsin pheasants came from China and the high count of ring-necked pheasants in China on the GBBC was five. 

At our Wildland cabin near Rio, we submitted three checklists with all birds seen from inside the cabin.  Species and numbers found are wild turkey (59), Cooper’s hawk (1), bald eagle (2),mourning dove (95), short-eared owl (1), red-bellied woodpecker (1), downy woodpecker (6), hairy woodpecker (2), blue jay (9), American crow (6), black-capped chickadee (7), tufted titmouse (5), white-breasted nuthatch (1), American tree sparrow (30), dark-eyed junco (30), northern cardinal (9), house finch (40), American goldfinch (40), and house sparrow (2).

Red-bellied Woodpecker, photo by USFWS Midwest

The best bird found was a short-eared owl. Our “watch dog/bird counter” schipperke ran to the window at dusk and barked loudly. Sue went to see what drew his attention and saw a short-eared owl within 30 feet of the cabin. This is the third time in that week that a short-ear was present. At times, it looked like a Butterball turkey convention with large numbers of wild turkeys feeding under the feeders.

We grew up with parents that fed the birds and we really enjoy feeding and observing the birds. We feed cracked and shell corn, black oil sunflowers and sunflower chips, white millet, and suet. It is important to keep the feeders clean. At Goose Pond and at the cabin we use “Ecoclean” Wild Birds Unlimited feeders with antimicrobial product protection. We also have heated bird baths that the birds really like drinking from. It’s important to keep feeders and birdbaths clean and on a sanitizing schedule.

Looking at the Wisconsin data we saw that Kathy Kershaw from Madison ranked number one with reporting 52 species on the GBBC. She entered 16 checklists in four days. Kathy is driven, dedicated, loves her birds, likes to learn, and is relatively new to eBird.

Kathy’s bio in her eBird summary reads "What bird is that? I actively took up birding in 2015 after we added a 2nd story sunroom overlooking our gardens, Koi ponds, mature trees, and beyond. I started venturing off our property late April 2016 and posting on eBird. I haven't stopped since—birding/posting daily. We have both mowed open areas and footpaths looping through brush/forest areas. Adjacent ~140 acres add grassland areas, more large trees 'n tangles, +farmed and fallow areas. Walking our land developed my interest well past watching birds at the feeders we've put out for 20+ years. Yet, I still love seeing birds at our (now many) feeders, birdbaths, and Koi pond areas near the house. I've become an obsessed daily birder. I've enjoyed seeing both rare and common birds as I venture near and far to both familiar and new places. At times I join field trips where I have met wonderful, knowledgeable, very helpful people. So much to see, hear, and learn!”

Since 2016 Kathy has entered an impressive 3,584 complete checklists and reported 294 species with photos of 262 species and audio of 37 species.

Ring-necked duck and canvasbacks. Photo by Kathy Kershaw

We enjoy our birds. If you do not yet feed birds, we hope you will consider putting up feeders. If you do feed birds, we hope you will join us on entering your data for your birds in the 2022 GBBC.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's count!  If you are thinking about a winter “bird” vacation next year, you can check out the GBBC and e-Bird and learn of the hot spots for species and numbers.

Written by Mark Martin and Susan-Foote Martin, Goose Pond Sanctuary residents managers

Cover photo by Eric Bégin

The Search for Damsels and Dragons

Odonata Survey 2020 - South Central Wisconsin

Graham Steinhauer wrote a blog on July 22, 2020 requesting volunteers to assist with an odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) survey on properties that Madison Audubon has an interest in. The post includes tactics for hunting odonates and advice on where to find them. 

We decided to conduct baseline monitoring at Goose Pond Sanctuary, Otsego Marsh, Erstad Prairie and the adjacent Schoeneberg Marsh Waterfowl Production Area, and at the Martin’s Wildland property near Rio where Madison Audubon holds a conservation easement. Odonates are rewarding to look for because they're active critters, have vibrant colors, are easily found, and there are many species. They are habitat restricted, and we think it’s important to know what species are present on our properties. When Goose Pond goes dry in future drought times, it will be interesting to monitor odonates and record what species are present and how long they take to return. Goose Pond was bone dry in the drought of 2012. 

Another reason to conduct the survey was to assist the DNR and the Wisconsin Dragonfly Society who are conducting an odonata survey to update odonata records for the state. 

Dan Jackson, an odonata specialist and record reviewer for the WI Odonata Survey, wrote to us, “As you can see by the previous sighting dates, Columbia County is very under-surveyed. It is great to see some effort under way and I would love to have these sightings input into the Wisconsin Odonata Survey (WOS) and Odonata Central (OC) with pictures so that I can vet them and get current dates recorded! That is especially true for the Halloween Pennant, Familiar Bluet, and Black Meadowhawk reports since there aren’t any or aren’t any modern sightings of those species.” On August 18th, 2020 Dan presented a virtual odonate program as a Madison Audubon monthly meeting.  

Note, the text below was updated on Feb. 11 to include a new species addition that was identified by Dan Jackson over the weekend, the skimming bluet (a new county record).

There are 75 species of odonates on the Columbia County list, and we found 29 of them! Overall, 17 species of dragonflies and 12 species of damselflies were found. We were very pleased with the first year results even though we did not begin in earnest until around July 20th. In 2019 there were no Odonata observations for Columbia County. In 2020 there were 284 observations from 86 day entries. Around 90% of the observations were from our volunteers.

Jim Otto added the orange bluet and Richard Armstrong added the skimming bluet to the Columbia County Odonata species list. Richard also found the only horned clubtail dragonfly at Otsego Marsh, a species that has not been reported in Columbia County since 1996. We also found halloween pennants and familiar bluets that Dan hoped we would find.  

Skimming bluet photo by Richard Armstrong

A horned clubtail photographed at Otsego Marsh by Richard Armstrong. Prior to this photo, the last time it was reported in Columbia County was in 1996

Richard Armstrong wrote, “Chasing and trying to photograph dragonflies is almost as crazy as trying to photograph warblers. Neither of them want to sit still.”  We found that odonates are fast and wary and do not like to have their photos taken. Damselflies are very difficult to focus on and not easy to identify.  Thanks to Dan Jackson for all his help with identifications, comments and advice on taking photos.

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Jim Otto’s 2020 Odonata Adventures

During the summers of 2015-2019 I kept busy as a field volunteer for the second Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas (WBBA). The field work for WBBA is completed, so what to do during the socially distanced summer of 2020? 

I was pleased to learn that Madison Audubon was beginning a two-year Odonata survey on and near their Columbia County properties. Beginning in early July, camera in hand, I hiked the Audubon properties searching for dragonflies and damselflies to photograph and identify. There was always something to see:  prairie and wetland plants, birds, deer, butterflies, … plus MANY of the Odonates.

Jim Otto, Odonata hunter. Photo by Mark Martin

On my first trip to the Erstad Prairie, I found what has become my favorite dragonfly, the Eastern Pondhawk. The adult females and immature males have a wonderful kelly green and black color pattern, while the adult males are blue.

Another day at Erstad Prairie I had an insect net with me. I set the net down to look at something (I don’t recall what) with my binoculars. When I reached to pick up the net, I noticed that on the net was a spider holding an orange-colored damselfly: an immature Eastern Forktail (I have no idea what species the spider was.)

When I hiked the Schoenberg Marsh paved trail that goes north from the Priem Road parking lot, I spotted a dragonfly that I did not recognize. It was flying back and forth over the trail, hunting I assume.  I decided to wait for it to land so that I could take a photo. So, I waited, and waited, … and waited. It flew for more than twenty minutes before finally landing.  I then got a couple of poor, but usable photos.  This dragonfly was the only red saddlebags that I saw last year.

Come September, the number of “Odes” flying had dropped. By that time, I had found a total of 25 different species: 16 dragonflies and 9 damselflies.   My best find was the orange bluet photographed at Erstad Prairie, a new species for Columbia County according to the Wisconsin Odonata Survey website.  Not bad for a beginner like me! I look forward to seeing what other species will be flying in 2021.

Photos below by Jim Otto

Dot-tailed Whiteface

Eastern Amberwing

Eastern Forktail and spider

Eastern Pondhawk (female)

Thanks to everyone that has been part of this survey.  Please contact us at goosep@madisonaudubon.org if you would like to hunt for damsels and dragons this summer.

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Richard Armstrong designed and created the Dragonflies of Madison Audubon’s Goose Pond Area poster.  Additional surveyors that provided poster photos are JD Arnston, Mark Martin, Jim Otto, Linda Pils and Graham Steinhauer.  

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Written by Mark Martin and Susan-Foote Martin, Goose Pond Sanctuary residents managers, Graham Steinhauer, Goose Pond Sanctuary land steward, and Jim Otto, volunteer, with poster by Richard Armstrong, volunteer.

Cover photo by Jim Otto

Poynette Christmas Bird Count and Goose Pond Unit - 2020

Fifty years ago on December 23, 1971, Bill Smith and Steve Krings conducted the first Poynette Bird Count centered in Poynette at the Owl’s Nest restaurant at the intersection of Highways 51 and CS.

Bill, who grew up in Poynette, coordinated the count for the first decade and then we took over. We enjoyed working with Bill at DNR and for the past 40 years he has been the count leader for unit 1. On the first count, Bill and Steve found 28 species including ruffed grouse, Wilson’s snipe, herring gull, red-headed woodpecker and yellow-bellied sapsucker that were not found on this year’s count. 

This year the Poynette Count was held on December 26th. A major challenge this year was the pandemic. Some field counters passed on participating while those that participated went in family groups while non-related birders traveled in separate cars.  

Sixty four species were counted by 33 field observers and seven households. Species and numbers — bold are uncommon species or high numbers — Canada geese (1,397), wood duck (4),  gadwall 14, American black duck (12), mallard (1,026), green-winged teal (1), common goldeneye (6), hooded merganser (1), ring-necked pheasant (28), wild turkey (373), great blue heron (1), bald eagle (101), northern harrier (1), sharp-shinned hawk (1), Cooper’s hawk (6), red-shouldered hawk (1), red-tailed hawk (97), rough-legged hawk (11), American kestrel (17), merlin (1), peregrine falcon (2), Virginia rail (4), rock pigeon (474), Eurasian collared dove (16), morning dove (278), sandhill crane (92), eastern screech owl (7), great horned owl (2), barred owl (1), short-eared owl (1), northern saw-whet owl (1), belted kingfisher (1), red-bellied woodpecker (67), downy woodpecker (131), hairy woodpecker (46), northern flicker (2), pileated woodpecker (8), northern shrike (1), American crow (782), horned lark (71), black-capped chickadee (310), tufted titmouse (53), red-breasted nuthatch (13), white-breasted nuthatch (125), brown creeper (3), eastern bluebird (8), American robin (45), European starling (512), cedar waxwing (138), American tree sparrow (354), fox sparrow (1), swamp sparrow (3), white-throated sparrow (1), dark-eyed junco (972), Lapland longspur (265), yellow-rumped warbler (1), northern cardinal (324), red-winged blackbird (1), house finch (341), pine siskin (37), American goldfinch (138), and house sparrow (402).

Photos below: Cooper’s hawk, by Graham Steinhauer; Eastern bluebirds, by Bill Smith; Hairy woodpecker, by Dory Owen; Merlin, by Bill Smith; Rough-legged hawk, by Dory Owen; Wild turkeys, by Dory Owen

As always there were many interesting observations. Al and Gale Shea were rewarded with a special sighting of 58 bald eagles at one location along the Wisconsin River.

Bald eagle party. Photo by Jeff Pieterick

Meg Nelson and her husband David reported a flock of 130 crows in the unit surrounding Schoeneberg Marsh Waterfowl Production Area/Erstad Prairie.

Brand Smith, our volunteer Kestrel Nest Box Program coordinator and Pat Ready, a kestrel nest box volunteer, had a high count of five kestrels. We wonder how many of the 17 kestrels found in the count were from the Madison Audubon kestrel box project?

American kestrel. Photo by Jim Stewart

Peregrine falcons did not nest in Wisconsin 50 years ago and we were lucky enough to find two (record high) on the count. Other species found in 2020 that were not present or very rare in Columbia County in 1971 include the wild turkey, merlin, Eurasian collared dove, sandhill cranes (rare), eastern bluebird (rare), and house finch.

JD Arnston and his parents reported a bald eagle carrying sticks for nest building along Rowan Creek Fishery Area near Poynette.

For 20 years an area around Goose Pond has been surveyed as the “Goose Pond Unit”. This year we found 25 species in the Goose Pond Unit including 7 redtails, 83 morning doves, 51 cranes, 250 lapland longspurs, and 185 house finches. Our highlight at Goose Pond was counting 170 house finches in our maple tree in the backyard of the Kampen Road residence.

We wrote in the October Friday Feathered Feature about the invasion of pine siskins. In early October we counted 1,017 pine siskins at Goose Pond. On the count day we could not find any pine siskins around Goose Pond and only found 37 in the larger 177 square mile count area. The nation-wide Audubon CBCs will provide information where the invasion was in the last half of December.

https://madisonaudubon.org/fff/2020/10/16/pine-siskin-2020-an-invasion-year

The 2020 pandemic year is behind us and we look toward things returning to normal before next year’s 51st Christmas Bird Count.

Thanks to all the field and feeder counters that made this a very successful count.

Written by Mark Martin and Susan-Foote Martin, Goose Pond Sanctuary resident managers

Cover photo by Dory Owen