By Joe Passineau 
PORTAGE COUNTY – Amherst Circle Birders set new records during their 40th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count held on Dec. 18, 2021. Highlights included a record of 43 total species, and several unusual species including the White-winged Crossbill, a winter migrant typically found in the boreal forests of Canada. With specialized “crossed bills”, they are perfectly adapted to pry open the cones of spruce trees for the seeds.

This year marks the 40th year that the Amherst Area has officially participated in the Christmas Bird Count (the very first Amherst Circle Count was held in 1980). The Amherst event was sponsored by the local Aldo Leopold Chapter of the Audubon Society, which also sponsored, on the same day, another CBC Count in the Stevens Point area.

This year is also the 122nd year that the National Audubon Society has held this citizen-based science and conservation program. In addition to a fun event for participants, the survey helps scientists study trends in bird populations and track related environmental influences, such as global climate change. The Christmas Bird Count, now an international event, is the longest running science project in the world. It is designed to get volunteers to annually count the birds found in designated circles on a single day in December. Last year there were 1,842 circles, each 15-miles in diameter, scattered throughout the US.

With Amherst at the center of a 15-mile diameter circle, the Amherst count covers 177 square miles — reaching from Sunset Lake on the north, Scandinavia and Iola on the east, Custer on the west and Spring Creek on the south. The rolling glacial topography includes a great variety of bird habitats, including the Tomorrow and Waupaca River watersheds, many small lakes and wetlands, and a diversity of woodlands, farms, and rustic roads.
In Amherst, we had 30 volunteers that participated: 22 of them completed driving routes and 8 watched birdfeeders. From dawn to dusk, observers drove 466 miles, walked 8.3 miles, and watched bird feeders for 19 hours.

The weather this year was “cold, breezy and wintery” — with temperatures in the mid 20s, morning snow flurries, and a northerly wind. Much of the open ground had a light dusting of snow, while shaded areas had deeper snow. Ponds and lakes were ice covered but many of the rivers and streams were open. Although lakes were frozen, we saw a moderate number of waterfowl (685 Canada Geese and 49 Mallards).

“We counted 5266 birds which was higher than our 10-year average of 4084. We also set a record this year for seeing the greatest number of species at 43, compared to our previous record of 40,” said Eric Anderson, Compiler of the Amherst Circle results.

“We had several unusual sightings this year. White-winged crossbills were observed by Bob Henke for the first time ever on the Amherst count. We also had sightings of a common grackle and herring gull that have only been reported twice before, and golden-crowned kinglets only seen in 3 previous counts. We also set several records for the highest numbers of individuals of a species ever seen. We saw more red-bellied woodpeckers, pileated woodpeckers, and cardinals than in any other year.” (Most other species were seen in usual numbers; see tally below)

But not as lucky as some CBC birders. Comparing the “Species Diversity of the Amherst Circle” to other CBC Circles in the US, Eric noted that while exciting for us, “43 species isn’t a very impressive diversity number. At this time last year, the most diverse circle in Texas observed 224 species in a single day!”
And this might also explain why birders enjoy traveling to Texas for part of the winter. While others of us, snowbound in Wisconsin, enjoy the company of the Chickadee, Nuthatch, and Cardinal. And, if we are really lucky, we might see a White-winged Waxbill on a spruce tree in our own backyard.

Totals for the Amherst Circle Count included: Canada Goose, 685; Mallard, 49; Wild Turkey, 174; Bald Eagle, 10; Sharp shinned Hawk, 2; Cooper’s Hawk, 2; Red-tailed Hawk, 24; Rough-legged Hawk, 2; American Kestrel, 2; Rock Pigeon, 672; Mourning Dove, 239; Great Horned Owl, 4; Barred Owl, 2; Belted Kingfisher, 1; Red- bellied Woodpecker, 39; Downy Woodpecker, 75; Hairy Woodpecker, 38; Pileated Woodpecker, 16; Northern Shrike, 3; Blue Jay, 257; American Crow, 522; Common Raven, 8; Black capped Chickadee, 319; Red breasted Nuthatch, 20; White breasted Nuthatch, 49; Brown Creeper, 2; Golden Crowned Kinglet, 3; American Robin, 2; European Starling, 372; Cedar Waxwing, 45; American Tree Sparrow, 33; Dark eyed Junco, 822; Northern Cardinal, 137; Common Grackle, 1; Purple Finch, 17; House Finch, 74; Pine Siskin, 5; American Goldfinch, 357; House Sparrow, 166; Tufted Titmouse, 9; Great Blue Heron, 1; Herring Gull, 1, and White-winged Crossbill, 5.