Archive for the ‘Mad Island Marsh CBC’ Category

2007 Matagorda County - Mad Island Marsh CBC

Friday, January 11th, 2008

txmm-roost-flight-p1030379.JPG

MATAGORDA COUNTY - MAD ISLAND MARSH CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

17 December 2007

 

Our Team of 113 very dedicated birders reported 235 species during the 15th running of our CBC. This is our 4th highest tally and is a very good total for this “down year” for total species. Guadalupe River Delta reported 225, Dan Diego, CA, 215 and Freeport 203 species.

BEST BIRD

 

Our section leaders had a very close vote for the Best Bird. OLIVE SPARROW won by one vote over Green-tailed Towhee. There seemed to be a consensus that they would prefer seeing an Aplomado Falcon next year on the t-shirt. Does anybody have a good photo of an Aplomado with an Olive Sparrow in its talons?

olsp-side.JPG

(more…)

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Matagorda County - Mad Island Marsh CBC Data

Saturday, October 27th, 2007
Species 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 2 56   16 8 22 12 11 40 473 129 685 225 419
FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCK cw     2               6 1 cw
G. White-fronted Goose 2081 3320 1841 1852 2387 4811 2308 4624 2831 2852 2213 2659 3716 1595
Snow Goose 45206 53381 12113 2000 51376 50886 12406 20000 26224 36621 21255 63312 47000 48729
Ross’ Goose 443 1270 364 1140 1530 1500 360 800 780 3000 1485 4657 2350 1222
Canada Goose - lumped 8955 4516 6888 4567 4546 6523 3447 12000 838 3991 2201      
Cackling Goose                       4696 2555 4369
Canada Goose                       199 363 1407
TUNDRA SWAN 2       CW                  
. . . SWAN, SP.           2                
Wood Duck 1 10 2 29 43 20 8 13 5 8 44 10 25 26
Gadwall 1136 1862 319 1143 1254 4007 494 1269 1204 762 2342 1691 3956 2700
Am. Wigeon 49 481 95 716 278 1667 166 437 413 210 412 457 372 955
Mallard cw 8 20 10 34 45 82 58 65 94 140 62 110 333
Mottled Duck 161 174 101 251 460 498 250 172 115 251 348 338 355 691
Blue-winged Teal 72 135 86 91 725 799 78 196 179 716 514 1715 1327 3613
Cinnamon Teal 1 6   6 28 2 2   5 3 6 5 7 18
N. Shoveler 744 1041 206 550 623 1029 1206 1628 212 258 532 644 894 908
N. Pintail 520 704 354 898 5229 2931 1218 5540 108 453 1013 2720 1955 5432
Green-winged Teal 11298 6063 922 3550 5311 4962 2456 749 765 738 2140 4229 1978 10785
Canvasback 17 222 81 416 106 75 17 41 5 5 3 4 19 129
Redhead 9864 2826 910 102 6639 785 85 2043 213 5 21 28 2040 108
Ring-necked Duck 121 32 37 68 92 24 15 87 5 57 4 4 333 94
Greater Scaup 4 816 122 26 24 12 4 8 36 17 150 23 19 33
Lesser Scaup 1940 5529 5003 1956 4008 799 3374 7123 1064 759 198 1718 1609 2688
. . . scaup, sp. 6000     262                    
Surf Scoter             25 9 13 21     1  
White-winged Scoter 3   3       5 2 4 6       2
Black Scoter 2 3 1 1 2 11 34 1 2     4 1  
LONG-TAILED DUCK       1                    
Bufflehead 585 742 938 975 423 322 379 474 857 175 478 99 88 11
Com. Goldeneye 71 951 376 98 49 10 72 81 48 542 105 51 812 239
Hooded Merganser 49 30 19 14 29 17 89 12 14 2 52 7 62 30
COM. MERGANSER   3   1                    
Red-br Merganser 135 128 488 65 402 51 189 275 290 56 95 151 38 25
MASKED DUCK                       2    
Ruddy Duck 90 52 156 312 299 163 158 463 99 59 16 65 286 451
. . . duck, sp.                            
W. Turkey             20       1 10 8 6
N. Bobwhite 34 48 119 122 206 134 136 126 106 525 379 155 114 77
PACIFIC LOON           1 2 1 1 1 1 1    
Com. Loon 12 21 26 13 24 14 3 25 17 11 14 6 8 9
Least Grebe 1       3 1 cw   1 1 6 11 17 10
Pied-billed Grebe 177 166 307 265 373 238 298 196 151 115 213 210 318 136
Horned Grebe   30 8 455 1102 162 751 2 402 2 25 16 4 3
RED-NECKED GREBE                     1 1 1  
Eared Grebe 31 50 3148 36 36 128 144 85 33 83 54 13 26 295
W. GREBE   1   1                   1
SHEARWATER, SP.     1               1      
MASKED BOOBY     1   2                  
N. Gannet 1 1 5 8 7   1 6 4 9 11 2 3 56
Am. White Pelican 722 1305 2701 1127 3441 1743 848 844 2080 1886 1141 2568 3500 3466
Brown Pelican 358 503 247 630 937 386 606 550 485 431 729 430 650 426
Neotropic Cormorant 236 304 212 200 179 137 191 137 201 349 501 146 647 404
Double-crested Cormorant 1151 1638 2167 1987 2034 1113 619 1772 1664 1305 965 1945 1027 1111
Anhinga 11 7 10 12 18 19 8 16 11 28 23 90 32 32
Am. Bittern 8 7 11 9 18 13 32 15 9 17 6 19 12 9
LEAST BITTERN     1   1 1             1 2
Great Blue Heron 285 427 250 365 592 504 530 463 481 444 399 362 713 674
Great Egret 330 412 638 1710 778 1351 1172 880 1556 2977 1250 3408 3672 1194
Snowy Egret 171 480 404 783 650 2049 1418 607 1555 3323 1209 4021 2734 1017
Little Blue Heron 39 51 83 107 139 1130 999 192 156 212 896 175 613 159
Tricolored Heron 119 133 179 137 166 886 1050 126 480 1195 374 213 623 263
Reddish Egret 29 25 11 20 24 44 27 33 30 18 31 18 22 35
Cattle Egret 20 82 57 156 32 795 49 113 253 103 31 174 46 22
Green Heron 3 1 3 2 10 3 2 2 3 22 11 8 11 10
Black-crowned Night-Heron 171 112 122 66 150 369 190 287 369 112 100 269 190 188
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 3 7 4 3 10 11 23 10 5 15 10 21 5 28
. . . night-heron sp.                           46
White Ibis 612 700 2373 1160 1225 3730 807 4973 1231 5084 1964 16175 6290 3768
GLOSSY IBIS               1 1     3 6 2
White-faced Ibis 285 254 492 505 608 3436 43 919 962 3044 868 2670 3533 1454
Scarlet Ibis (excape ?)   1                        
Roseate Spoonbill 123 153 867 321 362 521 400 703 389 463 608 420 808 639
WOOD STORK       1             2   cw  
Black Vulture 32 117 291 322 326 447 316 512 474 411 555 308 891 1059
Turkey Vulture 164 316 388 700 424 547 334 1009 1162 1587 768 767 910 3263
Osprey 32 59 63 129 128 134 108 116 124 167 136 84 114 141
White-tailed Kite 25 52 21 36 27 45 19 18 25 24 25 11 32 19
Bald Eagle   2 2 4 3 6 5 7 7 8 9 8 33 7
N. Harrier 156 253 165 339 344 377 410 348 292 230 167 185 246 265
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 3 6 4 10 2 4 4 10 8 8 7 11 18
Cooper’s Hawk 3 3 5 9 17 14 12 14 14 9 16 10 34 21
. . . Accipiter, sp.       3     2              
Harris’s Hawk 2   1 1 1 1 cw 2   1 1 2 2  
Red-shouldered Hawk 20 19 34 31 47 48 42 35 49 60 54 78 85 78
Swainson’s Hawk                       1   1
White-tailed Hawk 19 28 32 33 29 38 44 47 34 47 37 33 45 32
ZONE-TAILED HAWK           1                
Red-tailed Hawk 87 197 151 180 188 196 170 178 222 161 140 112 265 196
. . . HARLAN’S HAWK         1     1            
. . . Krider’s Hawk         1   1              
Ferruginous Hawk 1 3 1 4 4 3 4 2 3 3 3 2 4 2
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK         1         1      
. . . Buteo, sp.         4 1   1 3     2     1
GOLDEN EAGLE         1                  
Crested Caracara 40 43 14 49 53 54 55 98 134 84 95 100 255 151
Am. Kestrel 121 111 100 231 232 274 304 300 245 200 191 231 295 283
Merlin 6 6 9 8 8 15 6 13 6 10 23 13 13 12
APLOMADO FALCON               1   1 2   1  
Peregrine Falcon 1 4 3 6 6 5 9 6 5 3 13 6 9 10
Yellow Rail   2 2 2 2   5   2   1 6 1 6
Black Rail   1   2 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 2 4
Clapper Rail 25 20 53 25 77 22 30 26 12 41 9 44 32 23
King Rail 31 48 29 45 45 43 43 9 11 40 20 79 45 19
Virginia Rail 3 4 12 41 28 31 34 15 11 13 24 31 19 32
Sora 11 30 22 74 84 107 33 30 49 106 64 125 79 76
PURPLE GALLINULE 1       1             1    
Com. Moorhen 81 233 131 166 193 287 98 113 80 279 78 790 924 260
Am. Coot 1813 1625 460 2171 7659 4510 2375 5136 2544 1181 1447 1676 6556 2498
Sandhill Crane 2473 4098 800 3936 4632 7641 3771 4000 4252 1770 989 2963 5000 4741
WHOOPING CRANE           2                
Black-bellied Plover 276 304 197 149 781 126 224 325 634 313 396 190 189 233
Snowy Plover 7 4 1 3 9 3 19 9 35 27 40 84 58 58
Semipalmated Plover 1 5 7 11 61 43 66 16 8 43 23 41 14 170
Piping Plover 8 9 9 8 30 4 9 6 22 31 20 69 26 33
Killdeer 466 317 360 752 894 937 1089 1198 479 781 1168 1241 1915 1481
Am. Oystercatcher 8 15 31 45 10 13 13 16 14 11 6 12 16 34
Black-necked Stilt cw 83 350 40 54 73 59 206 194 98 231 288 280 77
Am. Avocet 587 1074 247 573 1205 891 1291 938 806 1033 530 714 1118 2062
Greater Yellowlegs 67 109 70 116 165 88 450 150 120 185 222 214 296 409
Lesser Yellowlegs 48 93 25 160 124 38 64 144 44 44 212 227 139 224
SOLITARY SANDPIPER           2   1 1 2   3 3 1
Willet 329 504 604 444 558 381 251 468 1099 458 590 238 267 455
Spotted Sandpiper 17 40 28 23 77 97 62 74 34 61 34 114 77 60
Whimbrel 1       1   1 2 1 7 1 3 1 4
Long-billed Curlew 132 165 170 112 307 186 59 149 938 130 60 136 175 145
Marbled Godwit 5 10   115 11 40 24 31 8 2 17 2 12 55
Ruddy Turnstone 20 23 92 35 76 50 22 48 171 145 149 72 67 46
Red Knot       8 8 11 1 1 1 3 2 1 3 12
Sanderling 272 220 426 120 651 234 170 210 294 288 347 265 237 115
W. Sandpiper 16656 4100 911 3578 7369 741 4424 3868 7480 2560 4780 1243 1188 5020
Least Sandpiper 106 619 82 422 349 229 1044 346 254 4062 404 304 1186 2149
Dunlin 6690 2743 418 3332 2663 672 2177 2079 5677 7469 2030 1987 1545 2125
. . . peep, sp.     550 1075 1730 181 434 630           847
Stilt Sandpiper 6 3 2 14 37 8 75 31 2   2 15 22 26
Short-billed Dowitcher 2443 44 200 125 207 249 57 164 400 712 74 542 93 255
Long-billed Dowitcher 6344 3003 346 469 1026 794 1371 1627 140 5035 371 594 356 1637
. . . dowitcher, sp. 341   489 1305 268 3042 9005 1226   3145 768 640 115 737
Wilson’s Snipe 155 22 68 184 136 707 278 243 323 199 79 282 190 393
Am. Woodcock 3 5 33 7 17 4 1 10 9 22 15 21 23 19
JAEGER, SP.         2         1        
Laughing Gull 2163 5261 4615 4241 3883 3957 3675 2354 1203 2760 4725 3870 3026 2096
FRANKLIN’S GULL                   3 1 1 1  
Bonaparte’s Gull 99 84 76 130 229 41 101 136 171 158 452 99 241 47
Ring-billed Gull 603 694 395 524 769 637 606 458 175 655 433 1151 610 326
CALIFORNIA GULL                       1    
Herring Gull 44 65 28 123 136 91 37 48 49 88 83 126 93 59
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL       1                    
Gull-billed Tern 17 52 33 58 155 44 162 58 29 97 57 66 117 31
Caspian Tern 304 361 186 196 648 241 231 146 177 264 238 246 172 138
Royal Tern 120 345 71 180 373 161 165 151 49 505 193 286 331 383
Sandwich Tern   16 20 10 8 7 5 1 5 3 13 4 11 18
Com. Tern 6 6 5 4 8 4 2 5 4 3 15 3 4 6
Forster’s Tern 680 920 924 550 591 627 883 600 336 718 1493 982 862 897
Black Skimmer 637 1128 349 458 329 902 32 649 12 494 14 881 512 1048
Rock Pigeon 3 9 21 18 11 4 35 20 12 69 87 214 34 134
Eur. Collared Dove           8 34 41 103 127 86 80 63 124
White-winged Dove 1 4 13 9 107 54 43 106 121 144 22 53 155 37
Mourning Dove 616 623 303 979 1178 1048 775 1071 656 848 545 381 553 651
Inca Dove 8 15 34 16 63 67 93 120 80 100 99 45 50 55
Com. Ground Dove 11 4 19 3 41 49 22 31 13 21 4 16 40 15
Greater Roadrunner                   1 1      
Groove-billed Ani     1 2 6   5 1       10   17
Com. Barn-Owl 25 75 53 51 63 77 72 40 30 33 36 16 20 61
E. Screech-Owl 3 2     1 1   1 1 2 2 4 1 3
Great Horned Owl 11 22 13 36 27 34 32 34 25 47 21 50 32 38
Burrowing Owl   1 1   CW 1   2   1 2 1 1  
Barred Owl 16 3 6 12 26 31 15 19 11 57 49 53 33 44
LONG-EARED OWL                         1 cw
Short-eared Owl 2 33 16 20 6 11 25 7 8 3 11 4 4 7
LESSER NIGHTHAWK                 1 1        
COM. NIGHTHAWK   1 1             1        
. . . NIGHTHAWK, SP.         1   1              
WHIP-POOR-WILL                         1  
Buff-bellied Hummingbird     3 2 1 2 5   1 2   1 1 1
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD             1 3 2     2 2  
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD     1     1 2 9 10 4 4 6 5 1
Archilochus, sp.   2 2 1   1         1 1 1  
ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD     2       2   1          
COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD                 1          
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD                         1  
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD             3              
Rufous Hummingbird 2   2     2 3 6 6 6     1  
. . . Selasphorus, sp. 1       1     3            
. . . hummingbird, sp.     1     4 10 3 10          
RINGED KINGFISHER           1                
Belted Kingfisher 46 76 68 70 128 178 132 101 82 198 124 80 121 128
GREEN KINGFISHER             1     1        
GOLDEN-FRONTED WOODPECKER       2                    
Red-bel Woodpecker 30 44 79 119 309 213 154 135 159 293 183 233 185 267
Yellow-bel Sapsucker 23 23 19 28 97 97 44 50 34 113 28 137 108 87
Ladder-b Woodpecker 3 8 3 17 10 16 8 12 2 15 7 7 6 13
Downy Woodpecker 5 9 29 18 84 76 56 38 38 48 30 66 71 42
HAIRY WOODPECKER 1       4       3 1       1
N. (Yel.-sh.) Flicker 10 11 14 18 49 70 51 35 19 69 19 26 10 31
Pileated Woodpecker 6 1 10 20 72 34 23 55 45 91 59 64 53 55
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER                       1    
E. WOOD-PEWEE         1       1 1        
. . . WOOD-PEWEE         1         1 1   1  
. . . Trail’s Flycatcher                           cw
ACADIAN FLYCATCHER                            
LEAST FLYCATCHER   1   1 1       6 4 1 4 4 16
W. FLYCATCHER                   1        
. . . Empidonax         1 2 1 3   4 3   1 1
E. Phoebe 142 223 279 451 810 1134 510 1004 1030 1553 509 1339 1102 1422
SAYS PHOEBE         2     3 2 1 1 1 3 2
Vermilion Flycatcher 6 7 10 5 10 12 7 12 15 20 44 37 32 21
Ash-th Flycatcher 1 4 3 6 6 3 2 2 13 26 8 10 21 16
GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER     1                      
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER             1 1 1     1    
. . . Myiarchus, sp. 2             1            
GREAT KISKADEE           1           1    
Couch’s Kingbird     6 4 4 3 1 2   7 5 7 3 7
THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD                   1 1 1 1  
W. KINGBIRD                   1 1     cw
E. KINGBIRD                 1 1 1      
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher       1       4 5 4   1   1
Loggerhead Shrike 123 191 118 255 303 289 305 240 252 333 235 208 190 192
White-eyed Vireo 3 6 13 13 27 19 24 8 29 39 22 47 65 35
BELL’S VIREO                       1    
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO                         1  
CASSIN’S VIREO             1         1    
Blue-headed Vireo 4 23 17 11 51 32 18 32 44 60 29 31 60 129
RED-EYED VIREO       1 1   1       1      
Blue Jay 14 8 25 45 71 99 73 62 17 40 12 43 43 31
Am. Crow 171 123 154 400 849 654 567 840 588 824 661 612 833 965
FISH CROW   1     1                  
CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN         1       1          
Horned Lark 6 23 38 3 60 4 8 16 45 1 64 49 19 28
Tree Swallow   4 6 39 1 117 3 20 11 382 574 274 265 61
N. R-w. Swallow     1 3   7 2 18 47 62 27 67 10 20
CLIFF SWALLOW     1                      
Cave Swallow       6 7 85   23 6 27 439 138 168 121
Barn Swallow       1 1 1 1 1 2 2   8 3 3
. . . swallow, sp. 1         26       104       40
Carolina Chickadee 147 97 220 210 811 558 482 273 621 593 482 289 512 396
Tufted Titmouse 42 21 109 74 275 231 184 141 254 230 164 222 136 223
Red-br. Nuthatch     3   1 1 1 1            
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH         1   1              
Brown Creeper     1   2 3 2 1 1 1 2   4 6
Carolina Wren 54 63 88 145 243 352 229 119 198 387 281 370 245 355
Bewick’s Wren 10 5 3 7 5 6 13 11 6 11 5 3 8 5
House Wren 59 69 72 167 212 199 96 143 235 305 144 251 336 644
Winter Wren   6 4 4 9 2 8 7 4 5 5 2 26 7
Sedge Wren 185 223 74 417 283 192 424 242 254 83 307 80 234 374
Marsh Wren 125 58 74 135 174 736 1932 186 238 289 202 201 198 339
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 1 6 6 4 24 8 21 4 43   1 107 122
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 350 169 288 165 843 990 610 556 458 1419 382 1108 1064 1902
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 82 151 167 141 331 374 354 235 501 477 430 260 353 437
E. Bluebird 27 17 85 201 236 476 285 544 275 390 69 293 269 272
VEERY                           1
Hermit Thrush 20 38 26 12 21 225 85 77 36 225 12 175 207 270
WOOD THRUSH       1 1     1   1   3 2 1
Am. Robin 112 726 15 5873 241 5096 1184 2241 79 518 19 4519 1462 6006
Gray Catbird 12 6 3 22 31 69 30 11 25 52 21 70 114 101
N. Mockingbird 139 156 85 352 400 313 295 401 237 624 230 608 345 538
SAGE THRASHER               1            
Brown Thrasher 30 37 25 21 39 97 96 45 8 74 21 50 33 45
Long-billed Thrasher 5 3   2 4 4 5 7 3 3 3 7 9 5
. . . thrasher, sp.   1   1 1     5            
Eur. Starling 2074 501065 802 1210 1092 1061 1313 299 377 10840 1422 2388 735 1873
Am. Pipit 175 102 124 245 712 387 786 1064 279 733 205 859 570 740
Sprague’s Pipit cw 5 8 42 28 21 27 49 25 78 14 20 22 24
Cedar Waxwing 20 82   138 16 126 36 555 8 1253 8 1161 18 357
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER                 1          
TENNESSEE WARBLER 1                 1 1 2 2 10
Orange-cr Warbler 114 99 148 118 220 281 282 149 275 312 184 194 497 278
Nashville Warbler   1     4 3 2 2 6 6 3 2 4 5
N. PARULA           2 2           1  
TROPICAL PARULA                   1        
YELLOW WARBLER               1   1     1 1
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER       1     1              
MAGNOLIA WARBLER                       1 1  
Myrtle Warbler 399 427 474 1223 1813 2602 1745 1902 480 3209 583 2695 1906 2296
. . . Audubon’s Warbler 1           2 1            
BL-TH. GRAY WARBLER 1               3     2    
Black-throated Green-Warbler       1 1 3       1     1  
Townsend’s Warbler                       1    
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER       1                    
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER           1         cw 1 1  
Pine Warbler 2 6 43 1 25 7 21 61 18 68 5 23 67 56
PRAIRIE WARBLER   1         1 2            
Palm Warbler 5 15 15 24 44 27 25 40 26 11 23 25 42 21
Black & White Warbler   1 1 2 7 5   CW 2 3 1 12 2 7
AM. REDSTART                       2   1
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER               2 2          
SWAINSON’S WARBLER                     1      
OVENBIRD     1           1       4 3
N. Waterthrush       1   2   2   1     1 6
LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH             1              
KENTUCKY WARBLER                   1        
. . . OPORORNIS, SP.   1                        
Com. Yellowthroat 170 93 111 165 256 322 468 80 116 418 117 253 600 457
HOODED WARBLER         1     1   1        
Wilson’s Warbler 1 1 2 2   2 7 8 10 10 5 3 12 19
CANADA WARBLER                   1        
Yellow-breasted Chat       2 3 1   1 2 5 2 10 11 9
SUMMER TANAGER       1       3     2      
W. TANAGER   1               1     1  
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE             CW   1          
Spotted Towhee         2 1 1 3   1 1   2 4
E. Towhee 1   1 1 1 6 4 6 2 9 2 1 4 8
Chipping Sparrow 70 59 20 76 118 27 65 178 68 57 27 88 191 298
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW       1   2   15 16 2 2 2 3 5
Field Sparrow 79 43 8 26 60 28 333 112 48 66 62 52 96 164
Vesper Sparrow 15 53 20 96 58 83 91 32 20 168 106 36 64 106
Lark Sparrow 1 2     5 18 1 7 3 20 62 4 3  
Savannah Sparrow 383 1726 9176 5567 3483 4074 4589 5946 4967 3030 3485 2953 3666 5404
Grasshopper Sparrow 2 10 7 71 45 14 11 23 13 23 22 16 11 10
HENSLOW’S SPARROW         1 3     2          
Le Conte’s Sparrow 6 333 46 62 111 129 11 36 84 98 112 37 45 116
Nelson’s Sharp-t Sparrow 31 11 5 98 28 31 96 11 7 11 2 31 3 75
Seaside Sparrow 17 34 54 147 163 208 314 50 359 419 19 56 28 354
Fox Sparrow   1     2 2 8 1 1 3 3 2 1  
Song Sparrow 45 31 34 53 67 70 126 102 62 129 60 57 36 49
Lincoln’s Sparrow 107 67 47 98 326 132 113 89 188 370 183 280 332 429
Swamp Sparrow 342 195 173 261 402 433 411 273 214 835 169 356 478 588
White-throated Sparrow 202 436 183 246 278 437 268 190 104 540 110 137 147 132
Harris’ Sparrow 1       6 1 2 4   18   1 1 2
White-crowned Sparrow 98 48 20 46 139 36 75 70 38 213 76 53 48 93
Dark-eyed Junco   1 2 1 4 3 1 31         3  
LAPLAND LONGSPUR               6            
N. Cardinal 192 229 312 486 1276 965 1163 717 791 1541 892 635 818 1131
PYRRHULOXIA     2                   1  
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK 1       1                  
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK 2       3     CW            
BLUE GROSBEAK           1                
Indigo Bunting     1 10 6 3 5 9   8 1 5 2 2
PAINTED BUNTING     1 2   2   2   1       1
DICKCISSEL 1                          
Red-winged Blackbird 445022 1800000 479793 790278 1555351 519350 2258007 2100000 1117147 2980229 5488705 3289083 1599711 2561465
E. Meadowlark 591 845 951 1706 1444 1456 910 792 1050 1198 1066 1027 1567 541
W. Meadowlark       2   8 7 2 1   2 33 5 1
. . . meadowlark, sp.       60     174     80 93 533 241 23
YELLOW-H BLACKBIRD     4           1   6 10 2  
RUSTY BLACKBIRD                 2         1
Brewer’s Blackbird 597 10145 83 250268 954 5538 6955 2805 2538 53 1217 1476 659 5881
Com. Grackle 580 82680 2695 113979 18456 55808 1432 1157 1407 101454 20517 84028 128482 93127
Boat-tailed Grackle 6119 27844 7937 6626 6139 7350 5872 3221 11104 8452 4379 155247 8105 3443
Great-tailed Grackle 5585 75000 4974 187693 52413 41877 3073 1666 5267 15898 20517 3212 31695 133443
SHINY COWBIRD                         1  
Bronzed Cowbird 6 5 8 3 1   2       14 12 18 22
Brown-headed Cowbird 57243 300000 21400 1507623 244938 328829 300791 450000 60567 1201680 4309491 393993 786079 792077
. . . blackbird, sp.       17000   35 110028     5500        
BULLOCK’S ORIOLE     1               1      
Baltimore Oriole     1   1     1   1        
PURPLE FINCH                       1    
House Finch                   14   2 1 3
Pine Siskin         3             2 1  
LESSER GOLDFINCH                       1    
Am. Goldfinch 150 230 499 535 377 669 371 954 660 679 198 685 552 504
House Sparrow 69 24 60 119 71 73 103 186 66 104 110 144 88 33
Nutmeg Mannikin                           1
                             
TOTAL SPECIES 197 205 210 223 234 230 228 235 233 243 231 246 250 233
                             
TOTAL INDIVIDUALS 662513 2926711 594272 2957044 2043921 1119874 3885654 2699733 1297778 4464514 9931692 4013462 2637524 3762374

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2007 Birding Opportunities at Mad ISLAND CBC

Thursday, October 25th, 2007

BIRDING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE

MATAGORDA COUNTY - MAD ISLAND MARSH CBC

Mad Island is a very diverse CBC that has posted the most species in the nation for 9 of the 14 years it has been conducted.  We are fortunate to get a sizeable turnout by birders, but we have lots of land to survey.  We get permission each year to survey over half of the land within the count circle. We have the likelihood of being the top CBC in the nation on a continuing basis with additional participation.

The CBC is divided into 12 sections and each section has a leader responsible for coordinating the birding for their area.  New birders to the count need to seek assignments to the count preferably at least one week in advance.  There is no one site where people just show up for assignments during the day of the count.  Some section leaders have rendezvous sites for their teams, but most just start birding as soon as they arrive.

Birding Needs:

We always need more people to help us work the beaches by scanning the Gulf for pelagics, and surveying behind the dunes for grassland and wetland birds.

There is a need for a few feeder watchers in the 2 residential areas within the Count to search for hummingbirds and unusual songbirds.

There are extensive areas of forests along the Colorado River that needs teams of good woodland birders to survey them thoroughly.

The TPWD wildlife management area and TNC preserve have extensive native grasslands, tidal marshes and managed waterfowl impoundments along with scattered motes of brush that always need additional help locating unusual birds and rare lingerers. 

Participating birders will be given this year’s custom t-shirt, a meal at the banquet and have their activity fees paid.

Contact brent.ortego@tpwd.state.tx.us if you need more information, or plan to attend.  Section assignments need to be made in advance.

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Mad Island CBC Directions

Monday, October 15th, 2007

Directions are provided below as to how to reach the annual banquet which is held during the first Monday night of the CBC season.

Directions to the various sections and birding teams are provided weeks in advance to people volunteering to do the CBC.  Birders should contact their section leaders in advance for plans for this year’s count.  If you are new to the CBC, contact Brent Ortego for initial assignment.  You will need to provide information on your birding skills, types of birds in which you are best at identifying, your ability to walk all day or need for sections that use vehicles, number of people in your group, etc. at

brent.ortego@tpwd.state.tx.us

banquet-map.JPG

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Mad Island CBC Best Birds

Sunday, October 14th, 2007

The Matagorda County - Mad Island Marsh Christmas Bird Count Section Leaders each year select the best bird reported for the count.  Listed below are the selections to date.

12/17/93 TUNDRA SWAN by John Eriksson in Matagorda - East

12/19/94 WESTERN GREBE by Bea & Jim Harrison, Toni Ritenor, and Pat Parinello in Peninsula - East

12/18/95  SHEARWATER SP.  by Tom Morris, Bea Harrison and Rose Wagner in Peninsula - East

12/23/96 LONG-TAILED DUCK by Bea & Jim Harrison, Tom Morris, Rose Wagner, and Richard & Dee Dee Hornea in Peninsula - East

12/22/97 GOLDEN EAGLE by Mark Elwonger & Petra Hockey in River

12/21/98 ZONE-TAILED HAWK by Jose Hernandez, Karen Bradley, and Betty Jo Peters in Matagorda

12/20/99 CASSIN’S VIREO by Bret Whitney in Selkirk Island

12/18/00 APLOMADO FALCON by Ural & Bruce Donohoe, Doug Furr, and Brandon Frueden Sprung as Rovers

12/17/01 COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD by Charlie & Olivia Brower in Matagorda

12/16/02 THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD by Dennis Myers, Steve Gast & Jim Stewart in STP

12/15/03 RED-NECKED GREBE by Brent Ortego, Bob Noster & Jerry McAllistger in East Bay, and THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD by James Stewart, Steve Gast, Bill Baker, & Dennis & Cammy Myers in STP

12/20/04 MASKED DUCK by Heather, Linda & Richard Serrill in TNC

12/19/05 WHIP-POOR-WILL by Nicholas Block & Roy Poinsett in Selkirk Island, CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD by Nicholas Block in Selkirk Island, and SHINY COWBIRD by Scott & Christina Summers in TNC

12/18/06 WESTERN GREBE by Sandy Dillard in Pensula - East

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Matagorda County - Mad Island Marsh CBC Intro

Sunday, October 14th, 2007

mad-island.jpg

The Matagorda County Mad Island Marsh CBC was started in 1993 by Jim Bergan and Brent Ortego to showcase the birds of the Mad Island Wildlife Management Area managed by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the Mad Island Marsh Preserve managed by The Nature Conservancy. The CBC has been highly successful by reporting the most species in the nation for 9 of the 14 years it has been conducted and has also listed 327 species between 1993 and 2006 with 250 species reported during 2005.

We have grown from 37 observers meeting in The Nature Conservancy Visitor Center for chilli during the 1993 count-down to having multi-sponsors with a banquet annually at the Wadsworth Community Center with a peak number of observers at 121 in 2002.

The normal formula for a CBC is that success attracts birders and quality birders find rare birds. This has been part of the formula for Mad Island, but there is so much more with this very special CBC.

A Christmas Bird Count survey area is a 15-mile diameter circle which contains 113,040 acres. More species are found by having the most diverse set of habitats within this space that is accessible to birders. Due to a large local support from Matagorda County residents, the CBC has access to most of the important bird habitats which contains 29% range land, 22% ag, 19% bays, 10% marsh, 6% reservoir, 5% prairie, 3% Gulf, 2% forests, 2% beaches & dunes, 1% rivers & canals, and 1% urban.

Nationally significant results has attracted strong local support which in turn has helped access the private lands which make up 65% of the CBC. Local support has also attracted sponsors which allows us to pay for the banquet, the National Audubon Society activity fees, the custom CBC t-shirt and the fuel for 3 commercial fishing guides who give up a day for our survey. We are proud for the assistance provided by our sponsors: Matagorda County Birding & Nature Center, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Center, Wells Fargo Bank, Lyondell Corp., Lower Colorado River Authority, Celanese, Bay City Abstract and Title, City of Bay City, Bay City Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture Convention & Visitor Bureau, All Star Real Estate, Coldwell Banker/Ward Real Estate, and The Nature Conservancy.

We thank the many landowners who manage the land which supports this abundant and diverse avian community in southern Matagorda County and provides the access to our birders. Lastly, we thank the birders who invest their time and energy in making us Number One to all who work with the Matagorda County - Mad Island Marsh CBC.

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