By Tom Moore
This year’s 33rd Brome Lake Christmas count (and 124th Audubon count) was notable for a complete absence of “winter finches”, (the grosbeaks, redpolls, and crossbills irrupting from the boreal forests). With Brome Lake frozen and few waterfowl, expectations for the count were not high.
About 30 volunteers took part on the 6th December and turned up 1039 birds from 33 species. In recent counts the following total birds were: 2018: 1109, 2019: 841, 2021: 2726, 2023: 1066. (Note that the 2021 numbers were inflated by open water and a large number of late migrating ducks).
As usual, chickadees were the most numerous species (241), followed by mallard ducks (81), mourning doves (78), crows (58), and goldfinch (56).
Unusual sightings were one hooded merganser, a redbellied wood-pecker, one great blue heron, a Coopers hawk, and two pileated woodpeckers. Sightings of 24 cardinals and 13 tufted titmouse would seem to indicate an increase in these species.
It is likely that the continued increasing of population and climate change will further reduce wild bird numbers but perhaps the rejuvenation of the mill pond will attract some shorebirds, ducks and geese to the area.
Thanks to all volunteers for their participation.
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