2005 Christmas Bird Count Results
Buffalo Creek Watershed (IBA-80)

By Larry Helgerman, 
IBA-80 Coordinator CBC organizer & Compiler

2006 is here, and it's been three years already that I've been monitoring the birds of the Buffalo Creek Watershed, Washington County. I think by now most of you know there are two separate Buffalo Creek Watersheds in Western PA, and both are Important Bird Areas: IBA-22 & IBA-80.

On Sunday, December 18, 2005 we had our third winter bird count in the IBA-80 watershed. Every year I am little apprehensive about the CBC, they require a lot of time and effort to put together and require a number of good people who sacrifice precious holiday time.  Without these dedicated birders the count can't happen. I am very thankful to all who came down and made our count a success!

This year we again topped the first two CBC's. Fifty-nine species of birds were found and 4442 individual birds were counted!

Sighting highlights from field observers include: Adult Red-Headed Woodpecker by Amy & Jarred Taracido, Rough-Legged Hawk by Kathy Saunders & Christy Meredith, Eastern Phoebe and Savannah Sparrow by Marjorie & Jerry Howard, Winter Wren and Hermit Thrush by Fran & Dan O'Malley; Horned Larks by Dan Yagusic, Eastern Meadowlark by Mike Vacca, High Brown Creeper, Red-Breasted Nuthatch and Sparrow numbers by Bob Machesney & Ryan Tomazin, Red-Winged Blackbirds by Walt & Dana Shaffer, High White-Crowned Sparrows numbers by Eric Marchbein & Claire Staples, All around high species gatherers, Kate St John, Tom Byrnes and Mary Grey. 

The Feeder watchers are also very important to a CBC and this year they did better than ever. Ted Flickinger, Gail Wadzita, Janet Patterson, Jim Powell, Diane Scott, Debbie Stout, Chet Krcil and Deb Stefkovich added over 500 birds to our total! 

They also added to the species list with Gail calling in Barred Owls, Debbie with Great Horned Owls, Diane with Brown-Headed Cowbirds, and Deb with Northern Bobwhite and Black-Capped Chickadee.

Other notes of interest: The wintering White-Crowned Sparrows are of special interest, staying consistent with last year at 145. Song Sparrow numbers were up three fold at 344. Dark Eyed Juncos were up by 50% at 261. Towhee numbers doubled to 24. Pileated Woodpeckers tripled to 27. White-Breasted Nuthatches up by 30% to 113. Red-bellied Woodpeckers up by 20%. Brown Creepers up by 75% at 16. Also the Red tailed Hawk population seams to be stable at 49 and the Blue Jays doubled to 217, hopefully a good indication on the West Nile issue. 

Sectors & Field Participants: 
1-Bob Machesney & Ryan Tomazin
2-Dan Yagusic 
3-Mike Vacca 
4-Kathy Saunders & Christy Meredith
5-Amy & Jarred Taracido 
6-Fran & Dan O'Malley
7-Eric Marchbein & Claire Staples 
8-Marjorie & Jerry Howard 
9-Kate St John & Tom Byrnes & Bob Machesney
10-Mary Grey & Larry Helgerman
11-Walt & Dana Shaffer 
12-open.
Feeder Watchers: Ted Flickinger; Gail Wadzita; Janet Patterson; Jim Powell; Diane Scott; Debbie Stout; Chet Krcil; Deb Stefkovich.

Thanks again, I really appreciate everyone of you for taking the time, coming out and helping count the birds of the Buffalo Creek Watershed IBA-80! We topped last year in species and total numbers! 

Count Results: