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Juneau Audubon SocietyP.O. Box 21725Juneau, AK 99802-1725Revised: December 31, 2022. |
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Juneau Audubon SocietyP.O. Box 21725Juneau, AK 99802-1725Revised: December 31, 2022. |
Christmas Bird Count Archive
Juneau, Alaska
2022 Juneau Christmas Bird Count took place on Saturday, December 17, 2021.
Click here for list of species observed during the 2022 Christmas Bird Count.
The 50th Juneau Christmas Bird Count took place Saturday, December 17, 2022. Thirty-six volunteers reported 55 species on count day. An additional 10 species were reported during count week, for a total of 65 species. The total number of individual birds counted was 6,650.
Low temperatures and high winds during count week likely contributed to the relatively low number of count-day species. On count day,
observers reported clear skies and temperatures ranging from 12 degrees in the glacier forelands to the mid-twenties in coastal areas. Most of the area was windy. Standing water was frozen, and snow was not reported.
Highlights on count day included a Cackling Goose at Fish Creek on North Douglas and a Eurasian Collared-Dove at an Auke Bay residence. A Spotted Towhee was seen at a Mendenhall Valley residence during count week. Also seen during count week but not on count day were Hooded Merganser, Common Loon, Killdeer, Pigeon Guillemot, Northern Shrike, Brown Creeper, Bohemian Waxwing, Rusty Blackbird, and Pine Grosbeak.
Twenty-two species have been seen on each of the previous 49 counts and were seen on this count. The five most numerous species were Mallard (1,221), Glaucous-winged Gull (961), Canada Goose (661), American Wigeon (456), and Barrow's Goldeneye (451). This year, we recorded new high counts of Lesser Scaup (30), Iceland Gull (Thayer's) (34), and Anna's Hummingbird (5) and a new low count of Black-billed Magpie (5).
Thanks to those who volunteered!
2021 Juneau Christmas Bird Count took place on Saturday, December 18, 2021.
Click here for list of species observed during the 2021 Christmas Bird Count.
The 49th Juneau Christmas Bird Count took place Saturday, December 18. Thirty-nine volunteers reported 53 species and 7,239 individual birds on count day. Twelve additional species were seen during count week, for a total of 65 species.
Count day was clear and cold, with temperatures ranging from the single digits near the Mendenhall Glacier to the low twenties near the water. The ground was snow-covered, and ponds and lakes were frozen.
Highlights on count day included a Glaucous Gull at the landfill in the Lemon Creek area, and an Anna's Hummingbird at a residence near Twin
Lakes.
Highlights during count week included two Trumpeter Swans, which were observed flying over the Back Loop and also seen on the Mendenhall River, a continuing American Coot at Statter Harbor, a Red-breasted Sapsucker at an Auke Bay residence, an American Three-toed Woodpecker at Fish Creek, and a Barred Owl at a Back Loop residence.
Twenty-two species have been seen on each of the previous 48 counts and were seen on this count. The five most numerous species were Mallard (2060), Glaucous-winged Gull (1418), Canada Goose (411), Barrow's Goldeneye (530), and Surf Scoter (378). A new
Glaucous Gull, photo courtesy of Mark Schwann
low count of three White-winged Scoters was recorded this year. Thrushes evaded detection on count day and during count week. Four species of woodpeckers were recorded, including two Downy Woodpeckers and three Hairy Woodpeckers on count day and a Red-breasted Sapsucker and an American Three-toed Woodpecker during count week.
Thanks to those who volunteered! Please contact Patty Rose at p_rose_raven@yahoo.com if you have questions.
2020 Juneau Christmas Bird Count took place on Saturday, December 19, 2020.
Click here for list of species observed during the 2020 Christmas Bird Count.
Highlights on count day included a continuing Trumpeter Swan on Auke Lake, a Ring-necked Duck at the DIPAC hatchery, a Double-crested Cormorant on the South Douglas waterfront, a Bonaparte's Gull on the downtown Juneau and Thane Road waterfront, a continuing Northern Flicker at a North Douglas residence, and a continuing White-throated Sparrow at a Back Loop residence.
Highlights during count week included a Northern Shoveller at the Fish Creek access to the Mendenhall Wetlands, a continuing Long-billed Dowitcher at the Industrial Boulevard access to the Mendenhall Wetlands, an American Three-toed Woodpecker on the Richard Marriott Trail in the Lemon and Switzer Creeks area, and a Merlin in the Sandy Beach area of South Douglas.
The 2020 Juneau Christmas Bird Count took place on Saturday, December 19, 2020. This year’s count was modified to conform to guidelines set by the National Audubon Society for conducting a COVID-19 safe and socially distanced count. Those guidelines and a few additional modifications will help ensure the safety of participants while still providing an opportunity to get outside and observe birds.
The National Audubon Society guidelines are as follows: (1) activities must comply with all current state and municipal COVID-19 guidelines; (2) in-person gatherings must be cancelled; (3) social distancing and masking are required at all times in the field; (4) carpooling may occur only within existing family or social pod groups; and (5) compilers must wait until 11/15 to schedule a count.
If you have questions, please contact Patty Rose at p_rose_raven@yahoo.com.
took place on Saturday, January 4, 2020.
2019 Juneau Christmas Bird Count
Click here for list of species observed during the 2019 Christmas Bird Count.
Juneau Birders and Count Participants,
Thanks to those who participated in the 47th Juneau Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, January 4. Twenty-four volunteers reported 70 species and 10,131 individual birds. A few feeder watchers also contributed their observations to the count. Twelve additional species were seen during count week, for a total of 82.
The weather was cloudy, with temperatures in the upper twenties to low thirties, snow flurries, and light winds. The ponds and lakes were frozen or partly frozen.
Highlights included Northern Shoveler, Ring-necked Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Red-breasted Sapsucker, American Kestrel, Merlin, Lapland Longspur, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and White-throated Sparrow on count day and Canvasback, Surfbird, Great Horned Owl, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Spotted Towhee, and Lincoln's Sparrow during count week. Those species have been seen on 10 or fewer previous counts.
Surprisingly, the count resulted in nine new highs: Pied-billed Grebe (2), Bald Eagle (220), Killdeer (22), Dunlin (440), Merlin (5), Pacific Wren (18), Varied Thrush (120), White-winged Crossbill (670), and Pine Siskin (2,065). Additionally, Red-breasted Sapsucker was a new count-day species for the Juneau count.
Twenty-two species have been
seen on each of the 47 counts.
For the first time on a Juneau
count, Long-Tailed Duck was not
reported, nor was it reported
during count week. The five most
numerous species were Mallard
(2,146), Pine Siskin (2,065),
White-Winged Crossbill (670),
Glaucous-winged Gull (590), and
Common Raven (488).
Thanks, Patty Rose Compiler
Count Day Species - 70
Count Week Species - 12
Total Species - 82
Total Individual Birds - 10,131
Volunteers: 24
2018 Juneau Christmas Bird Count
Click here for list of species observed during the 2018 Christmas Bird Count.
The 46th Juneau Christmas Bird Count took place Saturday, December 15, 2018. Twenty-nine volunteers reported 59 species and 7,180 individual birds. A few feeder watchers also contributed their observations to the count. Ten additional species were seen during count week, for a total of 69.
The weather was overcast, with temperatures in the upper teens to upper twenties, zero precipitation, and calm winds in all areas except downtown and Douglas, which were windy. Most ponds and lakes were frozen.
Highlights include Sanderling, Spotted Towhee, White-Throated Sparrow, Anna's Hummingbird, and Red-Winged Blackbird on count day and Sharp-shinned Hawk, Black Turnstone, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Short-eared Owl, Wilson's Warbler, and Harris's Sparrow during count week. Those species have been seen on fewer than 20 previous counts.
The count resulted in two new highs, one new low, and a new species. Counts of 873 American Wigeons and 345 Dunlin are new high counts for those species. A count of 112 Surf Scoters is a new low for that species. Additionally, Wilson's Warbler, which was seen during count week, is a new species for the Juneau count.
The 23 species that have been seen on each of the other 45 counts were seen on count day. The five most numerous species were Mallard (2,049), American Wigeon (873), Canada Goose (724), Glaucous-winged Gull (714), and Common Raven (274).
2017 Christmas Bird Count - Results
by Patty Rose
The 45th Juneau Christmas Bird Count took place Saturday, December 16. Thirty-one volunteers went out in the rain and wind and reported 52 species and 9,393 individual birds. A few feeder watchers also contributed their observations to the count. The weather undoubtedly affected the outcome, and the number of species reported was one of the lowest on record. Fortunately, good weather during count week enabled volunteers to add 22 count week species, for a respectable total of 74.
The rarest birds of the day were four Evening Grosbeaks seen at a downtown feeder. Evening Grosbeak had not been previously seen on a Juneau Christmas Bird Count. Other noteworthy observations were Bonaparte's Gull, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Great Horned Owl, and Anna's Hummingbird on count day, and Northern Shoveler, American Three-toed Woodpecker, and Hoary Redpoll during count week.
The count resulted in one new high and one new low. A count of seven Black-billed Magpies set a new low for that species. The previous low was eight in 1981. A count of four Evening Grosbeaks added a new species to the checklist and established a high count for that species.
Despite the weather, the 23 species that have been seen on each of the other 44 counts were seen on count day. The five most numerous species were Mallard (2,243), Surf Scoter (1,684), Canada Goose (1,398), Glaucous-winged Gull (1,032), and Northwestern Crow (865).
Click Here for a detailed list of species observed during the 2017 CBC.
Christmas Bird Count - 2016
The 2016 Juneau Christmas Bird Count was held on Sunday, December 18, 2016, the first weekend of the designated count period of December 14 through January 5. This marked the 117th year of the CBC, with counts planned across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. This was our 44th count in Juneau.
Juneau Christmas Bird Count Results
The Juneau Christmas Bird Count was on Sunday, December 18th. The weather was horrible most of count week and our participation on count day was the lowest in many years, with only 18 people in the field. However, there were a few dedicated feeder watchers that contributed to the tally. We saw 59 species for the day and an additional 8 species during the count week. Our species total for the count day was 10 species below the average for the last 30 years, and our individual bird tally of 6,283 was about 40 percent below average.
We had no new species for the count, no new high
counts for any species, but one new record low
count: Northwestern Crow; where were they?
Also, we did not see one loon of any kind during
the entire week. This has never happened before
on our count. Interestingly, as Gus van Vliet
has noted from his long-time view of inner Auke
Bay, there have been no loons in sight for some
time now, but rather a relatively large number
of both Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, and
our count day numbers for those species
reflected as such. Our more unusual count day
species included one male Eurasian Widgeon, one
Eurasian Collared-Dove, three Anna's
Hummingbirds (perhaps not so unusual any
longer), one Ruby-crowned Kinglet, the now
“famous” Spotted Towhee, one White-throated
Sparrow, and 9 Red-winged Blackbirds. Unusual
count week species included a Short-eared Owl, a
Downy Woodpecker, and a Lincoln's Sparrow.
Thanks to all the participants who braved the weather and made the count a success.
Click here to view the 2016 results.
2015 Juneau Christmas Bird Count
Saturday, January 2nd, 2016
View 2015 CBC Results: Click Here
We had 40 people in the field and a small group of people at home watching feeders. We had a boating party, which is unusual for us, but the weather out toward Portland Island was so bad that the party had to abort and come home, with some effort directed closer to home in the bay where birds were a bit concentrated in sheltered areas.
We found 54 species on count day, and had an additional 19 species found during the count week. Nineteen species is likely the most we have ever added during a count week, and this is because we missed so many birds on the count day but the weather improved markedly over the next few days, and birders found many additional species. The 54 species on count day was a substantially below average number, and the number of individual birds counted, 5,982 was way below average and the lowest count since 1980. We also had no record high counts, or all-time low counts for the 23 species we have seen every year (all previous 42 counts). However, we had below average, and quite low counts for many species.
Surf Scoters Photo by Bob Armstrong
After all the amazing bird activity in Auke Bay this fall, there were still seemingly a good number of fish-eating species around, with above average numbers for Pacific Loon, Common Merganser, and Common Murre tallied on count day. If conditions had been better, it would have been interesting to see what the counts on these species would have been. But, most waterfowl counts were down, except for Barrow's Goldeneye, the Corvid counts were all down but gull numbers were reasonable. Again, most of the low numbers were likely due to viewing conditions and birds taking shelter and hunkering down . . .
Regarding surprises or rarities, we did have a few species show up either during the count week or on count day that have only been seen a few times, and one species never seen before on our count. For example, a Spotted Towhee was present, a true vagrant species, but it has actually been seen on four prior counts; pretty amazing given it is quite a rare bird in Alaska, anytime, anywhere. On the flip side, a Red-breasted Sapsucker was seen during count week. There are a few local winter records but this was the first time we found one during a count week. We also had two Long-billed Dowitchers and a Yellow-rumped Warbler on count day, and a Redhead and Double-crested Cormorant during the count week. All of these species have been recorded only one or two times previously on our count.
Surf Scoters Photo by Bob Armstrong
Juneau Empire article on CBC: click here
Juneau’s 2014-2015 Christmas Bird Count
by Mark Schwan
2014 CBC Results
The Juneau Christmas Bird Count for 2014 was held on December 14. We had mild weather with virtually no snow cover but standing fresh waters were mostly frozen. Thirty field observers and several feeder watchers found 71 species and 7,199 individual birds on count day, plus an additional eight species were located during the other days of our count week (see attached table). Our total count of individual birds was the lowest in nearly 30 years, which included an all-time low count for Surf Scoter. Other water species were in low numbers and the Glaucous-winged Gull count was likely affected by the fact that the count was held on a Sunday, and the landfill was not operating. Gull, eagle and raven numbers in the immediate Lemon Creek area were lower than usual.
The biggest highlight of the count day was the Long-eared Owl found by Deanna and Brian MacPhail on the west side of the Mendenhall River near the end of Industrial Blvd. This species had never been seen on a Christmas Bird Count anywhere in Alaska. Other highlights included a Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawk and American Kestrel, both birds that have continued to linger in our area. Several Anna’s Hummingbirds have been frequenting local feeders this fall but only one was seen on count day. A very late Orange-crowned Warbler seen several times along the airport dike trail prior to the count day, ended up being a count week species.
Again, the bird tally and potluck were held after the count at the home of Debi Ballam and Mark Schwan. As always, it was a great way to end the day. Thanks to all who participated
Juneau and Southeast Christmas Counts summarized by the Capital City Weekly. Click here.
2013 Juneau Christmas Bird Count
The Juneau Christmas Bird Count for 2013 was held on Saturday, January 4,
2014.
The designated count period runs from December 14th
through
January 5th. This marks the 114th
year of the CBC, with counts planned across the
United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin
America. Here in Juneau, this was our 41th
count.
History
of the Christmas Bird Count
2013 Juneau Xmas Bird Count Report
American Tree Sparrow -- Mark Schwan
2012 Christmas Bird Count -- By Mark Schwan
The Juneau Christmas Bird Count for 2012 was held on December 15. We again lucked out on the weather, as the prior day was absolutely miserable, but then conditions improved markedly for count day. Leading up to the count, we didn’t expect a great diversity of birds, as wintery conditions for some time had pushed many lingering birds to the south.
Twenty
eight field observers found 66 species and
12,183 individual birds on count day, plus an
additional ten species were located during the
other days of our count week (see attached
table). Our total count of individual birds was
above average but this was the case only because
of a record smashing number of mallards; many
species were seen in low numbers. All the common
species that have been seen on the previous 39
counts were found once again. The biggest
highlights of the count day included a Snowy Owl
on the wetlands found by Nick Hajdukovich and
Amy Clark Courtney, and the Sooty Grouse found
by Julie Coghill near the Treadwell Ditch on
Douglas Island. Other highlights included the
continued presence of the Swamp Sparrow near
Temsco Helicopters, and a terrific variety of
waterfowl on the wetlands and the lower
Mendenhall River.
Again, we had the bird tally and potluck at our house at the end of the day; it was a very nice evening. Thanks to all who participated.
For more information or if you have questions, call Mark Schwan, at 789- 9841.
See the January, 2013 edition of the Raven for the results of the Juneau Christmas Bird count and other communities in southeast Alaska. Click here.
2011 Christmas Bird Count results for Juneau
2010 Christmas Bird Count results for Juneau
2009 Christmas Bird Count results for Juneau
The 2004 Juneau CBC was held on Sunday, December 18, 2004.
The results of the 2002 Juneau Christmas Bird Count (CBC) and all previous years are available at the National Audubon Society web site.
Follow these links to view the results of the Juneau Christmas Bird Count for the current CBC and for each CBC since 1976.
2003 Juneau CBC results in PDF format.
Send your comments or
suggestions to: webmaster@juneau-audubon-society.org Copyright © 2006 - 2023 Juneau Audubon Society,
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