Archive: Around Town

Every January 1 for the past 44 years bird enthusiasts in Tompkins County have gotten up early to count birds within a 15 mile circle. This year about 100 participants, organized by the Cayuga Bird Club, surveyed a circle that includes Lansing, Ithaca, Dryden, Caroline and Danby. The circle was broken into nine regions, including one that includes Lansing as far North as the southern end of Myers Park. Eleven counters covered the Lansing area, participating in what the Audubon Society calls "citizen science.".

"Observers identify and count all the birds they see or hear," says Lansing birder John Greenley. "At the end of the day, all gather for a pot-luck supper at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology in Lansing, and the counts are totalled and announced for all to hear."

Known as the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) the National Audubon Society began the tradition in 1900. Tompkins birders joined the effort in the early 1960s. The results of the count are entered into the longest running ornithological data base, providing data on bird populations over the course of more than a century. The first year only 27 counters participated. This has grown to over 50,000 volunteers nationwide who participate each year.

The Lansing group counted a Common Raven heard calling in the Gulf Creek gorge, five Northern Mockingbirds and more than 70 wild turkeys. "Probably the most unusual find was a Turkey Vulture on Burdick Hill Road," says Mark Chao, the count leader for the Lansing area. This species is common from spring through fall, but migrates south in winter. The warm weather and absence of snow cover surely accounts for this bird's presence here this week."

Mockingbirds are a Lansing staple. "For some reason, South Lansing is loaded with mockingbirds," says Chao, "which are pretty hard to find in Ithaca and Dryden."

Within the whole Tompkins County circle counters saw 84 species this year. The record is 88 for our area. Greenly reports a record number of 19 ravens. "A group of 9 were spotted at Hammond Hill," he says. "This is a very good sign of the recovery of Raven population which has been very low for many years. Ravens have been seen this fall for the first time in many years flying over Ludlowville."

He also says waterfowl totals were low at 3,232 as compared to the record year in which 10,000 were spotted. He and his son Tony also spotted a pair of common Redpolls, a small finch with a red cap and black throat. "A Peregrine Falcon has been seen at Myers, Stewart Park and other places," he says. "Keep an eye out for this magnificent bird!! Speaking of falcons, an American Kestrel, our smallest Falcon, lives along Brickyard Hill Road just above the school athletic fields, and can often be seen perched on the telephone wire there- this was the only Kestrel seen on this year's CBC.

Chao notes, "People might wonder why on earth someone would want to spend time counting birds on New Year's Day." One reason is the count's value to science, but Chao says, "The main thing is that it's just plain fun to get out with people and to see what's around." He adds, ""Lansing is loaded with great places to bird. We managed to pick up a lot of good species and had a good time."

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