Dear 2008 May Counters,

     Although May Count was a month ago, you may remember that on May 10th we awoke to drizzly cool conditions throughout the county, which continued until about noon when the precipitation stopped, and blue sky began showing through the clouds. Several counters commented that, in spite of the drizzle, morning birding was quite good since birds were active and singing, making them fairly easy to find (through the rain drops on your glasses and/or binoculars!) Coverage of the county was excellent and a wide variety of habitats were surveyed.

Our species total for the day was 154, 4 more than last year, and 1 shy of 1989's all time high of 155 species. A total of 6328 individual birds was reported, down from last year's 8699. Thirty-eight birders counted for at least part of the 24-hour period with 16 counting 33.5 hours in their yards or at feeders and 22 ranging around the county. The latter group spent 146.8 hours traveling 589.5 miles by foot, car, tractor, and bicycle. After dark, an additional 4.75 hours were spent traveling 24 miles in search of owls.

Participants this year were: Jaime Alvarez; Natalie Atherton; Ken Bauer; Dale Beck; Ron Boyer; Vicki Carlson; Kevin Dodge; Curtis & Maria Duff; Courtney Englar; Andrew Frazee; Barbara & George Gaffney; Nellie Henken; Aaron Holochwost; Sheila Hughes; Carolyn Humberson; Glen Johnston; Alan, Jessica & Kyle Klotz; Liz McDowell; Ada, Harmonia, Jethro, Joyce & Lily Peachy; Bill & Fran Pope; Jeff Reitz; Connie Skipper; Angus & Dave Walbeck; Mary Walcek; David Yeany; Barbara Yoder; Irene Yoder; and Samuel Yoder.

Comparing the “Top Ten” birds reported this year to 2007, Red-winged Blackbird maintained its “Number One” status for the third consecutive year. Since 2000, it and the American Robin have each held either first or second place and this year marks the Red-winged's fifth year at the top. In 2008, Song Sparrow, Mourning Dove and American Goldfinch replaced 2007's Red-eyed Vireo, Common Yellowthroat and Eastern Towhee on the list.

     While most of the “Top Ten” birds were reported by many observers, only one species was actually on everyone's listcan you guess which one? (Hint: Only 56 were reported so it didn't make the “Top Ten”, but all of the feeder watchers had at least one, as did all of the field parties. It's tiny, hovers when it feeds, can fly backwards and the adult male has a ruby throat!)

Another 34 species (the same number as last year) were reported by only one party such as Dave & Angus' Tundra Swan and Swainson's Thrush; Kevin & Aaron's Green-winged Teal, Great Egret, Forster's Tern, both Winter & Marsh Wrens, and Blackburnian Warbler; Andrew's Common Merganser; Sheila, Ken & Natalie's Black Vulture, Cooper's Hawk and Blue-winged Warbler; Courtney's Bald Eagle and Worm-eating Warblers; Connie's Sharp-shinned Hawk, Black-billed Cuckoo, Whip-poor-will, Horned Larks, Bank Swallow, Vesper & Henslow's Sparrows; David's Virginia Rail; Barb & George's Dunlin and Bonaparte's Gull; Barbara's Eastern Wood-Pewee; Mary's Fox Sparrow; and my Lesser Scaup, Least Sandpiper, Common Tern, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Acadian Flycatcher, Purple Martins, Brewster's Warbler and Yellow-breasted Chat.

Thanks to all who took the time to bird and helped make 2008 such a memorable May Count. A complete data sheet is attached. Results will also be published in Maryland Birdlife, the journal of the Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS). Next year's count date is Saturday, May 9, 2009.

hope you'll join us again!

Good birding,
Fran Pope