Mild weather was clearly a factor in a new high of 94 species recorded during the Ladysmith Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 17.
There were 28 participants, similar to last year’s total, and three of those were solely bird feeder watchers.
Related story: More species seen in second annual bird count
The count area includes not only Ladysmith, but Saltair, Chemainus, Thetis Island and most of Penelakut Island.
It was overcast, calm and a high of 8 C on the count day, Dr. Bob Hay, the event organizer, pointed out.
Species new to the count list this year, he indicated, were: the long-tailed duck, short-eared owl, marbled murrelet, peregrine falcon, hermit thrush and white-throated sparrow.
Usual species that were missed, Hay added, included: American goldfinch, sharp-shinned hawk, white-winged scoter and American dipper. Additional species seen during the count week were sharp-shinned hawk, eared grebe and common murre.
Notable high counts of species were: bufflehead (358), barred owl (5 + 1 found dead), American crow (314, with 126 seen on Penelakut Island near the ferry terminal) and brown-headed cowbird (13). Low counts included: Canada goose (200), mallard (187), bald eagle (25), red crossbill (1) and pine siskin (9).
“Upland areas still need more birding attention,” Hay pointed out. “Also, Kulleet Bay was not included in the count this year as permission was denied to visit the area by local First Nations.”
Hay expressed his thanks to volunteers for their efforts and sending in their records. The results will be sent to the regional editor and are preliminary until confirmed.
There are other separate Christmas bird counts done to the north in Nanaimo and south in Duncan.