Because to me...it (the annual CBC) IS the "something else." 
Welcome to my version of the 110th annual Christmas Bird Count (
CBC). What would Frank Chapman s
ay if he could see how his vision of "counting" birds each Christmas season (instead of shooting the hell out of them in the annual "side hunt") has taken on a life of its own? Yes, I'm sure old Frank would be impressed that the annual "bird census" he helped to start is still going strong and attracting more and more citizen scientists each year. I have been involved si
nce 2006 (four years now) and look forward to this totally odd activity as a part of my Christmas experience. If nothing else, it is a chance to purposely step outdoors into the cold Wisconsin (late-late) fall and breath in the crisp air for the entire day. At best, it is a chance to celebrate all things avian with a few like-minded friends and kindred spirits.
My version always begins with a hearty cup of steaming coffee a
nd a bakery treat while the "strategy" of the day unfolds with those few stalwart souls who have decided to join me. This year's starting off establishment was
Cranky Al's Bakery in Wauwatosa, WI. The coffee and baked goods are very tasty and the atmosphere is usually as "cranky" as advertised. This year's CBC participants were; Steve Fronk, Bill and Tammy Bokern and me. Nola and Kay joined the rest of us for a quick cup of beans and then went on to their own errands while the four of us began our official count at Charles Hart Park (around 8:30 A
M). The weather was decidedly cold (27 degrees and falling) with a bit of a breeze from the north as we strapped on our binoculars and set off across the walking bridge across the Menomonee River in the heart of "section 20." The CBC is set up in 15 mile "circles" and each of those circles are further subdivided into 1 X 1 mile "squares" depending on the landscape in that single mile. The
Milwaukee Circle was coordinated this year by Andrea Szymczak. I
nterestingly, William Mueller and the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative (WBCI) had out an additional request of the CBC'ers to count the amount of
free-ranging cats and to report them as well this year. The participants are to "count" the total amount of each species (they are sure of) recorded in their section, to the best of their ability from midnight to midnight. The "offical" turn in date for all data is February 15, 2010. The WIMI circle our little group participated in had established December 19t
h for the circle as a whole, so that's the date (day) we counted on. WIMI circle has its "turn-in party" beginning at 4:00 PM at the Schlitz Audubon Center the evening of the count. I turned over our count data at around 4:20 with pride and shared a glass of ginger ale; basking in the afterglow of another successful CBC. Doesn't that sound like FUN!?
Section 20 was more than covered by our group of four with some amazing American Robin sightings along with more than a couple of large raptors. The bare branches of the urban woods made the spotting of birds much easier than in the past months leading up to the count...probably another reason for the
CBC's December time frame. We covered the "Big Four" first;
Hart,
Jacobus,
Doyne, and
Hawthorn Glen. These areas always seem to produce a wide variety and plentiful count. We spent some additional time driving around the "Highlands" with the intention of pic
king up some stragglers. Steve had left at around 11:00 AM to do some banking and then noon-time came and the Bokerns needed to leave for their own activities, so I went into Section 16; a lone (counting) wolf.
Dineen Park is my favorite area of the "more urban" section 16 which includes Enderis Park (my backyard). The park has a large pond feature that is the summer weather home to large numbers of waterfowl. At this time of year however, there are far more American Crows than Canada Geese, but I did spot one individual who had discovered some open water for a quick dip and drink.
Section 16 does feature two of the largest cemeteries in Milwaukee. You'd think that with all that open land, you'd find all the birds you needed to count, but not so. I have been to these two cemeteries:
Lincoln Memorial and
Holy Cross each year and find the
m as bereft of avian activity as can be. Gravely speaking; it's really "dead" in each of them. I
did however snap a photo of the greatest "tree-topper" ornament ever; an enormous Red-tailed Hawk. I finished up by doing a slow dr
ive throughout the Enderis neighborhood with the window down. I "listen" for bird activity and when I hear something, I investigate accordingly. It's not exact science, but that's what I've always done by myself. Which leads me to the punchline of this particular entry. I encourage those of you who have not counted, to volunteer NEXT year. Make it a priority on your personal calendars...and no, not just the old "until
something else comes up."
Consider making the Christmas Bird Count of 2010 YOUR "something else"...it's fun and worthwhile...trust me....Merry Christmas!
Section 16 sightings:
Canada Goose - 2
Herring Gull - 2
Ring-Billed Gull - 6
Red-Tailed Hawk - 1
Cooper's Hawk - 2
Blue Jay - 2
American Crow - 53
Mourning Dove - 17
American Robin - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Hairy Woodpecker - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 9
American Goldfinch - 9
House Sparrow - 140
Northern Cardinal - 13
House Finch - 7
Dark-Eyed Junco - 13
Section 20 sightings:
Canada Goose - 155
Mallard - 16
Herring Gull - 7
Great Blue Heron - 1
Ring-billed Gull - 5
Cooper's Hawk - 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2
American Crow - 3
Mourning Dove - 14
American Robin - 79
Downy Woodpecker - 6
White-breasted Nuthatch- 7
Hairy Woodpecker - 1
Red-bellied Woodpeckers - 4
Black-capped Chickadee - 14
American Goldfinch - 12
House Sparrow - 90
Northern cardinal - 10
House Finch - 18
Dark-eyed Junco - 8
Black-capped chickadees and White-breasted nuthatches flitted overhead while we all spotted a Red-tailed hawk soaring tree-top level over the river to the northeast. The river was mostly frozen over in long stretches, but was somewhat open in others. The water flowed by quite rapidly in these unfrozen stretches and dozens of Mallard ducks could be seen both in the frigid water and along the frozen edges of ice. A mighty CSX locomotive lumbered past on the east-bound tracks; causing birds to be disrupted from the treetops with its low-pitched, thrumming engine . We saw a man and his dog walking on the north bank as we continued or push towards the Harmonee Avenue parking lot. As we walked alongside a short section of railroad track we spied a man pushing a bicycle in the snow, coming towards us. We said hello to the guy who explained that we was "out here to see how the snow would be for a bike ride." I personally marvel at this type of temporary insanity and wonder how a tree-caused concussion could ever be worth the struggle.
We turned to the south and up the formidable Dewey Street hill and then down a large sledding hill that the locals called "suicide hill" due to the one enormous oak in the middle of the sled run. Fathers were dragging all manner of sledding appliance back up the steep slope with their happy, giggling children tagging along behind. We encountered a large flock of 15 Mourning doves at the top of the hill before we descended and I added them to our count sheet. The sidewalks along Honey Creek parkway were not plowed so we were forced to walk carefully and alertly on the salt-slushy roadway. More juncos, chickadees, robins and doves; along with House finches made their presence known on the count sheet as we walked back across the walking bridge and to the waiting cars. We did manage to count our first beautiful male Northern cardinal of the day, along with a few female companions. The next stop was to drive to the Jacobus Park area. There we logged more woodpeckers amongst the virgin timber high above our heads. Overall, there wasn't too much shakin' in the park, but we did a broad sweep nonetheless.
The real deal was when we moved eastward to where Robert knew of a woman who was a voracious feeder of wildlife. Her bird feeders and yard yielded nearly countless numbers of all the species we had already tallied; but in far greater amounts. The open water of the river at this location also offered up hundreds of Mallards and lord knows whatever else may have been lurking in amongst them. The bird feeders and shrubbery in the front and back of her home were teeming with avian life attempting to get to some of the banquet of seeds and suet she had provided. We gleefully chalked up dozens and dozens of birds before deciding to leave for a pit-stop at Taco Bell on North Avenue in Wauwatosa. By the way; do try their new Steakhouse Burrito...it's meaty, cheesy and fantastic!
With the daylight quickly fading the sky had taken on the customary Milwaukee winter gray. Snow had begun to lightly fall in the form of tiny Styrofoam beads due to the colder temperature. I dropped Barbara off at home to get a few things done and I met Robert in front of his home for another hour of walking and counting. We set off again on foot in the direction of Doyne Park and the Oak Leaf Trail. Woodpeckers, chickadees and juncos were the only birds still moving as we walked along the river. Numerous graffiti tags colorfully festooned the south facade of a forgotten building across the water, and a front end loader noisily scraped the gravel of a service road as its operator cleared the snow. We tramped through drifts on our side of the river towards the I-175 / Lisbon Avenue bridge in search of whatever might make itself known to be tallied. The open area on top of the lower pathway is what constituted Doyne Park and golf course. Robert explained that long ago it used to be a county landfill. This was evident by the three off-gassing vents that stuck out of the snow and lined one side of what would have been a sidewalk, had it not been completely covered with snow. Apparently these were there to monitor what still might be escaping from below the surface of the ground.
I did some slow-driving through the Washington Highlands in a zigzag fashion (back and forth through the neighborhoods) with the driver's side window down to listen. The snow was falling quite heavily and no birds could either be seen nor heard. I decided to call it a day and pointed the Ford north to bring our team's count results to the group that was assembling at the Schlitz Audubon Center. Traffic was incredibly slow due to the wintery conditions and to the fact that most people should not even be on the roads when they are not 100% dry. I grew up in Northern Wisconsin and am quite used to operating a car in snow. There were eight people at the center when I arrived. I recognized our count coordinator, Andrea Szymczak, birders Judith Huf, Marilyn Bontly and Scott Diehl. They were gathered around one of the two large wooden tables in what is called the "Hearth Room." There was a fire in the fire place and snacks on a smaller table. Papers were circulating and conversation about what was seen and not seen as I tallied up the two sheets I had been using onto the one official results sheet.
