After weeks of temperatures in the 60's and 70's, the day of the bird count the weather turned cold. That may explain the lackluster numbers for this year. Or perhaps these are normal for mid-December. This year marked a change in the date of the count from New Year's Day to the first Sunday after December 13th. This change was to be able to join the count circle in Durham which the park is within.
Here's what we recorded for December 20th, 2015:
Weather Conditions:
Sky Conditions: Clear
Wind Direction & Velocity: Calm
Temperature: 25°F
Checklist Results:
Black Vulture - 2
Turkey Vulture - 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 2
Downy Woodpecker - 1
American Crow - 3
Carolina Chickadee - 1
Tufted Titmouse - 3
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Carolina Wren - 2
Eastern Bluebird - 7
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
Field Sparrow - 2
White-throated Sparrow - 6
Northern Cardinal - 7
There were 14 individual species counted with 41 total birds spotted.
More information about the Audubon Christmas Bird Count can be found at the National Audubon Society's website: http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count.
If you'd like to take part in a bird count, the park will participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count from February 12-15, 2016, which is a great event for first-time counters or beginning birders as well as experienced birders. Call the park office for more information: 919-732-5505.
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