The 88th Boonton Christmas Bird Count Report – 2023

Posted on December 26, 2023 by Jonathan Klizas

The 88th annual Boonton Christmas Bird Count (hereafter, Boonton CBC and/or BCBC) took place on Saturday, December 23, 2023. Temperatures ranged from 26°F at 5:30 AM rising up to 45°F in the afternoon. The day was overcast with little wind and no thermals. Bodies of water were open except in some cases where a paper thin layer of ice prohibited any waterfowl. The previous weekend’s rainstorm created flooded conditions for low-lying areas making some areas inaccessible. Mild weather through the autumn and early winter seasons created some interesting developments such as robust totals for some species and not so robust for others.

Most importantly, a huge warm thank you to all of the 37 participants in 15 parties for your enthusiasm and energy in making this endeavor possible. Please forward this to anyone you think may be interested. 

91 species were reported along with four count-week species (so far). The average for the previous 10 years is…90.9. The 88-year average is 82.4.

A list of the species found on this CBC is at the following link: https://mocosocobirds.com/birds-of-morris-county-n-j/boontoncbc/species-list/ Species seen on the 2023 count are marked with an asterisk or cw if they are a count-week species.

For your information, the count-week species are Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, American Kestrel, and Red-breasted Nuthatch.

21,192 individual birds were tallied. This is the second highest total since 2016 but 1,600 lower than the ten-year average and 3,900 lower than the 21st century average. On the bright side it is 4,600 greater than the 88-year average. 

1,476,981 individual birds have been counted in the 88 uninterrupted years of the Boonton CBC. Somewhere, Floyd Wohlfarth and Irv Black are smiling.

Highlights for this year’s Boonton CBC are as follows:

8 species reached new high totals or tied a previous high despite some parties reporting lower than usual numbers. 48 species had totals greater than their 21st century averages.

  • 244 Buffleheads broke the previous record of 221 in 2006.
  • 132 Turkey Vultures are better than 128 in 2021. The Great Piece Meadows team finding a roost greatly helped.
  • Peregrine Falcons had a record 6 doubling the previous record of 3 in 2021 and 2011.
  • Barred Owls tied their record of 5 also reached in 2000, 2004, 2005, and 2012.
  • Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, a recent addition to the breeding species of Morris County, came in with 23 individuals, beating the 17 found in 2021. Sapsuckers were first reported on the Boonton CBC in 1970 with usually 1 or 2 reported until the mid-1990s when increasing totals became the norm. This also coincides with the first known nesting of the species in Sussex County. The past three years have seen 17, 16, and 23 tallied respectively, a virtual explosion.
  • Carolina Wrens totaled 135 sneaking past the 130 found in 2020.
  • Winter Wren – 28. The previous high was 23 in 1998. Another wren showing an upward trend. 2022 was a blip when only 4 were reported but 2019-21 had 19, 22, and 20, the strongest continuous showing in the 88 years of the CBC. 2023 continues that trend.
  • 9 Gray Catbirds set a new record. The previous high of 7 was in 2021 and 1996.

Other highlights

  • An Orange-crowned Warbler at Bee Meadow Park is a highlight of this year’s count. It is the 5th in the 21st century and 13th overall in 88 years.
  • 2 Cackling Geese make it three years in a row for this species.
  • 4 American Wigeon slightly reverses a downward trend as in being missed 4 of the previous 6 years.
  • 198 Ruddy Ducks is the most since 260 in 2015.
  • Lesser Scaup numbers fluctuate greatly year-to-year but 47 is the most since 62 in 2012.
  • 2 Common Loons are the first since 2013, other than a count-week record in 2017.
  • 34 Great Blue Herons is the highest since 47 in 2011.
  • 4 Virginia Rails at Troy Meadows is a tribute to the effort of Jeff Ellerbusch.
  • 13 Cooper’s Hawk continues an upward trend for this species.
  • The same can be said for Red-shouldered Hawks at a modest level. 7 reported this year continues a pattern for the past six years of an increase.
  • 682 Mourning Doves is the most since 735 in 2004 and doubles most tallies in the previous six years. The high count was 863 in 1973.
  • 27 Eastern Screech-Owls is the most since 29 in 2004. 48 was the high count in 1975.
  • All woodpecker numbers were up except for only 1 Red-headed Woodpecker found at Troy Meadows.
  • 297 Fish Crows outnumbered American crows by 5! This has never come close to happening before. Fish Crows were not regularly found on the CBC until the 1990s. Three parties accounted for 95% of the total. Fish Crows like hanging out with Fish Crows.
  • 39 Golden-crowned Kinglets is the most since 46 in 2000 but falls far short of the record number of 122 in 1992.
  • 14 Hermit Thrushes is the highest total since the record count of 31 in 1976. 
  • 2 Common Yellowthroats make it three out of the last five years for this species after not being found since 2004.
  • A surprising 249 Rusty Blackbirds is the most since 291 in 2011. Most were found by the Essex party.
  • 53 Cedar Waxwings is an improvement over 2022’s zero.
  • 7 Purple Finches is the most since 14 in 2008.

Other News:

  • Duck numbers were down across the board but that can be attributed to a lack of a freezing pattern north of the region.
  • Where have all the turkeys gone? Only 1 was reported. Wild Turkeys have been annual since 1988. 2018 also only had 1. This continues a declining trend for this species.
  • 19 Black Vultures. The second year in a row with relatively low numbers. Avian flu casualties?
  • Another poor showing for Red-tailed Hawks with 46. 100+ was the norm in the 1990s and even as late as 2008 when 109 was the total. The high count was 138 in 1995.

The following species were seen by one party only, an indicator of how fragile the total species count of a CBC can be. The species column is followed by the amount reported. The third column represents the percentage of occurrences in the 88-year history of the count.

SpeciesTotal% of years on BCBCComments
Cackling Goose26.8%Three years in a row. First recorded in 2008.
American Wigeon480.7%Formerly an annual, seen only four times in the past nine years.
Lesser Scaup4753.4%Erratic numbers through the years.
Common Goldeneye149.4%With open water, it can usually be found somewhere.
Wild Turkey142.0%1983 was the first year. Every year since 1988.103 in 2000. What has happened?
Pied-billed Grebe177.3%Fluctuating numbers.
Virginia Rail440.9%Milder weather.
Killdeer163.6%The only shorebird on this year’s CBC.
Red-headed Woodpecker147.7%Cyclical species.
Marsh Wren339.8%Probably more common in winter than realized.
Orange-crowned Warbler114.8%Apparently a good season in 2023 for this species.
Common Yellowthroat 226.1%Three times in the past five years after not recorded since 2004.
Chipping Sparrow128.4%Slightly more regular in recent years.
Savannah Sparrow172.7%Another species formerly more common and becoming less so.

The following table shows notable species missed in 2022 that appear in more than 50% in the history of the Boonton CBC. 

Species% of years on BCBCComments
Northern Shoveler52.3%Second miss since 1988.
Canvasback59.1%Not a good year for waterfowl.
Ruffed Grouse58.0%Old story, not since 2006.
Rough-legged Hawk53.4%Not since 2010.
Wilson’s Snipe62.5%Simply less common than in days of old.
Great Black-backed Gull63.6%Less frequent in recent years.
Long-eared Owl59.1%Formerly a regular find, now rare on the CBC
Pine Siskin55.7%Surprising since there were scattered reports during the autumn.

Historical Items

Below is the list of species occurring in all 88 years of the Boonton CBC. This has not changed since 2018:

  • American Black Duck
  • Mallard
  • Red-tailed Hawk
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Blue Jay
  • American Crow
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Brown Creeper
  • European Starling
  • American Tree Sparrow
  • Song Sparrow
  • Swamp Sparrow
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco
  • Northern Cardinal
  • American Goldfinch
  • House Sparrow

Here is the Top Ten of the number of individuals for all 88 years of the count. 1,476,981 individual birds were counted uninterrupted from 1936-2022. The only change in the rankings is that White-throated Sparrow has moved ahead of Ring-billed Gull.

 SpeciesTotal Individuals (88 years)
1European Starling217,041
2Canada Goose184,020
3Common Grackle135,552
4American Crow127,049
5Mallard66,168
6Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco59,979
7American Tree Sparrow53,781
8Red-winged Blackbird45,022
9White-throated Sparrow41,053
10Ring-billed Gull40,817

The 89th Boonton CBC for 2024

The Boonton CBC is traditionally held on the second Sunday of the Christmas Count period. With that in mind, we will schedule the 89th Boonton CBC on Sunday, December 22, 2024. 

You can also access the summaries of the years 2012-2023 through the Birds of Morris County > Boonton Christmas Bird Count menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com web site.

A peaceful and healthy 2024 to all!

Jonathan Klizas
Compiler, Boonton CBC
www.mocosocobirds.com

Nature and Art, nothing else matters.

Posted in Morris County | 2 Comments

The 87th Boonton Christmas Bird Count Report – 2022

Posted on December 28, 2022 by Jonathan Klizas
Red-shouldered Hawk, Troy Meadows, Morris Co., NJ, Dec. 26, 2022 (photo by Jonathan Klizas) Click on the photo for a larger image.

The 87th annual Boonton Christmas Bird Count (hereafter, Boonton CBC) took place on Monday, December 26, 2022. Temperatures ranged from 14°F at 6 AM rising up to 26°F in the afternoon. It was cold, plain and simple although sunny most of the day. The frigid blast of the previous days froze most stationary bodies of water and some smaller streams and brooks. Larger rivers were mostly ice-free as were some reservoirs. There was no snow cover at all.

Most importantly, a huge warm thank you to all of the 31 participants for their enthusiasm and energy in making this endeavor possible. This post will also appear on the mocosocbirds.com website.

The total number of species for 2022 is 86 with two count-week species. The 87 year average species count is 81.3. The 21st-century average is 95.3. 

Interestingly the species totals since 2018 read as follows:

  • 2018 – 86
  • 2019 – 97
  • 2020 – 86
  • 2021 – 96
  • 2022 – 86 – I suppose it was meant to be.

19,277 individual birds were tallied. This is a dip of 3,000 since 2021 but still better than the years 2017-20 when the average for that four-year period was 13,233.

White-crowned Sparrow, Montville Twp., NJ, Dec. 26, 2022 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Highlights for this year’s Boonton CBC are as follows:

  • Only one species had a new high total this year: 4 Cackling Geese were found. Only single geese were found in the previous four years this species was recorded.
  • 5,149 Canada Geese is the highest total since 6,072 in 2016.
  • 18 Northern Pintail is the highest total since 24 in 2014.
  • 5 Canvasbacks were recorded for the first time since 2016.
  • 15 Redheads is the highest total since 15 in 2005.
  • 1 Common Goldeneye was found. This makes five years in a row for this once annual species.
  • 1,629 Common Mergansers is the highest total since 2015 when 2,333 were recorded.
  • 2 Red-breasted Mergansers mark only the thirteenth time this species has been recorded on the Boonton CBC.
  • 1 lone Pied-billed Grebe was observed. This species has been missed only three times since 1965.
  • The streak for Merlin continues. 1 was found marking the tenth year in a row for this species. The first Merlin ever recorded on the Boonton CBC was 1 in 1991. Merlin didn’t become a regular entry until 2001.
  • To a lesser degree a similar pattern has emerged for Peregrine Falcon. This marks the fourth year in a row for this species. Peregrines were found in 1939, 1941, 1954, and then not again until 1997.
  • 1 Wilson’s Snipe represents the only shorebird found on the count in 2022.
  • Woodpecker totals were not noteworthy although Yellow-bellied Sapsucker numbers are clearly on a steady upward trajectory. They now nest in Morris County for the past few years.
  • Blue Jays had their highest total, 727, since 746 in 2016.
  • Common Ravens have become a relatively common feature of the count circle’s avifauna. 23 is the second highest total since they were first found in 2002. 2021’s 45 is an extraordinary total.
  • 2 Marsh Wrens were recorded despite mostly frozen wetlands.
  • 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets kept this species from having only the second miss since 1967. However, see Ruby-crowned Kinglet in Other News below.
  • 45 Eastern Bluebirds continues a strong showing for this species during the past three years.
  • 2 half-hardy Gray Catbirds were located. This species has been hit-or-miss in recent years.
  • 62 Northern Mockingbirds is the highest total since 76 in 2012.
  • The only warblers found were 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers. 2021 saw the all-time Yellow-rumped Warbler high count for the Boonton CBC with 136.
  • 1 Savannah Sparrow kept this species from being absent for the second year in a row. Since 1971 it has only been missed four times.
  • Sparrow totals were erratic. Only 27 Swamp Sparrows were tallied, 45% below their 10-year average. Song and Fox Sparrows were slightly down. But White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos were respectively 32% and 50% higher than their 21st century averages. 
  • 2 White-crowned Sparrows were found for the first time since 2015. This species was annual from 1994-2013.
  • Northern Goshawk and Pine Siskin are count-week species. This means they were observed either three days before the count date or three days after the count date. They are not included in the species and individual totals but have their own data field on the National Audubon CBC database.

Other News:

  • American Wigeon was missed for the fifth time since 2015. This was an annual species from 1990- 2014.
  • Vultures – what can be said of Black and Turkey Vultures. Only 18 Black and 49 Turkey Vultures were tallied. The average for the previous four years is 52 and 91 respectively. It was a decent flight day weather-wise. Just a statistical blip? Avian flu victims?
  • American Kestrel was missed again for the fifth time since 2011. This was an annual species from 1936 (first year of the Boonton CBC) through 1998 with a high count of 32 in 1976.
  • Great Black-backed Gull was missed for the second time in three years. It was annual from 1969-2019.
  • 296 Mourning Doves is the lowest total since 254 in 2009.
  • American Coot was absent for the fifth time in the 21st century. Its numbers are highly erratic whenever it is present.
  • Barred Owl was missed. They are in the area but icy conditions and other weather related obstacles prevented them from being observed. This sounds like a plausible excuse anyway.
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch was missed for the fourth time in the past eight years. It was annual from 1969-2014.
  • Ruby-crowned Kinglet was missed for the first time since 1997 and only the third time since 1969.
  • A shocker: Cedar Waxwings were entirely absent for the first time since 1989. 65 were tallied in 2021.
  • The decline in numbers of the American Tree Sparrow is the new normal. 78 were tallied this year. Triple and even quadruple totals were formerly the norm. 1,569 is the high total from 1949. Fifteen other years saw totals over 1,000, the last being 1,156 in 1998. The 21st Century has seen a steady drop. The average for 2017-2022 is 102.5 and declining. The 87-year average is 617. Note that American Tree Sparrow is ranked seventh on the Top Ten of individuals for the 87 year history of the Boonton CBC. It is ranked 31st for this year’s count. What happened?

33 species’ totals were higher than their 21st-century average which ironically is the same number as 2020. 2021 saw 47 species with higher averages.

Great Blue Heron, Montville Twp., NJ, Dec. 26, 2022 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

The following species were seen by one party only, an indicator of how fragile the total species count of a CBC can be. The species column is followed by the amount reported. The third column represents the percentage of occurrences in the 87-year history of the count.

SpeciesTotal% on BCBCComments
Cackling Goose45.7%First recorded in 2008.
Northern Shoveler152.9%Iced-up lakes caused this low number.
Canvasback559.8%Formerly regular and numerous especially in the mid-1970s, scarce in the past ten years.
Redhead1549.4%With open water, it can usually be found somewhere.
Common Goldeneye174.7%Less frequent since 2011.
Red-breasted Merganser214.9%Uncommon on the Boonton CBC.
Pied-billed Grebe177.0%Erratic totals year-by-year but usually found.
Merlin124.1%Has become a nearly annual find in the 21st century.
Peregrine Falcon123.0%Another species becoming a regular.
Wilson’s Snipe163.2%Three years in a row on the CBC after a five-year hiatus.
Savannah Sparrow172.4%Getting harder to find on the CBC.
White-crowned Sparrow235.6%First since 2015.

The following table shows notable species missed in 2022 that appear in more than 50% in the history of the Boonton CBC. 

Species% on BCBCComments
American Wigeon80.5%Formerly an annual find, missed in five of the past eight years.
Ruffed Grouse58.6%Last reported in 2006.
Rough-legged Hawk54.0%Not reported since 2010.
American Kestrel87.4%Irregular since ~2000.
American Coot72.4%First miss since 2008.
Killdeer63.2%Chalk this miss to the weather.
Great Black-backed Gull64.4%Less frequent in recent years.
Barred Owl60.9%Probably a weather-related miss.
Long-eared owl59.8%Formerly a regular find, now rare on the CBC
Red-breasted Nuthatch71.3%Has become scarce in recent years.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet72.4%As stated earlier, first miss since 1997.
Cedar Waxwing 77.0%A surprise miss.

Historical Items

Below is the list of species occurring in all 87 years of the Boonton CBC. This has not changed since 2018:

  • American Black Duck
  • Mallard
  • Red-tailed Hawk
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Blue Jay
  • American Crow
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Brown Creeper
  • European Starling
  • American Tree Sparrow
  • Song Sparrow
  • Swamp Sparrow
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco
  • Northern Cardinal
  • American Goldfinch
  • House Sparrow

Here is the Top Ten of the number of individuals for all 87 years of the count. 1,455,788 individual birds were counted uninterrupted from 1936-2022. There is a change in the Top Ten for the first time in many years. White-throated Sparrow has replaced House Sparrow in the tenth slot. The applause is deafening.

 SpeciesTotal Individuals (86 years)
1European Starling214,311
2Canada Goose180,238
3Common Grackle133,200
4American Crow126,757
5Mallard65,848
6Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco58,843
7American Tree Sparrow53,667
8Red-winged Blackbird44,580
9Ring-billed Gull40,417
10White-throated Sparrow39,982

The 88th Boonton CBC for 2023

The Boonton CBC is traditionally held on the second Sunday of the Christmas Count period. This can cause conflicts when a certain holiday and the day that precedes it fall on that Sunday, namely December 24 and 25. This occurred in 2022 which is why the Boonton CBC was held on Monday, December 26. December 24 falls on a Sunday in 2023. Looking over the history of the count one discovers that the Boonton CBC was held on Saturday the 23rd in those situations. With that in mind, we will schedule the 88th Boonton CBC on Saturday, December 23, 2023. This could cause a conflict with other CBCs. Hopefully, everyone can make it.

A list of the species found on this CBC is at the following link:

Species List

You can also access these pages through the Birds of Morris County > Boonton Christmas Bird Count menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com web site.

A peaceful and healthy 2023 to all!

Jonathan Klizas
Compiler, Boonton CBC
www.mocosocobirds.com

Nature and Art, nothing else matters.— 

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Eurasian Marsh-Harrier in Morris County, NJ, Nov., 2022

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Jonathan Klizas

 

Eurasian Marsh-Harrier, Melanie Lane Wetlands, Morris Co., NJ, Nov. 8, 2022, photo by Chuck Hantis

  • A sight record and description from Chincoteague NWR, Virginia, December 4, 1994.
  • Multiple observers and photographs from Maine, August 25-27, 2022
  • Six records since 2002 from the Caribbean and other islands in the Atlantic.

The above list is of the only known and accepted records of the Eurasian Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) to occur on this side of the Atlantic Ocean…until November 8, 2022 when Chuck Hantis photographed one of the most amazing, if not the most amazing, bird species find ever in Morris County, New Jersey. This assumes the record is accepted by the New Jersey Bird Record Committee.

Here is the range map of the Eurasian Marsh-Harrier courtesy of Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s Birds of the World. Note that the Americas are not on this map at all. The Morris County Marsh-Harrier is w-w-w-a-a-a-y-y-y out of range:

Late in the afternoon of November 8 Chuck was photographing ducks at Melanie Lane Wetlands when a raptor flew within Chuck’s view that looked different than our Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius). Chuck fired off a series of photos.

By the next morning, November 9, the bird’s identity as a Eurasian Marsh-Harrier was established, the word spread rapidly through the birding hotlines, and people came from many locales to view this Mega-rarity sighting near the Powerhouse Gym on Route 10 West, just past the Ridgedale Avenue intersection.

A word of thanks to the managers of Powerhouse Gym for their gracious acceptance of a horde of people invading their property with binoculars, spotting scopes, and cameras. The business proprietors could have easily asked everyone to leave, but simply asked that birders move their cars so that their patrons could have spaces near the workout facility. Thank you, Powerhouse Gym!

Bear in mind, not everyone who came to the gym location saw the Marsh-Harrier (including this writer). It was last seen sometime in the early afternoon of November 9 and not since. People were at the gym site until after sunset but the raptor never reappeared. Birders looked this morning and afternoon, November 10, at various locations in the area but no sightings are reported as of this posting.

Cornell’s eBird contains the records of the sightings along with photographs within the individual checklists. For those not familiar with the eBird interface: from the home page, go to Explore and then Species Maps. Type in the species with New Jersey as the location and all of the submitted and confirmed checklists can be viewed from the pinpoint on the map. 

DSC_2518-Edit-1

Eurasian Marsh-Harrier, Morris Co., NJ, Nov. 9, 2022, photo by Chuck Hantis.

Whether this individual is the same as the one that visited Maine in August is a matter of conjecture and better left for discussion at a later time.

What this episode teaches us is that not all that we see is obvious. Everything has a uniqueness worth observing. A Blue Jay is a Blue Jay but not the same one you saw a minute ago. And that Harrier that just flew by, it looked a little different? Nah, it’s just the sunlight. Or it could be a Eurasian Marsh-Harrier.

You can see more of Chuck Hantis’s extraordinary photographs at his Flickr site.

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Volunteer Chimney Swift Roost Monitoring – April, 2022

Posted on April 27, 2022 by Jonathan Klizas

This is a request for volunteers from Emma Dougherty at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
emmadough@student.fdu.edu

Purpose

Light pollution is an anthropogenic factor that is increasing more and more every day, posing serious threats to wildlife (Knop et al., 2017; May et al., 2019). Artificial light at night (hereafter, ALAN) has been shown to impact behaviors and population dynamics of wildlife, often with negative consequences

We predict the Chimney swift (Chaetura pelagica) population to be impacted by ALAN. This species is a small aerial insectivore distributed across the Americas which utilizes artificial structures such as chimneys for nesting, breeding, and roosting (Zammuto & Franks, 1981). Once abundant across its range, the Chimney swift population has been steadily declining and is currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN (BirdLife International, 2020). Based on the finding that coordinated entry of these swifts into their roosting sites is signaled by the time of sunset (Zammuto & Franks, 1981), we hypothesize that ALAN will affect the roosting behavior of Chimney swifts, specifically that higher levels of ALAN will cause delayed entry into roosting and breeding sites. 

In order to test this hypothesis, we must quantify light intensity and compare this to the coordinated time of entry of the swifts to find possible correlations. Testing this hypothesis will allow us to shed light on the causes of Chimney swift population declines and how best to conserve them, as well as help in understanding the broader effects of ALAN on roosting behaviors in wildlife populations.

Guidelines

In order to gather these data, we are requesting the help of bird watchers and citizen scientists to record the chimney swift behavior when they see them enter a roosting site (a chimney). If you would be willing to help, please read the guidelines below, visit one of the specified sites, and fill out the form detailing your observations here: https://forms.gle/9ZVBNTq2ARaxNmVL7. 

  1. Locate one of the following roost sites listed in this google form https://forms.gle/9ZVBNTq2ARaxNmVL7, or a different site in your area if you know of one.
  2. On the night of your roost watch, arrive to the site 45 minutes before sunset (find time of sunset at https://sunrise-sunset.org/).  
  3. Observe the chimney swifts entering! 
    1. As the first chimney swift enters…
      1. record the time
      1. record the weather conditions
      1. count the number of birds entering
      1. record the light measurement following the instructions below
  1. Please measure the amount of light using the Light Meter LM-300 app. Available for iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/light-meter-lm-3000/id1554264761
          1. This app uses the phone’s front facing camera. Hold your phone flat so that the front facing camera aims upward.
          1. Tape a small piece of white printer paper over the phone’s front facing camera as a “diffuser”. The app will instruct you to do this when you open it. 
  • Continue recording light measurements every 10 minutes until the last bird has entered the chimney.
    • When the last bird has entered, record the time again.
  • When you have finished, please record your observations using this google form link https://forms.gle/9ZVBNTq2ARaxNmVL7
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Old Boonton – Mar. 26, 2022

Posted on March 26, 2022 by Jonathan Klizas

For those who visit or are familiar with Boonton Reservoir, the Morristown Green newspaper published a history of the old town before the reservoir was built written by Jeffrey V. May of the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center located at the Morristown and Morris Township Library. Fascinating reading for those interested. Here is the link to the article:

The Lost Village of Old Boonton: Its history and disappearance beneath the waters of the Rockaway River

View local eBird checklists in the mocosocoBirds region via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

The mocosocoBirds Facebook page is located here and also posts timely information not found on the mocosocoBirds web site.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream.One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

The New Jersey Bird Records Committee web site is here and contains the list of accepted records, the list of review species, and annual reports.

Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s Birds of the World online encyclopedia is here.

Finis

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The 86th Boonton Christmas Bird Count Report – 2021

Posted on December 28, 2021 by Jonathan Klizas

The 86th annual Boonton Christmas Bird Count (hereafter, BCBC) took place on Sunday, December 26, 2021. Temperatures ranged from 41°F at 6 AM, falling a few degrees in the morning before rising up to 48°F in the afternoon. A gorgeous day with mostly blue skies, sunshine, and open water creating a pleasant atmosphere for the 42 participants.

Most importantly, a huge warm thank you to all of the participants for their enthusiasm and energy in making this endeavor possible.

96 species were tallied along with 1 count-week addition. Count-week is three days before and three days after the actual count date. Count-week species are not included in the CBC total species count.

The 86 year average species count is 82. The 21st-century average is…96.

22,525 individual birds were tallied. This is a boost from the previous four years (2017-2020) whose average is 13,200 and is approximately average for the previous ten years. The rise in numbers is partly due to an increase in Common Grackle, European Starling, and American Robin numbers this year. These species’ numbers vary greatly from year to year.

SpeciesAvg. 2017-20Total in 2021
American Robin1141,086
European Starling1,3322,827
Common Grackle6634,042

Highlights for this year’s Boonton CBC are below along with new record high totals and ties:

  • Common Ravens first appeared on the BCBC in 2002. They were tallied sporadically until 2011 and recorded every year since then. The high count of 12 was reached in both 2019 and 2020. Well, throw that number out. 2021 has 45 (!) Common Ravens recorded. 
  • Sora was recorded for the sixth time in the 86 year history of the BCBC and the first since 1977, forty-four years ago. Thank the intrepid marsh-man, Jeff Ellerbusch, for that outstanding record.
  • Virginia Rails were often recorded between 1946-87 but none since then. Five were tallied in Troy Meadows in 2021, the most since 5 were recorded in 1982.
  • Common Yellowthroats have appeared in 26% of the BCBC. One was recorded in 2019 but one must go back to 2004 for the previous one. In other words, they are rare on the BCBC this century. 4 Common Yellowthroats are tallied for 2021, the most since 7 were recorded in 1984 and the second most in the 86 year history of the BCBC.
  • Orange-crowned Warblers have appeared twelve times on the BCBC. The one found in 2021 is the first since 2008 and the fourth during the 21st century.
  • 1 Cackling Goose is the third record for the BCBC.
  • 1 Eastern Phoebe is the 12th record for the BCBC.
  • Bald Eagles had a record 21 tallied in 2021. Their previous high count was 14 in 2020. 
  • Turkey Vultures are taken for granted. They always seem to be around although you may notice more of them in our area this winter. 2021 sets the all-time BCBC record with 118 Turkey Vultures breaking the previous record of 102 set in 1992.
  • 3 Peregrine Falcons match the high count first tallied in 2011.
  • 17 is a record number of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. The previous high was 11 in 2019. They are now a nester in Morris County.
  • 17 Ruby-crowned Kinglets is a BCBC record. 15 in 1984 was the previous high count.
  • 7 Gray Catbirds ties the BCBC record set in 1996.
  • 136 Yellow-rumped Warblers is a new BCBC record. 124 in 2000 is the previous high.

Other News:

  • Black Vultures had their fourth highest total with 65. Keep in mind that Black Vultures only started getting recorded on the BCBC in 1989.
  • 2 Red-breasted Mergansers are the first since 2017 and only the twelfth occurrence on the BCBC.
  • 12 Pied-billed Grebes is the highest total since 22 were found in 1998.
  • 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks is the highest total since 12 were counted in 2011. From 1991-2011, double-digit Sharp-shinned Hawks were tallied each year except for two years. 
  • After a dip in numbers between 2009-2019 when the average total during that period was 53, Red-tailed Hawks are rebounding slightly in the past two years with totals of 80 and 71 respectively.
  • How times have changed for the American Kestrel. Two years in a row with 1 reported is something special these days. 3 is the highest total in the 21st century (2001) but eight years in this century have had zero. Am. Kestrel was annual on the BCBC from 1936 (the first year of the BCBC) through 1998. Am. Kestrels averaged a total of 22 between 1971-1982 with high counts of 32 in 1976 and 1978.
  • Merlins were first reported on the BCBC in 1991 with one individual. The next records are 1995 (1), 2001 (2), and every year except two since 2003.
  • 6 Killdeer is the most since 8 in 2009.
  • 1 Wilson’s Snipe marks the second year in a row for this once somewhat reliable species. None were reported from 2015-19.
  • 24 Eastern Screech-Owls is the most since 29 in 2004.
  • Red-bellied Woodpeckers continue their wild swing in numbers:
    • 2016 – 177
    • 2017 – 51 
    • 2018 – 142
    • 2019 – 243
    • 2020 – 82
    • 2021 – 176
  • Northern Flickers have similar swings: 24 in 2020; 81 in 2021.
  • 1,086 American Robins in 2021; 53 in 2020. Typical numbers for this species.
  • 11 Eastern Towhees in 2021; none in 2020.
  • 59 Am. Tree Sparrows is the second lowest total in the entire history of the BCBC. This once abundant species has fallen precipitously and inexplicably. A total of 75 in 1936, the first year of the BCBC, was followed by consecutive years in the hundreds and 16 years with totals over 1,000 until 2017. Can anyone explain this serious drop?
  • In a year when both Virginia Rails and a Sora are tallied, how can there be zero Marsh Wrens on the BCBC date other than a count-week entry?
  • 203 House Sparrows is the lowest total since 186 in 1971.
  • Another shocker: 102 Rock Pigeons is the lowest total ever. 
  • Both Black-backed Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse have seen a steep drop in BCBC numbers during the recent part of the 21st century. See the average numbers in the following table.
Average counts86 years of BCBC21st Cent. 2000-20162017-2021
Black-capped Chickadee30119923193
Tufted Titmouse238294340140

47 species were above their 21st century average. Only 33 species were above average in 2020.

The following species were seen by one party only, an indicator of how fragile the total species count of a CBC can be. The species column is followed by the amount reported. The third column represents the percentage of occurrences in the 86-year history of the count.

SpeciesTotal% on BCBCComments
Cackling Goose14.7%First counted in 2008.
American Wigeon181.4%Common and fairly numerous most years of the count until 2015.
Redhead448.8%Usually found somewhere.
Lesser Scaup1752.3%Highest total since 62 in 2012.
Common Goldeneye174.4%Less frequent since 2011.
American Kestrel188.4%See comments earlier in this summary.
Merlin123.3%Increasing in regularity.
Sora17.0%First since 1977.
Killdeer664.0%Another species becoming less frequent.
Wilson’s Snipe162.8%Note the similarity to Killdeer’s occurrences.
Great Black-backed Gull165.1%Peak numbers are in the 1980s.
Eastern Phoebe115.1%Mild temperature find.
Hermit Thrush168.6%Erratic on the BCBC.
Orange-crowned Warbler114.0%First since 2008.
Purple Finch391.9%2021-22 is not a productive winter finch season.

The following table shows notable species missed in 2021 that appear more than 50% in the history of the count. 

Species% on BCBCComments
Canvasback59.3%Missed five years in a row and seven out of the past nine.
Ruffed Grouse59.3%Last reported in 2006.
Rough-legged Hawk54.7%Not reported since 2010.
Long-eared Owl60.5%Irregular since 2008.
Savannah Sparrow72.1%First miss since 2008.
Pine Siskin57.0%Simply not a flight year.

Historical Items

Below is the list of species occurring in all 86 years of the Boonton CBC. This has not changed since 2018:

  • American Black Duck
  • Mallard
  • Red-tailed Hawk
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Blue Jay
  • American Crow
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Brown Creeper
  • European Starling
  • American Tree Sparrow
  • Song Sparrow
  • Swamp Sparrow
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco
  • Northern Cardinal
  • American Goldfinch
  • House Sparrow

Here is the top ten of the number of individuals for all 86 years of the count. 1,436,511 individual birds were counted uninterrupted from 1936-2021. No change in the order from last year, or the year before that, or the year before that,…:

 SpeciesTotal Individuals (86 years)
1European Starling212,564
2Canada Goose175,089
3Common Grackle132,072
4American Crow126,354
5Mallard65,361
6Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco57,408
7American Tree Sparrow53,589
8Red-winged Blackbird44,153
9Ring-billed Gull40,201
10House Sparrow39,063

White-throated Sparrow is catching up with 38,884 and will probably replace House Sparrow next year.

The Boonton CBC for 2022

The second Sunday of the CBC count period in 2022 falls on December 25. Apparently, that creates a scheduling conflict for some people. When this calendar event occurs, traditionally the Boonton CBC is held the day after on a Monday which will be December 26, 2022. We’ll go with that date. Hopefully, everyone can make it.

This report is also at the following location on the mocosocoBirds.com web site:

https://mocosocobirds.com/birds-of-morris-county-n-j/boontoncbc/2021-2/

A list of the species found on this CBC is at the following link:

Species List

You can also access these pages through the Birds of Morris County > Boonton Christmas Bird Count menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com web site.

A peaceful and healthy 2022 to all!

Jonathan Klizas

Compiler Boonton Christmas Bird Count

Nature and Art, nothing else matters.

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Tufted Duck in Morris County – found on Nov. 22, 2021

Posted on November 23, 2021 by Jonathan Klizas
Tufted Duck, Loantaka Brook Reservation, Morris Co., NJ, Nov. 22, 2021 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Chris Neff found a Tufted Duck at Kitchell Pond at Loantaka Brook Reservation on November 22, 2021 and thinks the duck may have been there the day before. Many others have observed the duck since.

Eleven previous records of Tufted Duck are recorded in New Jersey (http://njbrc.com/documents/ARL.pdf). This is the first for Morris County and the first this far inland as far as is known. The other records are from coastal locations as well as Bergen and Salem counties. It will be up to the New Jersey Bird Records Committee to accept this as a valid New Jersey record.

This duck took a few hours to determine the identification. An adult male Tufted Duck is relatively easy to identify, but the one at Loantaka…not so. The Aythya genus can be problematic at times, especially with the possibility of a hybrid.

It is determined with the help of Tom Johnson and others that the Loantaka individual is a pure Tufted Duck (TUDU in abbreviated bird-banding-speak) showing no signs of hybridization. 

The tuft is tough to see in certain conditions, especially when the duck’s head is wet. Note the wide nail of the bill. Interestingly there are a smattering of Tufted Duck reports currently from Vermont as well as New Brunswick, Labrador, and Newfoundland in Canada.

Tufted Duck, Loantaka Brook Reservation, Morris Co., NJ, Nov. 22, 2021 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)
Tufted Duck, Loantaka Brook Reservation, Morris Co., NJ, Nov. 22, 2021 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

View local eBird checklists in the mocosocoBirds region via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

The mocosocoBirds Facebook page is located here and also posts timely information not found on the mocosocoBirds web site.
@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted as they occur. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

The New Jersey Bird Records Committee web site is here and contains the list of accepted records, the list of review species, and annual reports.

Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s Birds of the World online encyclopedia is here.

Finis

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Dickcissels in Parsippany – Oct. 6, 2021

Posted on October 6, 2021 by Jonathan Klizas
Dickcissels, Central Park of Morris County, Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ, Oct. 6, 2021 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

A pair of Dickcissels were found among the tubed saplings in the western area of Central Park of Morris County this afternoon, Oct. 6. One of these was seen by George Eschenbach on the afternoon of Oct. 3. George also recorded a Nelson’s Sparrow that day. This makes two years in a row that Nelson’s Sparrow has been found in Parsippany. Otherwise, it is a mega rarity in Morris County.

Central Park of Morris County is the old Greystone property that has been overrun with playing fields. A post from 2018 mentions the old Kirkbride Building and its famous resident, Woody Guthrie. The post is here. Incidentally, the white Red-tailed Hawk headlining that post has passed away.

The preserved area of the park has tallied 124 species as of today. The park is an eBird hotspot. The link for it is here. It is a local place worth visiting especially during the autumn sparrow season. Be aware that the park is extremely popular. There can be Soccer, Lacrosse, and Cross Country tournaments running concurrently during certain periods of the year.

View local eBird checklists in the mocosocoBirds region via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

The mocosocoBirds Facebook page is located here and also posts timely information not found on the mocosocoBirds web site.

The New Jersey Bird Records Committee web site is here and contains the list of accepted records, the list of review species, and annual reports.

Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s Birds of the World online encyclopedia is here.

Finis

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Chimney Swift Research Request – June 4, 2021

Posted on June 4, 2021 by Jonathan Klizas

Emma Dougherty is an ecology researcher at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, NJ. She is currently studying the effects of light pollution on the roosting behavior of Chimney Swifts.

Here is a description of the project:

Effects of artificial light on Chimney Swift roosting behavior

The effects of artificial light at night (ALAN) has been shown to have widespread effects on the phenology and behaviors of wildlife. In birds, this has led to extended periods of singing, calling, and active feeding. Chimney swifts [Chaetura pelagica] are a small insectivorous species of bird that is distributed across North and South America. They are an interesting example of commensalism with humans, utilizing artificial structures such as chimneys for nesting, breeding, and roosting, sometimes in groups comprised of thousands of individuals. Chimney swifts are declining and are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, for reasons that are unclear. For this project, we are examining the effects of ALAN on the roosting behavior in this threatened species.  

If the reader has information on roost sites or possible roost sites of Chimney Swifts please contact Emma at this address: emmadough@student.fdu.edu

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Great Blue Herons – May 18, 2021

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Jonathan Klizas
Great Blue Herons, Morris Co., NJ, May 16, 2021 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

A heronry in Morris County is having a productive season. Incubation in April has led to Great Blue Heron sprouts in May.

Great Blue Herons, Morris Co., NJ, May 16, 2021 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

In a recent year, a Great Horned Owl had a nest in one of the condominium trees. The Great Blue Herons seemed not to mind and had nests above and near the owl nest. Below is a typical image of the nest arrangements. The snags seem fragile but the Great Blue Herons return every year and rear young.

Great Blue Herons, Morris Co., NJ, May 16, 2021 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

View local eBird checklists in the mocosocoBirds region via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

The mocosocoBirds Facebook page is located here and also posts timely information not found on the mocosocoBirds web site.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted as they occur. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

The New Jersey Bird Records Committee web site is here and contains the list of accepted records, the list of review species, and annual reports.

Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s Birds of the World online encyclopedia is here.

Finis

Posted in Morris County | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment