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Last updated
Jan. 25, 2004
by
Brian Elliot

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Following is the raw data from the 2003 Sussex Christmas Bird Count. It has been sorted by frequency of birds seen. A few comments follow the chart.

European Starling       1674
Rock Pigeon (Rock Dove) 743
American Crow 729
Snow Bunting 723
Common Raven 620
Common Redpoll 451
American Goldfinch 329
American Black Duck 294
Black-capped Chickadee 292
Blue Jay 247
Evening Grosbeak 243
Mourning Dove 199
Mallard 112
House Sparrow 73
Dark-eyed (Sl-col.) Junco      56
Am. Tree Sparrow 43
Pine Siskin 37
Golden-crowned Kinglet 27
Pine Grosbeak 27
Hairy Woodpecker 24
Ring-necked Pheasant 14
Red-breasted Nuthatch 12
Downy Woodpecker 12
Common Merganser 10
Gray Jay 10
Herring Gull 7
White-breasted Nuthatch 7
White-winged Crossbill 7
Red-tailed Hawk 6
Ring-billed Gull 6
Song Sparrow 5
Bald Eagle 5
Rusty Blackbird 4
Northern Harrier 4
American Robin 3
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Ruffed Grouse 3
Rough-legged Hawk 2
Northern Goshawk 2
Northern Shrike 1
King fisher 1
Gray Cat 1
Total Number of Birds 7068
Total Number of Species 42

      

After pouring over the figures for several hours several things became clear. Once more I make no attempt to explain the things that become clear to me. I merely present them as food for thought.
  1. The number of species counted was 42, up from last year's 35 but below the 7 year average of 44.

  2. The total number of birds counted was 7,068 topped only by 2002's 7,209 and 1995's 8,750.

  3. The three birds seen in all previous bird counts, (30), were again spotted. They are European Starling, Rock Dove and House Sparrow.

  4. The biggest increases over 2002 were:
    • Snow Bunting, (25 to 723),
    • Common Red Poll, (0 to 451), and
    • Black-capped Chickadee, (100 to 292)


  5. The biggest increases over the last 7 year average were:
    • Snow Bunting, (Average 271),
    • Common Red Poll, (Average 41), and
    • American Crow, (Average 394)
    This is the 3rd year in a row that the American Crow increased.

  6. The biggest decreases below 2002 were:
    • European Starling, (2427 to 1674),
    • Rock Dove, (1009 to 743), and
    • American Robin, (267 to 3)


  7. The biggest decreases below the 7 year average were:
    • Mourning Dove, (average 320),
    • Dark-eyed Junco, (average 153),
    • American Robin, (average 55)
    The American Robin number for 2002 was considerably higher than other years so the average is skewed high.

  8. The Evening Grosbeak, although not making either increase list, moved back up to more expected levels after two years of decline.

  9. The American Tree Sparrow declined for the 3rd year in a row.

  10. The Gray Catbird was seen for the first time in the Sussex Count history.

  11. This was the 31st Sussex Christmas Bird Count. (17 people participated)
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