2022 Duluth CBC Results

Thank you so much for your efforts during this year’s Duluth CBC!

This was the 82nd year of our count, the 43rd count within the present circle, and my 4th year as compiler of this count. Weather (with the exception of 2-3 feet of snow in the count area before count day!) was fairly mild on count day, with a low temperature of 20 degrees F recorded and a high of 30 degrees F. Snow depth had an impact on accessibility in most reaches of the circle, with snow depths ranging from 20-35″ up the hill and as low as 10-12″ nearer to Lake Superior. Wind was a major factor through the day, with some areas gusting to 20 mph or more! The light snow and brief sunshine, however, made the day a real treat.

A total of 42 folks took part in counting a section in our circle, with an additional 16 feeder watchers, 6 roaming birders, and 4 folks hawkwatching! A total of 100 miles of hiking was done on this count, with an additional 11 miles biked, and as I noted one group taking some of their day to hawkwatch. Groups documented 53 species on count day, with 2 additional subspecies noted (Oregon Junco and Thayer’s Gull). This is below average, which was a surprise considering the apparent diversity most groups were reporting. We were able to document an additional 6 Count Week species (and a new subspecies for the count (Cassair Junco)) bringing our total up to 59 species and 3 additional subspecies noted during this year’s count. Total numbers of birds were fairly consistent compared to years passed, hovering just below 11,000 individual birds documented. With the birds documented above, the count has surpassed 550,000 individual birds counted!

Now, for the bird data! Following selected notes, I will share the entire list of birds and their counts for you to check through at your leisure. There were a few records broken, with a couple of notable species documented for the first time in a while.

Cassair Junco (Junco hyemalis cismontanus)- There has been a male Cassair Junco coming to our feeders since the fall, which continued through count week. He just reappeared today (12/21) after almost a week of absence. Much to our surprise, he was replaced on count day by a lovely male Oregon Junco, the first male at our feeders this winter/ever (we have had as many as 2 female-type Oregon Juncos so far this winter).

American Crow- 1305 (broke the previous record by nearly 350 birds!)

American Goldfinch- 394 (broke the previous record by nearly 100 birds!)

Red-bellied Woodpecker- 29 (4th time in last 5 years over 20 documented)

White-winged Scoter- 6th record for the count

Lesser Black-backed Gull- 2nd record for the count

Golden Eagle- 10th record for the count

Eastern Screech Owl- Count week bird represents 2nd record for the count (found along Brighton Beach near the Stone Chimney, not present the last two evenings according to initial observer)

Belted Kingfisher- 7th record for the count

American Robin- 117 counted, most since high count established in 2009

Mallard- Just shy of 1200, highest number since 2017

Evening Grosbeak- 137 counted, most since 2005

Northern Flicker- 3 counted, one shy of record from 1967

Snow Bunting- 10 counted, first since 2016

Townsend’s Solitaire- 1 counted, now documented on 7 of last 10 CBC’s

Ruffed Grouse- 7 counted, low numbers perhaps due to heavy, new snow?

White-breasted Nuthatch- 87 counted, much lower than recent trend.

Northern Cardinal- 8 counted, very low numbers compared to recent counts

This was the first count since 2000 where no Red or White-winged Crossbills were documented.

Thank you all so much for your efforts on this year’s count! If you have any count week additions, notes on species I am missing, or other questions for me feel free to reach out! I really appreciate the effort put in this season, considering the road conditions and snow.

Canada Goose- 6

Mallard- 1171

American Black Duck- 20

Common Goldeneye- 62

Common Merganser- 1

Red-breasted Merganser- 6

White-winged Scoter- 1

Wild Turkey- 2

Ruffed Grouse- 7

Rock Pigeon- 1025

Mourning Dove- 13

Ring-billed Gull- 2

Herring Gull- 516

Iceland Gull- 5 (All Thayer’s Gulls)

Glaucous Gull- 2

Lesser Black-backed Gull- 1 (first cycle continuing in our area)

Golden Eagle- 2

Northern Goshawk- 3

Bald Eagle- 44

Barred Owl- 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker- 29

Downy Woodpecker- 85

Hairy Woodpecker- 75

Pileated Woodpecker- 32

Northern Flicker- 3

Belted Kingfisher- 1

Merlin- 2

Peregrine Falcon- 2

Northern Shrike- 7

Blue Jay- 89

American Crow- 1305

Common Raven- 150

Black-capped Chickadee- 1794

Red-breasted Nuthatch- 99

White-breasted Nuthatch- 87

Townsend’s Solitaire- 1

American Robin- 117

European Starling- 1309

Bohemian Waxwing- 1147

Cedar Waxwing- 140

Waxwing sp.- 22

Evening Grosbeak- 137

Pine Grosbeak- 89

House Finch- 89

Purple Finch- 2

Common Redpoll- 496

Pine Siskin- 2

American Goldfinch- 394

Finch sp.- 12

Snow Bunting- 10

Dark-eyed Junco- 33 (2 oregonus, Count Week cismontanus)

White-throated Sparrow- 2

American Tree Sparrow- 1

Northern Cardinal- 8

House Sparrow- 87

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