On December 26, 1999, 40 hearty individuals met and then dispersed to five assigned
areas of Boyce/Mayview park in order to count and record the winter bird species present
that day. The weather was windy, very gray and overcast with temperatures in the mid
to high 20's, and a 14 degree wind-chill factor. Participants were all skill levels
regarding bird recognition. It was a great opportunity for those of us learning the
habitats and identity of birds. Watch for future information regarding bird counts
in the year 2000. We continue our preparation to initiate an Audubon bird circle in
the Pittsburgh south hills.
It was a bitterly cold December 26, 1998 morning when the first annual CLS Christmas
Bird Count took place in Boyce/Mayview Park and PennDot wetlands. Under the tutelage of
local expert Bill Judd, 29 hearty volunteers took to the trails to count the birds in this
daylong census. The clear, sunny sky finally pushed the sub 20s temperatures into the low
30s by afternoon.
As this was the first wintertime count of bird populations in this multi-habitat
natural area, there was no recorded base line data. This count will form the basis for
future comparisons, the first step in an ongoing monitoring process. Along with the
expected species, counted at Boyce/Mayview, were several less regular species of special
note. An American kestrel (a small falcon), a Pileated Woodpecker, a Brown Creeper, an
Eastern Phoebe, a Northern Mockingbird, 2 Belted Kingfishers, and several Purple Finch,
were spotted, as were 3 Common Redpoll (a not-so-common boreal visitor). In a year of
unusual weather fluctuations, the presence of warm weather species as well as irregular
northern migrants was anticipated. The Chickadee , Northern cardinal, American robin,
American crow, Dark-eyed junco, and House finch, all winter regulars, were the most
numerous of the day. For a complete list of all bird species counted, see the table.
Thirty-six (36) species were counted. This is a significant number of species for a
relatively small area (Boyce/Mayview Park and wetland). The unofficial total for the
Pittsburgh area Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count Circle (a fifteen-mile diameter
circle) is 62 species.
This first Christmas Bird Count, with experienced and novice counters sharing the
desire to join in and find out what is flying in our parkland, was a great success. It
substantiated birding specialists’ designation of this park as a “significant
birding area of Allegheny County.” In addition, the participation and interest in the
event will help the CLS’s work to establish a National Audubon Society Christmas Bird
Count Circle in the South Hills. And, what will we find next year? The comparisons will
tell much about the natural world of the birds we enjoy so much.
