The eighteenth annual Carters Lake Christmas Bird Count was conducted on January 4th, 2025. Twenty-eight volunteers participated this season. There was a combined total of 71 party hours spent in the field.
The Carter's Lake CBC circle(see map below) is located in the ridge & valley ecoregion of north GA. The fifteen mile diameter circle covers portions of southern Murray County and northeastern Gordon County. The Christmas Bird Count is a winter bird survey that stands as the longest running wildlife census. The National Audubon Society has promoted the census for decades. The data is used to determine the health of wild bird populations.
Our circle is named for the Carters Lake project which is the product of the construction of the tallest earthen dam east of the Mississippi River. This was built on the Coosawattee River by the US Army Corps of Engineers for the purpose of flood prevention and hydropower production. It is still managed by this federal agency today. The dam was completed in the mid-1970s. The Carters Lake property is over 8000 acres in size, with about 3200 acres of surface water. Its importance to wildlife is substantial.....especially for birds. It is an excellent birding site and has actually been designated as a Georgia IBA(Important Bird Area). WEATHER
Skies were clear. There was a period of windy conditions in the afternoon with velocities staying between 5 - 10 mph. The high temp was 42° and the predawn low was 27°.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Charlie Muise
Charlie has been a leader in Georgia's birding community for decades lending his skill and knowledge in so many different fields, they are almost too many to count. He is most likely best known as one of the state's most experienced licensed bird-banders. He has introduced many birders and non-birders alike to the world of bird-banding and avian data-collecting. He served at the Panola Mountain Banding Station from 2007-2025, amassing over 3700 volunteer hours. Charlie has also helped manage the Jekyll Island Banding Station (JIBS) for years. His involvement with bird census projects is also extensive, running multiple BBS routes annually and conducting quail counts. He has participated in triple-digit individual Christmas Bird Counts in the state, and has even taken compiler roles when needed. He has been an advocate for grassland restoration, fire management and conservation stewardship in several projects. He served as Georgia's IBA Coordinator for several years as well. His involvement with local Audubon chapters and wildlife agencies has been invaluable. This is only some of his accomplishments in the state of Georgia, not mentioning other tenures in other states, such as his time on Appledore Island, Maine where he was first introduced to bird-banding, his position as an educator at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute in Tennessee, and many more.
Charlie has been a faithful participant in the Carters Lake CBC for fourteen years. He has helped cover the Chattahoochee section thoroughly. We appreciate his investment in our count and wish him the best in all his future endeavors.
Sandy Pangle
Sandy is a lifelong resident of Whitfield County, GA and one of the few remaining members of the original Dalton Audubon chapter that once flourished here. A handful of mid-twentieth century birders organized this club, where Sandy became a bird enthusiast under the influence of local birding legends such as Harriett DiGoia and Ann Hamilton. He has fond memories of their early birding adventures when he was a teenager in the 1970s. A few of these memories are taking a Greyhound Bus to chase a Snowy Owl in a neighboring state and how Evening Grosbeaks were the most common feeder bird when he began birding fifty years ago.
He has been a staple in the birding community in recent years helping lead field trips, participating in local Christmas Bird Counts, and covering his patch of local hotspots. Sandy has always coupled birding with many of his outdoor hobbies which includes biking, fishing, camping, hiking, traveling, etc. His long-distance biking trips would usually produce impressive checklists by the trip's end.
Sandy has been a faithful and invaluable member of the Carters Lake CBC, being instrumental in leading teams for fourteen years. He was supportive when I was contemplating the decision to register the circle with the National Audubon Society nineteen years ago. We appreciate you, Sandy, and all you've been as a friend and as a birding partner.
TEAMS/PARTICIPANTS
We appreciate all the birders who have volunteered over the years that have made the count a success.
A CBC circle is separated into sections and assigned to teams to be covered during a 24 hour
period. The surveying effort is conducted mostly by roadside, though there are a number of agencies and private land owners who give us access to properties. Below is the
list of this year's teams in alphabetical order, beginning with the team's leader.
Team 1 - Carters Lake - Bob Henderson, Donna WellsTeam 2 - Coosawattee WMA - Charlie Muise, Amy JohnsonTeam 3 - Dews Pond - Chris Lambrecht, Andrew Mata-LeclercTeam 4 - Fite Bend - J. Spence, Jack Bruce, Derrick Ingle, Steve Rahm, Rusty Ramsey, Phil Riner, Zay West
Team 5 - Soapstick vicinity - Janne FosterTeam 6 - New Echota/Mashburn Pond - Johnnie Greene, Paul RogersTeam 7 - Nickelsville - Derrick Ingle, Keeley Ingle, Jase IngleTeam 8 - Pine Chapel - Dan Vickers, Patrick MauriceTeam 9 - Salacoa Creek / Ranger - Joel McNeal, Brandy RogersTeam 10 - Taylortown - Stephen Stewart, Ann StewartTeam 11 - Carters Dam area - Ashley McKittrick, Taylor GibsonTeam 12 - Holly Creek wetlands (morning) - J. Spence, J. Bruce, D. IngleTeam 13 - Predawn Owling Effort - J. Spence, Theresa Spence
SPECIES ACCOUNTSThere was a total of 91 species reported on count day.
Annual birds marked with an asterisk(*).CANADA GOOSE numbers were below average at 213 individuals. *
WOOD DUCKS were counted in below average numbers this season. 23 birds were tallied. *Seven NORTHERN SHOVELERS were found, which is about average.Four AMERICAN WIGEON were found at the Carters Reregulation Pool, which is slightly above average for this circle.Two AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS were counted this season.This year's 41 MALLARDS were below average as well.*RING-NECKED DUCK is our only annual diving duck. This season's single bird tied with the record low count. *HOODED MERGANSERS were found in average numbers. 15 in all. *WILD TURKEY came in with 26 birds which is slightly below average. *PIED-BILLED GREBES were found in low numbers this year. Three birds total. This is the count's only annual grebe. *This year's total of 42 ROCK PIGEONS is the second lowest total since the count's inception. *One EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was reported this season.MOURNING DOVE came in at 139. This is the third lowest total for the circle. *One VIRGINIA RAIL was found at the Holly Creek marsh.After last year's terrible showing for SANDHILL CRANE they were back up to above average numbers at 1558 reported. *KILLDEER was observed in below average numbers. A total of 205 were reported from around the circle.20 LEAST SANDPIPERS were reported this season, which is above average.AMERICAN WOODCOCK was found in low numbers again this season. Only seven birds! This is atypical for the circle, but somewhat reflects the years where little rainfall is recorded in the months leading up to the count. It is expected that the low numbers are a product of pre-winter drought conditions. *
Only 2 WILSON'S SNIPE were reported this year, which is terribly low for this circle.GREAT BLUE HERONS were reported in low numbers this season, establishing a new low count. Only 14 individuals. *
The BLACK VULTURE total was well above average at 199 individuals. *The 243 TURKEY VULTURES reported was also above average. *NORTHERN HARRIERS were found in slightly below average numbers, four in all.This year's nine COOPER'S HAWKS were slightly above average. *BALD EAGLES came in with eight reported individuals, which is above average.RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were reported from all sections with a total of 27. This is slightly below average. *
RED-TAILED HAWK established a new low count with 22 birds reported. *EASTERN SCREECH OWLS were found in below average numbers this year, only two . *The GREAT HORNED OWL was found in average numbers at two individual birds.BARRED OWL had an average showing with a total of five birds reported. *BELTED KINGFISHERS were found in lower numbers this season. Nine were reported, which is only three above the low count for the circle. *YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS came in at 28 individuals, which is about average. *RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were found in above average numbers at 22 individuals. *RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS were reported in slightly below average numbers, 88 in all. *DOWNY WOODPECKERS were also found in average numbers, 47 total. *Eight HAIRY WOODPECKERS were found this season, which is only three above the record low. *Only twelve PILEATED WOODPECKERS and this is only two birds above the record low count. *This year's 57 NORTHERN FLICKERS was also below the annual average. *AMERICAN KESTRELS were about average this time with nineteen birds reported. *EASTERN PHOEBE set a new high count again this year and broke into triple digits with a total of 103. *Four LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES were reported this season which is slightly above average.Two BLUE-HEADED VIREOS were reported this go-around.
This year's total of 163 BLUE JAYS is below the annual average. *AMERICAN CROWS were back to their below-average trend, 442 were reported. *FISH CROWS were found in below average numbers at 7 individuals.CAROLINA CHICKADEES were extremely low this time. Only 110 birds were tallied. This is only one above the all time low that was established the first year of this count. *TUFTED TITMOUSE numbers were average this season at 120. *Both kinglets were also in below average numbers, GOLDEN-CROWNED coming in with 69 individuals and RUBY-CROWNED at 93. *
The 26 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES reported were slightly below average for this common species. *BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were also below their annual average at 48 total. *BROWN CREEPERS were found in slightly above average numbers this year. Seven in all. *Only two NORTHERN HOUSE WRENS this season.WINTER WRENS were reported in slightly above average numbers, 18 in all. *A SEDGE WREN was reported this season.CAROLINA WRENS were also below average at 122 individuals. *EUROPEAN STARLING continues a decreasing trend, only 863 reported. *A GRAY CATBIRD was reported, which is the seventh time this species has made an appearance on count day.BROWN THRASHERS were found in slightly above average numbers this year. A total of 34 birds were reported. *NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS were found in below average numbers, 99 birds in all. *This year's count of 266 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS is below average. *
There were 38 HERMIT THRUSH reported, which is above average. *This season's 731 AMERICAN ROBINS is slightly below average. *CEDAR WAXWINGS were found in very low numbers at 52. This is the third lowest total since the count's inception. *19 HOUSE SPARROWS were submitted this season, which is below average. *AMERICAN PIPIT came in at 22 individuals and that is also below average. *The 95 HOUSE FINCHES reported this season set a new high count for the circle. *20 PURPLE FINCHES were counted, which is about average.RED CROSSBILL made its fourth appearance on the count. One individual was photographed on the Dews Pond route (Team 3).
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH numbers were below average. 97 were tallied. *
At 369, CHIPPING SPARROWS were reported in below average numbers. *FIELD SPARROW continued the decreasing trend and established a new record low count for the circle. Only 51 individuals were reported. *FOX SPARROWS were below average this season. A total of 15, and as usual most were reported from the Coosawattee WMA. *The 198 DARK-EYED JUNCOS is the second highest total for this species. *WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were found in slightly low numbers again. Only 35 birds were reported. *
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW numbers were above average this season. 355 individuals were reported from all sections. This is our fifth highest total to date. *This year's total of 7 VESPER SPARROWS were slightly below average. *
This season's 220 SAVANNAH SPARROWS were above average and is the fourth highest total that we've tallied. *The 184 SONG SPARROWS reported were also below average this season. This is our third lowest total to date. *SWAMP SPARROW numbers were down this time. 73 birds were reported from the circle. *EASTERN TOWHEES were also found in lower numbers this time, 80 in all. *This year's 92 EASTERN MEADOWLARKS is our third lowest total. *
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD numbers were low. Only 1455 birds reported. *
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS came in with a total of 38 individuals, which is below average.Our RUSTY BLACKBIRD numbers were low. Only five birds counted.The COMMON GRACKLE total for this season is 941, which is well below the average.Two COMMON YELLOWTHROATS were recorded this season.A total of six PALM WARBLERS were counted on this go-around. All were the western subspecies. *PINE WARBLERS were average at 28 reported. *128 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were reported this year. *
NORTHERN CARDINALS were below average this time. A total of 257 were submitted from all sections. *
No comments:
Post a Comment