The 124th Christmas Bird Count in Iowa

The 2023-2024 CBC included 36 Iowa counts reporting to Audubon.  Although the entire state experienced drought in 2023, precipitation in December averaged above normal.  But this was also Iowa’s warmest December since 1889, so little snow was reported.  Only one count reported a high below freezing, and most counts reported temperatures in the 40s and 50s.  December counts found lots of open water, but still water had mostly frozen by January.  The total species count was 154, which bettered the previous record by six.  Saylorville set a record for Iowa CBCs with 102 species.  Other high counts were Davenport (96), Muscatine (91), and Green Island (90).

            This year’s count was unprecedented in its diversity.  Twenty-two regular species were found in record numbers and three others were close.  Dabbling ducks, frugivores, and icterids benefited the most from the mild conditions.  Counts of owls, woodpeckers, and sparrows were also very good.  Waterfowl highlights included nearly two thousand Tundra Swans on the Mississippi for the Clinton and Princeton counts.  Nearly 4300 Trumpeters were counted statewide.  Canada, Cackling, Snow, and Greater White-fronted Geese were all in fair numbers.  Wood Ducks had their best count in ten.  Mallards were in fair numbers.  American Black Ducks did not have a good year despite the mild weather.  Only fifteen were reported from seven counts.  Over five thousand Green-winged Teal were at DeSoto NWR.  Northern Shovelers, Gadwall, American Wigeon, and Northern Pintail all had counts well-above their averages.  Nearly 65 thousand Canvasbacks were at Dubuque, Clinton, and Keokuk.  Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, and Ring-necked Ducks had exceptional counts.  Hooded Mergansers had a record count, but Common Mergansers had their lowest count in seven.  Northern Bobwhite counted well in the south and west.  Wild Turkeys were plentiful, while Ring-necked Pheasants had their worst count in nine.  Gray Partridge were reported from Princeton and Jamaica.  Two Ruffed Grouse were at NW Clayton County.  Over 700 Sandhill Cranes were at Clinton.  Red-shouldered Hawks counted well over twice the average.  Bald Eagles were on all counts, but in just fair numbers.  Golden Eagles were on four counts.  American Kestrels had their best count in seventeen years.  Rough-legged Hawks, and Merlin moved into Iowa in lesser numbers.   Peregrine Falcons were on three Mississippi River counts and another was in Des Moines.  Eastern Screech-Owls, Great Horned Owls, Long-eared Owls, Short-eared Owls, and Saw-whet Owls were all in above-average numbers. It was a record count for Barred Owls. No Snowy Owls were reported.  Red-headed, Red-bellied, Hairy, Pileated Woodpeckers and Northern Flickers all set new highs.  Northern Shrikes counted relatively well.  Loggerhead Shrikes were on three southwestern counts not reporting to Audubon.  Horned Larks, Lapland Longspurs and Snow Buntings were all difficult to find.  Red-breasted Nuthatches were well-below the average.  Brown Creepers, Winter Wrens, Carolina Wrens, and Golden-crowned Kinglets all doubled last year’s numbers.   Ruby-crowned Kinglets were on eight counts.  Eastern Bluebirds set a new high.  Hermit Thrushes counted well in eastern Iowa.  American Robins were twice the average.  Northern Mockingbirds and Brown Thrashers were each on four counts.  Gray Catbirds were on two.  House and Purple Finches were at 10-year highs.  Pine Siskins were widespread and outnumbered goldfinches on five counts.    Eastern Towhees, Fox Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, and Swamp Sparrows all set new highs.  Red-winged Blackbirds were in extreme numbers with over 100 thousand at both Davenport and Iowa City.  Brown-headed Cowbirds, Rusty Blackbirds, and Common Grackles all had record counts.  Brewer’s Blackbirds were on five counts.  Eurasian Tree Sparrows continue to spread north and west.  A count-week bird in Mason City and birds at NW Clayton County and Ames are evidence of their expansion.

There were four birds new to the Iowa CBC.  The best was a Limpkin at Keokuk.  This bird was first reported in November and remained through the New Year.  Limpkins have accidental status in Iowa, although nearly twenty have been recorded in Iowa over the last two years.  A Mottled Duck was on the Saylorville count.  This was one of two that had first been reported in September.  Mottled Ducks were first reported in Iowa during 2006 have casual status.  A Baird’s Sandpiper on the Red Rock count and a Sanderling at Rathbun were also new species.

 An American Bittern was at Ames, the first since 1954.  A Cape May Warbler was at Keokuk, only its second CBC occurrence.  A Pacific Loon was at Saylorville and a count-week Harlequin Duck was at Dubuque, both second CBC occurrences.  Horned Grebes were at Keokuk and Saylorville.  A count-week Summer Tanager was at NE Madison County.  A Great Egret was at Davenport.  Bonaparte’s Gulls were on three counts.  Turkey Vultures were at Marshall County.  An Eastern Phoebe was at Louisa Y and a Marsh Wren was at Cedar Rapids.  Over one hundred Great-tailed Grackles were at Jamaica.  A Common Yellowthroat was at Davenport.  A Savannah Sparrow was at Green Island.  Not reporting to Audubon, a LeConte’s Sparrow was at Lamoni and Greater Prairie-Chickens were at Ringgold County.

Despite the mild conditions there were also interesting birds more typical of the season.  A White-winged Scoter was at Saylorville.  Black Scoters were at Princeton and Davenport.  Long-tailed Ducks were at Clinton, Princeton and Spirit Lake.  Two American Goshawks were at Muscatine and Prairie Falcons were at Sioux City and Ida County.  A Bohemian Waxwing was at North Linn and an Evening Grosbeak was at Mason City.  Four Townsend’s Solitaires were at Green Island.  Red Crossbills and Common Redpolls were on two counts.  Seven Spotted Towhee were at DeSoto NWR.