The 124th Christmas Bird Count in Indiana featured record counts for a long list of species as well as some remarkable rarities. Like many surrounding states, Indiana birders enjoyed an unprecedented Limpkin invasion, so anticipation was high to see if several long-staying Limpkins would linger into the count period. The species did indeed become a CBC first when two counts each recorded a pair of birds. Other big highlights included the state’s second CBC Vermilion Flycatcher, second Tennessee Warbler, third Townsend’s Solitaire, fourth Wood Thrush, eighth Eared Grebe, ninth Pacific Loon, fifteenth Indigo Bunting, as well as a count week Slaty-backed Gull.
Forty-six counts were held across the state this season, up two from a year ago. Indiana birders tallied 161 species, an increase of thirteen birds. Two circles topped one hundred species, Gibson County with 105 and Goose Pond at 103 (four other counts were in the nineties). Overall, counting effort increased significantly from a year ago; 900 observers in 448 parties spent 2,062 hours afield. 146 observers spent 239 hours watching feeders, while 124 hours were spent in pursuit of owls.
Mild weather leading up to the count period resulted in many species lingering in record numbers. Add in a number of resident birds that continue to increase, and the list of new high totals was extensive. Record totals were established for Trumpeter Swan (278), Ring-necked Duck (2,640), Bald Eagle (435), Red-shouldered Hawk (456), Lesser Black-backed Gull(14), Red-bellied Woodpecker (2,727), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (191), American Kestrel (971), Winter Wren (92), Eastern Bluebird (2,747), Hermit Thrush (159), American Robin (20,820), Gray Catbird (17), Palm Warbler (6), Pine Warbler (4), Fox Sparrow (205), White-crowned Sparrow (1,806), and White-throated Sparrow (3,624). In contrast, birds found in low numbers included American Black Duck (170) and Greater Scaup (11), which had the lowest total in twenty years.
As a group, waterfowl numbers were down a bit with dry conditions affecting the totals for some species. As in the past, the top goose counts came from W. Gibson County, Goose Pond, and Knox County. Ross’s Geese were found by Gibson (18), Knox (5), Goose Pond (3), Posey County (5), and Lafayette (cw). Two counts were big contributors to the record high Trumpeter Swan total (278) - Ind. Dunes West (124) and S. Lake County (123). Posey County had sixty-five of the state’s 135 Tundra Swans.
Duck highlights included good Gadwall totals for Sullivan County (1,175) and Gibson (672) and a nice American Wigeon count by Goose Pond (49). Muscatatuck had the season’s lone Blue-winged Teal and the top Northern Pintail count (64). Elkhart County enjoyed a big day for Canvasbacks (25) and Redheads (215), while Tippecanoe’s 933 Ring-necked Ducks helped establish a new record high (2,640). Greater Scaup (11) was surprisingly scarce, especially on the Lake Michigan counts. Surf Scoters were found by two counts, Dunes E. (7) and Indianapolis (5). Four circles had White-winged Scoters - Dunes E, (29), Indy (2), Elkhart (1), and Pokagon (1). Dunes E. completed the scoter sweep with the season’s only Black Scoters (20). Three counts enjoyed Long-tailed Ducks - Dunes E. (2), Muncie (1), and Pokagon (1). Tippecanoe’s 288 Common Goldeneye was nearly half the season’s total (600). Gibson had 473 Hooded Mergansers. Elkhart added half (70) of this year’s Ruddy Ducks (140).
Lake Monroe found Indiana’s ninth CBC Pacific Loon. Three circles had Red-throated Loons - Dunes E. (30), Lake Monroe (1) and Whitewater (1). Lake Monroe also had 223 of the season’s 277 Common Loons. The state’s eighth CBC Eared Grebe was found on the Elkhart count (cw). The lone Great Egret came from Muscatatuck this year. Two circles added Black-crowned Night-herons, Gibson (3) and Goose Pond (1).
The top Black Vulture counts came from Whitewater (283) and Hanover-Madison (104). Patoka Lake lead all Turkey Vulture totals with 357. Four circles contributed to this season’s six Golden Eagles. Goose Pond had a nice Northern Harrier count (46). Bald Eagles continue to thrive; the biggest contributors to the new record total (435) were Gibson (59), Lk. Monroe (32), and So. Adam County (31). Continuing the trend of recent years, Red-shouldered Hawk also established a new record high (456) thanks to big counts by Goose Pond and McCormick’s Creek with thirty-eight each. Willow Slough (29) and Goose Pond (19) were the only counts with more than five Rough-legged Hawks. Pike County contributed this year’s only Virginia Rail.
Not long ago, the idea of a Limpkin on an Indiana Christmas Count was unthinkable. So having two counts (Dunes E. and Goose Pond) record pairs of this southern wader seemed surreal. Two circles also had Whooping Cranes - Goose Pond (12) and Gibson (6). Posey County scored a Spotted Sandpiper. Gibson also added two Dunlin, and Whitewater found a count week Pectoral Sandpiper. Big Wilson’s Snipe totals came from Lk. Monroe (36) and Patoka Lk. (33). Oakland City provided all six of this season’s American Woodcocks.
Gull highlights included good Bonaparte’s Gull totals by Whitewater (969), Lk. Monroe (433) and Sullivan County (300). In recent years, the gull action has shifted from Lake Michigan to “inland” landfills. That trend continued this season, with the Bremen Count (specifically the Prairie View Landfill) adding 848 of this year’s 1,007 Herring Gulls and the only two Iceland Gulls. In addition, they found the lone Glaucous Gull, and single-handedly established a new Lesser Black-backed total with fourteen. The Elkhart landfill provided a well-photographed count week Slaty-backed Gull. Great Black-backed Gull went unreported for the first time in thirteen years. The Bremen count also had the largest Eurasian Collared-dove total (49).
Owls of note included single Barn Owls from Goose Pond, Oakland City, and Spring Mill, and good Eastern Screech-owl totals for Lk. Monroe (26) and Bremen (20). By recent standards, it was a decent year for Long-eared Owls, with single birds from Bremen, Dunes W., and Topeka. Three circles found Northern Saw-whet Owls - Patoka Lk. (2), Goose Pond (1), and Lk. Monroe (1).
It was a particularly good season for Woodpeckers. Big Red-headed Woodpecker counts came from Dunes E. (82) and McCormick’s Creek (59). It was another record year for Red-bellied Woodpecker (2,727) as well as a record season for Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (191). Top sapsucker counts came from Goose Pond (24), Whitewater (16), and Ohio River (12). Yet another record high total was established for American Kestrel (971).
Just four years after Indiana’s first CBC Vermilion Flycatcher, the second was found this season by Terre Haute. Three Loggerhead Shrikes were added by Springhill (2) and Knox (1). The ten Northern Shrikes ties the all-time high, with the highest count coming from Goose Pond (3). Eagle Creek added the only Fish Crow, while Bremen had an impressive 724 Horned Larks.
Red-breasted Nuthatch was once again relatively scarce with no circle recording more than eleven. The top Brown Creeper totals came from Elkhart (48) and Topeka (43), and the season’s lone House Wren was found by Knox County. Ninety-two Winter Wrens was a new all-time high, with big counts from Evansville (9), Elkhart (8), and Tippecanoe (8). Marsh Wrens were found by Pike County (1), Sullivan County (1), and Eagle Creek (cw). Gibson (16) and Oakland City (12) had nice Ruby-crowned Kinglet totals.
It was a remarkable year for thrushes across the state this season with several new record totals achieved, including Eastern Bluebird with 2,747 tallied. The state’s third CBC Townsend’s Solitaire was found by Dunes East. Still another record high total was established for Hermit Thrush with 159 found across thirty-one circles. Indiana’s third CBC Wood Thrush was found on the South Bend count. A new American Robin record (20,820) was achieved with big counts from Ohio River (2,109), Whitewater (1,324), and Terre Haute (1,259). And finally, still another new high was set for Gray Catbirds (17) which were found by thirteen circles (including four by Dunes E.).
Spring Mill had an impressive 418 Cedar Waxwings. More than half of this season’s 2,366 Lapland Longspurs came from an unprecedented offshore flight of birds migrating west on the Dunes E. count (1,355). Only four circles reported Snow Buntings, with the top counts from Dunes E. (52) and Bremen (21).
It was also a great season for warblers with seven species recorded. Topeka’s Northern Waterthrush was Indiana’s fifth CBC record. Just a year after the state’s first Tennessee Warbler, Johnson County added a second. Knox County and Gibson both had single Orange-crowned Warblers. A single Common Yellowthroat was found by Muscatatuck. Two warblers also joined this year’s record total club - Palm Warbler (6) and Pine Warbler (4). Patoka Lk. had a pair of Palm Warblers, while four counts added singles. The Pine Warblers came from Pike County (2), Goose Pond (1), and Oakland City (1).
Sparrows also had some impressive totals. Patoka Lk. (47) and Goose Pond (37) had nice Field Sparrow counts. Ohio River (26) and Goose Pond (18) contributed to a record Fox Sparrow total (205). New record highs were also set for White-crowned Sparrow (1,806) and White-throated Sparrow (3,624). Goose pond had the highest Savanna (41) and Song Sparrow (359) totals. Two circles added single Lincoln Sparrows - Oakland City and Gibson. Gibson’s 266 Swamp Sparrows was also the season high.
Terre Haute found the state’s fifteenth Indigo Bunting on a CBC. Oakland City had the bulk (2,111) of this year’s 2,586 Rusty Blackbirds. All twelve of this season’s Brewer’s Blackbirds were found by Goose Pond. Knox County tallied 3,006 of this year’s 4,664 Brown-headed Cowbirds. “Winter finches” were all but nonexistent this season, making Pokagon’s two Common Redpolls that much more surprising. More than half of this year’s 329 Pine Siskin were found on the Bremen count (157).