For Indiana birders, the winter of 2017/18 will likely be remembered for its record breaking irruption of Snowy Owls. Nearly 200 of these beautiful birds were recorded across the state over the course of the winter; Christmas Count participants enjoyed the effects, recording a record 13 Snowies. Among the season’s best finds was Indiana’s first Harlequin Duck in seven years, the first Eared Grebe in 16 seasons, the state’s first CBC record of a Laughing X Ring-billed Gull hybrid, two Prairie Falcons, and the first Yellow-headed Blackbird in 39 years. Other great discoveries included three Great Egrets, pairs of Virginia Rails and Greater Yellowlegs, and “count week” Red Crossbills.
Species with record high counts included Greater White-fronted Goose, Gadwall, Redhead, Hooded Merganser, Black Vulture, Golden Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Barn Owl, Snowy Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Winter Wren, and Fox Sparrow. Birds with unusually low totals included Ruddy Duck, American Robin, and American Pipit.
Gibson was the only count to top 100 species, with 103. Other circles producing impressive totals of 90 or more species included Sullivan County (99), Oakland City (95), Goose Pond (94), and Lake Monroe (91). Forty-seven counts reported data in Indiana this season (a nice increase from last year’s 39), which included 782 field observers and 122 feeder watchers. A total of 1855 party hours, 281 hours of feeder observation, and 96 hours of nocturnal birding resulted in the discovery of 151 total species (plus one hybrid).
Continuing the trend of recent years, geese were abundant throughout the state. A record 11,797 Greater White-fronted Geese included 5011 from Gibson, 3077 for Goose Pond, and Knox County’s 2708. The 116,237 Snow Goose total was only topped by last season’s record 211,758 birds. An impressive 33 Ross’s Geese were spread across six counts, including Goose Pond’s ten. Surprisingly, Mute Swan numbers (347) were down a bit this season. The Trumpeter (12) and Tundra Swan (48) totals were fairly typical.
Duck counts of note featured a record Gadwall tally (2537), with big totals from Goose Pond (860), Oakland City (423), and Lake Monroe (256). Lafayette had an impressive 103 American Wigeon, while Goose Pond provided the bulk (190) of the season’s Green-winged Teal total (285). It was also a new record high for Redheads, including a nice count of 67 from Tippecanoe.
“Sea Duck” highlights featured a Harlequin Duck and 14 Long-tailed Ducks from the Dunes count. All three Scoters were added, including Surf Scoters from the Dunes (3) and Indianapolis (1), White-winged Scoters also from the Dunes (18) and Indy counts (1), and Black Scoters from the Lake Monroe (2) and Dunes counts (1). It was a record year for Hooded Mergansers (1562) in no small part due to fine counts from Lake Monroe (291) and Gibson (211).
Willow Slough contributed 56 of the season’s 66 Ring-necked Pheasants. Two circles had Red-throated Loons - the Dunes (27) and Lake Monroe (1). Dunes counters also added a lingering Eared Grebe. Black Vulture numbers continue to rise; this season’s 978 was a new high. Patoka Lake added a nice count of 283 Turkey Vultures. Great Egrets were good finds on the Lafayette (1), Sullivan County (1), and Greenfield counts (cw).
It was a record year for Golden Eagles; ten circles contributed to the season’s 13 birds, including three from Lake Monroe and a pair from Cass County. Another new high was established for Red-shouldered Hawk (297). Virginia Rail contributors included singles from Cass County, the Dunes, and Pike County (cw).
Nearly half of the season’s 7191 Sandhill Cranes came from the Whitewater count (3289), while two counts had Whooping Cranes - Goose Pond (21) and Gibson (3). Gibson counters also had a productive shorebird day with a pair of Greater Yellowlegs (the state’s fifth CBC record) and 14 Least Sandpipers. The season’s lone American Woodcock was provided by Eagle Creek.
It was an odd year for gulls. Surprisingly, most of the gulls of note came from counts away from Lake Michigan, including an impressive “six gull” day for the Elkhart County circle, and a “five gull” day for Lake Monroe. In addition to a big total of 7877 Ring-billed Gulls, Lake Monroe also tallied a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Glaucous Gull. Elkhart County added Indiana’s first CBC record for a Laughing X Ring-billed Gull hybrid, the season’s only two Iceland Gulls, another Lesser Black-backed (cw), and a Glaucous Gull. Gibson added yet another inland Lesser Black-backed and the only other Glaucous Gull. The Indiana Dunes count (3), Dunes West (1), and Elkhart (cw) provided the only Great Black-backed Gulls this season.
Five Barn Owls ties the previous high and came from Spring Mill (3), Goose Pond (1), and Oakland City (1). A record-breaking Snowy Owl irruption resulted in a new high CBC total as well; ten Snowies (plus three count week birds) included multiples from Greenfield (2) and South Bend (2). The Barred Owl total (110) also tied the previous high. The season’s three Long-eared Owls came from Lafayette (2) and Lake Monroe (1). Only one Northern Saw-whet Owl was found this year (Lafayette), resulting in the lowest total in 12 seasons. The Indiana Dunes counters found an impressive 104 Red-headed Woodpeckers, while Goose Pond had a nice count of 112 Northern Flickers. A record 2121 Red-bellied Woodpeckers were tallied across the state.
It was a good year for falcons; in addition to 15 total Merlins, a new record high was established for Peregrine Falcon (12), including three each from the Dunes and Ohio River. For the first time ever, two Prairie Falcons were found, Indiana’s sixth and seventh CBC records from Goose Pond and Oakland City.
It was also a good season for Eastern Phoebes (16), and both shrikes. Spring Mill had a Loggerhead Shrike, while the eight Northern Shrikes was the highest total in six seasons. Patoka Lake had the lone House Wren, always a good CBC find. A record high 64 Winter Wrens included eight from Cass County, six from Evansville, and three circles with five each. Goose Pond had the only Marsh Wren this year.
The American Robin total (2299) was the lowest in ten years despite nice counts from Ohio River (773) and White Water (660). Five circles had Gray Catbirds (6), including two from the Dunes, while Gibson found two of this season’s five Brown Thrashers. American Pipits were unusually scarce (3), with only singles from Goose Pond, Michaela Farm-Oldenburg, and Ohio River. Whitewater had a good count of Cedar Waxwings (431).
Warbler highlights included Gibson’s Orange-crowned Warbler, a Common Yellowthroat from Ohio River, and Terre Haute’s Palm Warbler. Five circles contributed to the season’s six Chipping Sparrows. A record 193 Fox Sparrows included nice counts from Muscatatuck (58) and Willow Slough (18). Willow Slough also had this year’s lone Vesper Sparrow. The Lincoln’s Sparrow total (5) was another new record thanks to a pair from the Dunes, and singles from Jamestown, Lake Monroe, and Spring Mill.
“Bird of the year” honors arguably goes to Pike County’s Yellow-headed Blackbird. Sullivan County saved the Rusty Blackbird total from disaster, providing 2044 of the season’s 2632 birds. The only Brewer’s Blackbirds this year were a pair from Knox County. Breaking the trend of recent years, winter finches were represented by Lafayette’s count week Red Crossbills, and two counts with Common Redpolls - the Dunes (48) and Southern Lake County (11).