Here is the 2022 Compilation (for all 36 areas and the 30+ Feeder Watchers). 90 species with 46231 birds. A huge thank you to all who help make this so successful.
The next MANO CBC is December 17, 2023.
Fabulous day… great weather and 90 species. Five more species than last year. In this preliminary report, we have 46231 individual birds seen and heard by over 250 feeder watchers, participants, and leaders. Since we began 89 years ago, the MANO CBC has identified 148 individual species in its Counts. In 2022 we added a new species thanks to Scott Surner.
Thirty-six teams covered the circle, with a few teams being recreated with COVID protocols.
New highs were: 161 Hooded Mergansers over the previous high of 92 in 2014. 239 Common Mergansers over the last high of 228 in 2012. 52 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers over the previous high of 22 in 2007. 13 Winter Wrens over the prior high of 9 in 1998, 2013, and 2014. 37 Red Crossbills over the previous high of 7 in 2012. 4484 Red-winged Blackbirds over the last high of 304 in 2008. 6215 Common Grackles over the previous high of 808 in 2021. 1 Smith’s Longspur. Brand new to MANO count were: 496 Gray Squirrels (gray morph and 4 River Otters
The Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles were in the Meadows and Arcadia.
Unique, rare birds were: 1 Snow Goose in area 21 as a flyover, 1 Greater White-Fronted Goose in area 16, 19 Ring-necked Duck in area 18, 1 Great Black-Backed Gull in area 19, 5 Black Vultures bordering areas 34 and 9, 7 Red-shouldered Hawks in areas 7, 30, 34, 35, and 36, 3 Northern Saw-whet Owls in areas 3, 8, and 26, 3 American Pipits in area 9, 2 Lapland Longspurs in area 8 and 9, 1 Smith’s Longspur in area 8. We are so glad it stayed and to be found on the Count Day, 1 Chipping Sparrow, in area 23. CW Pine Warbler, our first since 1998, CW Yellow-Rumped Warbler, CW Ruby Crowned Kinglet, and CW Green-Winged Teal
When does this happen?
The Northampton Christmas Bird Count covers 24 hours (rain, sleet, snow, or shine) midnight-to-midnight December 17th, 2023. The goal for the 24 hours is to find, identify and count all birds within a 15-mile diameter “count circle” centered in the Hadley Cemetery on Cemetery Road.
Some folks start searching at midnight for owls. Others start at sunrise. Some spend the entire day, others a couple of hours. No one is too young or too senior to participate. Beginners are welcome – we’ll make sure you join a group with at least one experienced birdwatcher. We hope you’ll join us for this great day. You will probably make new friends, learn a bit, laugh a lot and get a great workout. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, groups will be smaller this year, and safety protocols (i.e., masks and social distancing) will be mandatory. Carpooling should be limited to family groups. We’ll be hosting a Zoom meeting for participants before the event.
Feeder Watcher?
You can even participate from home as long as you are within the CBC circle. You can count birds that visit your feeders. Check to be sure you are in the circle and please get in touch with the compilers at [email protected] to be included. Feeder watchers will be sent the FEEDER WATCHER compiling sheet on Saturday afternoon. If you did not receive one, email [email protected] and we will send you one.
Compilation Tally
Information coming soon.
eBirding your CBC
Here are our tips for making eBird part of your CBC tradition.
- Use eBird Mobile: while doing your CBC, eBird Mobile makes it easy to keep your tallies through the day and share them with other party members.
- Start a new list at each stop: we recommend beginning a new list every time you get into or out of a car. Use the Incidental protocol for lists you keep while driving between CBC birding sites.
- Report only one-way distance in your traveling counts both CBC and eBird measure distance as one-way distance, especially if you backtrack or repeat portions of a route.eBird Mobile’s GPS tracking can help you calculate the distance traveled. Learn more about reporting accurate traveling distances.
- Only submit lists of birds observed by your CBC group: do not combine your lists with those from other birders in your section or other CBC sections. It is inappropriate to enter the CBC totals for the entire count circle into eBird.
What do I take?
The particulars: dress warm, carry water and snacks, know your limits, etc.
What to do if I want to participate?
If you want to join the day, have questions, etc., contact Janice Jorgensen and Amanda Kallenbach at [email protected]
CBC Forms, Leaders, Maps, and History are on this link. MANO historical data is available from the first MANO count.