Christmas Bird Count Results
Fermi bird-counters were L-R: J. Kumb, R. Johnson, R. Hoger, D. Carey, B. Foster
About 9,150 birds of 60 species were spotted in the second annual Fermilab Christmas bird count.
The count was conducted Saturday, Dec. 17, 1977 by the DuPage Audubon Society. Held in conjunction with the national Audubon Society's 78th annual census nationwide, the local tally enlisted 43 volunteer observers, including two Fermilab people. They were: David Carey, Computing Department and Hannu Miettinen, Theory Department.
Starting at 4 a.m., observers logged 78 hours of bird-counting time. The birders were divided into 11 parties of 4 to 6 persons each; five persons monitored bird feeders during the count. Fermilab was the focal point of the count area: a circle with a radius of seven and one-half miles as far north as Wayne; south to Aurora; east to Winfield; and west to the Fox River Valley.
Party-hours comprised 54 on foot, 24 by car and 22 at feeders. Of 425.5 party-miles covered, 367 were by auto and 58.5 on foot.
Richard Hoger, staff assistant in the supply division at Argonne National Laboratory, coordinated the count activities. Paul Mooring was the compiler. The Fermilab area was among five Chicago areas where counts were made. Mooring said. Nationally, counters were at work from Dec. 17 to Jan. 2 on one-day counts.
Observers were assigned to eight sub-areas in the Laboratory count circle. Each volunteer was issued instructions, a bird checklist and documentation sheet to record unusual bird sightings. Volunteers chipped in $1.50 each for materials.
In temperatures ranging from 45 to 60 degrees, the birders covered mostly open fields but also scanned woods, road sides, water and developed areas.
Starlings (1,605) led the list of birds spotted. Others included: mallard ducks (1, 314); tree sparrow (965); and crows (538). Large numbers of Canada geese, dark-eyed junco and rock doves were also recorded.
According to Mooring, unusual sightings included a vesper sparrow at Cantigny and a pine grosbeak spotted along the Prairie Path.
About 4:30 p.m., 25 bird-watchers gathered in the Central Laboratory atrium to compile results. The data from Fermilab and around the nation, Canada and Mexico will be tabulated and published this summer in the Audubon Society's American Birds magazine.
The information will be used to plot the winter range of North American birds and changes in bird ranges and numbers. In the past, over 25,000 persons have participated in the bird count. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a co-sponsor.
In 1977, observers counted 8,177 individual birds of 60 species. Among unusual birds noted by 44 counters in 86 work-hours were two canvasback ducks seen in the Main Ring and three Short-eared owls also spotted on site. A Budgerigar (parakeet) reported near Winfield was among the most unusual sightings.