Date: 12/23/25 6:38 am From: Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> Subject: 42nd annual Huntingdon CBC
On Sunday December 14 2025 29 participants headed out on the 42nd Huntingdon Christmas Bird Count that was started in 1984 by the Brauns and the former Huntingdon Bird Club. The center is at Donation PA with a radius of 7.5 miles. Marcelline Baker one of the original counters that year participated again this year and another member of the group, Greg Grove, has participated 37 years. Other long-time participants are Margaret Brittingham,and Kevin Brant. The Kylers were some of the first participants but haven’t always made it every year. Dave was a compiler by the late 80s, turning it over to me in about 2012.
The day started out with 17 degrees on Stone Creek Ridge and later, lower elevations were up to 22 degrees. A steady breeze also affected the count and fewer birds were found this year. Counters reported 48 party hours, down from the fifteen year average of 71. Sixty-five species plus one count week species, Golden Eagle (7), were tallied, down from the fifteen year average of 69 and equal to the 42 year average of 65. Only 4567 individuals were recorded lower than the fifteen year average of 6923 and 42 year average of 6131. The record species number is 77. The last 5 years are 71, 69, 69, 74 and 73 and this year is probably down due to wind and temperature.
Two new species increased the cumulative species number to 127, Greater White-fronted Goose and Ross’s Goose. There was also a Ross’s x Snow but it isn’t a countable species. It was hard to establish any new records but Bald Eagles reached 19 over last year’s record of 16.
There were some species close to the record. Turkey Vultures hit 61 as compared to 66 in 2015. Cooper’s Hawk 7 vs 8 in years 2022-2024, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers seemed to be everywhere and there were 30 as compared to the record of 31 in 2022.
As mentioned above, 7 Count week Golden Eagles were observed and as I was driving through another section, I spotted two birders sitting in a car. Bill and Audrey Chambers told me that they were watching the Stone Mountain top in order to observe any flying down the ridge. Now that is remarkable CBC participation!
Northern Harrier was another good one that was spotted.
More than one person checked for the special geese and all were rewarded, finding them near where reported earlier to eBird. A Peregrine Falcon that had been earlier reported was also re-found at Portstown Park, often showing up on other days at the Water Treatment Plant.
Ducks were way down with only 92 Mallards (compared to 322 in 1985), 6 Common Merganser, and 3 Gadwall (creek at Allison Road). Chuck Yohn found 55 Black Vultures and most of the reported 61 Turkey Vultures near Cold Spring Road and perhaps a suspected roost. Red-shouldered Hawks were way down! Last year was a record 16 and this year only 5. I usually have several but only 1 this year. Red-tails were down as well with only 29 down from record 77 in 2015 and 40 last year. With the wind making it hard to hear, owl count was way down.
There were 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers reported this year in the usual spot in SGL 322. Other woodpeckers were down but all were found. Corvids were down as well as small birds such as Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, nuthatches, wrens were way down. Sparrows were as well and no Chipping, Fox or Towhee. Dark-eyed Juncos were most abundant at 868 but low compared to over 2900 in 2020.
Four Rusty Blackbirds were a nice species addition found by the Averys on Ormsby Rd. They also found 4 Red-winged Blackbirds. There were no Warblers, not even Yellow-rumped Warblers. Northern Cardinals were low with 162 compared to a record of 288 in 2022.
A summary of misses with birds seen 2021-2024 include Hooded Merganser (ice?), Barred Owl (wind), Horned Lark, Eastern Towhee, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Ross's Goose
1
Greater White-fronted Goose
2
Canada Goose
109
Gadwall
3
American Wigeon
0
Mallard
92
Common Merganser
6
Wild Turkey
56
Rock Pigeon
238
Mourning Dove
254
Ring-billed Gull
24
Great Blue Heron
3
Black Vulture
55
Turkey Vulture
61
Northern Harrier
7
Sharp-shinned Hawk
3
Cooper's Hawk
7
Bald Eagle
19
Red-shouldered Hawk
5
Red-tailed Hawk
29
Eastern Screech-Owl
2
Great Horned Owl
5
Belted Kingfisher
1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
30
Red-headed Woodpecker
2
Red-bellied Woodpecker
68
Downy Woodpecker
75
Hairy Woodpecker
24
Pileated Woodpecker
34
Northern Flicker
16
American Kestrel
12
Peregrine Falcon
1
Blue Jay
126
American Crow
216
Common Raven
48
Black-capped Chickadee
116
Tufted Titmouse
88
Golden-crowned Kinglet
46
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1
Red-breasted Nuthatch
13
White-breasted Nuthatch
79
Brown Creeper
1
Winter Wren
2
Carolina Wren
39
European Starling
537
Northern Mockingbird
10
Eastern Bluebird
96
Hermit Thrush
16
American Robin
20
Cedar Waxwing
9
House Sparrow
60
House Finch
52
Purple Finch
37
Pine Siskin
4
American Goldfinch
68
Field Sparrow
14
American Tree Sparrow
29
Dark-eyed Junco
868
White-crowned Sparrow
9
White-throated Sparrow
479
Song Sparrow
64
Swamp Sparrow
6
Red-winged Blackbird
4
Rusty Blackbird
4
Northern Cardinal
162
