Dallas County Conservation recently participated in the annual Christmas Bird Count, where over three dozen species were discovered in a 30-hour period.
The program is the longest-running citizens science project in the United States, and serves as a way to track the patterns of migratory birds around the country. The Dallas County event was held on December 15th, and 23 volunteers aided Conservation officials in the process. Birders covered a 15-mile circle in the center of the County, and located 41 species in 31 hours. Highlights included the spotting of Buffleheads, Pileated Woodpeckers, Meadowlarks, and a single flock of 110 Cedar Waxwings in one tree. Conservation also noted a drop in the typical numbers of the American Goldfinch, as only 13 were located throughout the day.
See below for a complete list of bird species spotted during the 2018 Christmas Bird Count in Dallas County.
Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Pheasant, Wild Turkey, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Merlin, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Barred Owl, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, American Tree Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Meadowlark, Purple Finch, House Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, and House Sparrow.