LEWISBURG — Thirty-nine local residents participated in the 2008 Lewisburg Christmas Bird Count held on Dec. 14 as part of a national tradition that is more than 100 years old.
Bald Eagles headed the list of notable birds with eight eagles reported by four birding parties. Some individual eagles may have been spotted by two or more parties, but bird county organizers said there is no denying there has been a dramatic increase of Bald Eagles in Pennsylvania.
More than 150 nesting sites have been discovered in the state, including several here in the Central Susquehanna Valley.
For generations, families and students, birders and scientists, armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists have headed out on this annual mission, often before dawn. The Christmas Bird Count was intended originally to be an alternative to the “side hunt,” an activity in which teams competed to see who could shoot the most birds and small mammals. Now it has grown to become the world’s most significant citizen-based conservation effort.
The local count takes place inside a circle that covers portions of Union, Snyder and Northumberland counties. This year, participants recorded 74 species of birds.
A Mute Swan was new to the Lewisburg count. This is a European bird that is often domesticated in America. They do nest in eastern states, where they are often considered a nuisance. The swan found on the Lewisburg count appeared to be wild.
Another notable sighting was the Eastern Phoebe. This is the region’s hardiest flycatcher, the first to arrive in spring and the last to depart in autumn. December is exceptionally late for this insect-eating species, which has been recorded on the local count only once before.
Local birders recorded all-time high counts for Mute Swan, American Wigeon, Common Merganser, Wild Turkey, Bald Eagle, Pileated Woodpecker and Eastern Bluebird. On the other hand, the numbers of Blue Jays, Tree Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Juncos were unusually low. The tally of 34 Tree Sparrows was the lowest in more than 40 years.
This year’s participants included: Warren Abrahamson, Cory Anderson, Steve Anderson, Rob Criswell, Cynthia Davis, Roy Fontaine, Warren Frantz, Geoffrey Goodenow, Ann Grundstrom, Bob Gutheinz, David Hafer, Annick Helbig, Rolf Helbig, Dave Holman, Robert Holman, Ben Hoskins, Bonnie Ingram, Galen Ingram, Rich Kuczawa, Matt Levanowitz, Alice Marquart, Jen Mattive, Wayne McDiffett, Debby Meade, Mike Molesevich, Dick Nickelsen, Evelyn Petery, Bob Reyda, Allen Schweinsberg, Joanne Schweinsberg, Carl Shaffer, Richard Shaffer, Wesley Sigl, Joe Southerton, Logan Stenger, John Tonzetich, Don Ulrich, Tom Yannaccone and Jim Zaiser.
The tally
Canada Goose 878, Mute Swan 1, Wood Duck 5, American Wigeon 2, Black Duck 24, Mallard X Black Duck (hybrid) 1, Mallard 688, Ring-Necked Duck 2, Long-tailed Duck 1, Bufflehead 30, Common Goldeneye 3, Hooded Merganser 6, Common Merganser 134,
Ring-necked Pheasant 1, Ruffed Grouse 3, Wild Turkey 102, Great Blue Heron 13, Black Vulture 2, Bald Eagle 8, Northern Harrier 4, Sharp-shinned Hawk 3, Cooper’s Hawk 10, Red-tailed Hawk 102, Rough-legged Hawk 3, American Kestrel 79, Killdeer 3, Wilson’s Snipe 4, Ring-billed Gull 148, Herring Gull 4,
Rock Pigeon 641, Mourning Dove 395, Barn Owl 1, Screech Owl 13, Great Horned Owl 6, Belted Kingfisher 16, Red-bellied Woodpecker 39, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1, Downy Woodpecker 79, Hairy Woodpecker 12, Northern Flicker 24, Pileated Woodpecker 18, Eastern Phoebe 1, Blue Jay 79, American Crow 1286, Fish Crow 7, Common Raven 3,
Horned Lark 21, Black-capped Chickadee 136, Tufted Titmouse 202, Red-breasted Nuthatch 6, White-breasted Nuthatch 88, Brown Creeper 11, Carolina Wren 26, Winter Wren 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet 18, Eastern Bluebird 258, Hermit Thrush 2, American Robin 20,
Northern Mockingbird 50, European Starling 3951, Cedar Waxwing 50, American Tree Sparrow 34, Field Sparrow 20, Song Sparrow 40, White-throated Sparrow 102, White-crowned Sparrow 45, Dark-eyed Junco 426, Northern Cardinal 180, Eastern Meadowlark 1, Brown-headed Cowbird 1, Purple Finch 3, House Finch 192, Pine Siskin 20, American Goldfinch 317, House Sparrow 449
News
More eagles sighted during annual count
Watchers see 74 species in 3-county area
- News
-
-
Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs
Superintendent Mark DiRocco told the Lewisburg school board Thursday night that a proposed block grant system of school budget funding will run the district short of cash that will have to be made up through personnel and program cuts.
-
Mom: Keller's response left her cold
Like many people, Elise Nicol is concerned about Marcellus Shale and the industry's effects on Pennsylvania's environment. The Lewisburg mother of two cares about it enough that she sent an email to state Rep. Fred Keller, R-85 of Kreamer, asking him to oppose House Bill 1950, which passed the General Assembly on Wednesday.
-
Point Township authority concerned by sewer plant violations
Point Township Sewer Authority members Thursday night expressed concerns about a Feb. 3 letter sent to the Northumberland Sewer Authority by the state's Department of Environmental Protection saying that the borough authority has violated the Clean Streams Act.
-
Persing truck fee idea stalls
While Pennsylvania has passed legislation allowing communities to collect impact fees in 35 counties, Northumberland County is not one of them, and business leaders and lawmakers do not think Sunbury Mayor David Persing's plan to try to do his own version of an impact fee will pass muster.
-
Barber draws a crowd
The talk can be spirited at times, ranging from hunting to sports to home repairs. "You hear all kinds of stories," Gene Koehler, of Riverside, said Thursday as he waited for a haircut at The Masters barbershop, 209 Mill St.
-
State board approves table games at Valley Forge casino
VALLEY FORGE — A casino resort scheduled to open this spring in the Philadelphia suburb of Valley Forge has been approved for table games.
-
Doctors telling more adults: Get out and exercise
ATLANTA — A new study shows more and more U.S. adults are being told by their doctor to get off their duffs and exercise. A government survey found nearly 33 percent of adults who saw a doctor in the previous year said they were told to exercise. That was up from about 23 percent in 2000.
-
Former Northumberland County judge and three others die in Florida crash
EVERGLADES CITY, Fla. -- A former Northumberland County judge was one of four people killed Wednesday afternoon when their car collided with a van at an intersection, according to the Naples News. The victims were identified as James J. Rosini, 66, William J. Rosini, 68, Patricia C. Rosini, 65, all of Coal Township, Pa., and Deborah A. Korbich, 59, of Elysburg, Pa.
-
Warden demotes four bosses
SUNBURY -- Northumberland County Prison Warden Roy Johnson was able to trim about $135,000 in expenses by demoting four supervisors. He said Wednesday that he found a way to cut costs without laying off any staff. "I cut out 120 hours of supervisors' pay each week, but I need to fill the correction officer positions," Johnson said.
-
DJ pumps up audience
Every Tuesday evening, Richard Grogg can be found spinning tunes at possibly the most well-attended dance in Snyder County. A resident at the Selinsgrove Center since 1988, the 57-year-old said the thing he likes most about selecting and playing music is "making people happy." "Some people come up and ask for requests," he said.
-
Agency closes adult center
PENNS CREEK -- Union and Snyder County caregivers have had to look farther and wider for another program that can offer respite because the Agency on Aging can no longer afford to provide the service. The adult daily living center at the Penns Creek Adult Resource Center was a helpful program each week to about eight adults from the area dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia. But it closed Dec. 30.
-
New Berlin pushes to acquire school
NEW BERLIN -- The Borough Council sold the property where the New Berlin Elementary School is to the precursor of the Mifflinburg Area School District for $1 back in 1950. It was deeded to the district for construction of a school.
- More News Headlines
-
Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs
