113th CBC Iowa Regional Summary

By Chris Caster

The 2012-2013 CBC included 31 counts from Iowa. Saylorville (98) and Keokuk (97) both broke the previous species count record of 96. Exceptionally high counts were not unusual.  Other high counts included Davenport (95), Green Island and Clinton (90), Muscatine and Rathbun (84), Burlington (82), Red Rock and Iowa City (81). Spirit Lake73) led the northern counts. The CBC period was exceedingly mild until the 20^th, when the first snow arrived. Thus open water was plentiful and the walking easy, to produce an Iowa CBC record 146 species.  Thirty-five of those were found in record numbers.

The best bird was a Mountain Bluebird, ironically seen in Illinois on the Green Island count. On the same count was a Townsend’s Solitaire, but on the Iowa side. Faintly echoing the irruption last season, Snowy Owls were at Ames and Shenandoah. Taking advantage of the fall-like conditions a record six Horned Grebes were on four counts. Equally unusual two Eared Grebes were at Rathbun and a Western was at Red Rock. Other interesting finds were Blue-winged Teal at Iowa City and Keokuk, a Turkey Vulture at NW Clayton County, Bonaparte’s Gulls at Rathbun, a Great Black-backed Gull and a Pine Warbler at Keokuk, and a Yellow-headed Blackbird at Spirit Lake. The most notable miss was Ruffed Grouse, for the first time in at least 25 years. This was an amazing run since it is usually on either the Decorah or Yellow River counts only. Lesser Black-backed Gull was also a notable miss.

It was again a banner year for waterfowl. All of our regular geese were widespread, as were Trumpeter Swans. A record number of Tundra Swans was at Clinton. A single Mute Swan was at Jamaica. Dabblers had their best numbers in a decade with Mallards and Northern Pintails in exceptional numbers. Only American Black Ducks didn’t impress. Usually confined to the Mississippi River, Canvasbacks were unusually widespread, as were Greater Scaup. Bufflehead and Lesser Scaup doubled and tripled their previous record highs. Ruddy Ducks set a new high with over 5000 at Keokuk alone.

Double-crested Cormorants and American White Pelicans were tallied in record numbers. It wasn’t that long ago when Sandhill Cranes were a rarity, but they have been increasing along the Mississippi and were found on four counts, with 79 at Clinton. Gulls were one of the only groups not to have been well represented this season. Ring-billeds were the only ones present in good numbers and the species variety was low. Gallinaceous birds also did not count well. Northern Bobwhite and Ring-necked Pheasants were at about half their average.

Raptors were generally numerous. Northern Harriers were at a twenty-year high. Northern Goshawks were on three counts. Peregrine Falcons were on four Mississippi River counts. Merlins were found in unprecedented numbers statewide. Eurasian Collared-Doves again established a new high. Eastern Screech-Owls neared record numbers and other owl numbers were very good. All woodpecker numbers were also good with Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy, and Pileated Woodpeckers setting new highs. Northern Shrikes were in very good numbers, even across the southern third, but Loggerhead Shrike were nearly altogether absent. Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, and Carolina and Winter wrens were all present in exceptional numbers. Ruby-crowned Kinglets were on three counts. Eastern Bluebirds and Hermit Thrushes were found in record numbers. Four Northern Mockingbirds were at Green Island. Three Brown Thrashers and a Gray Catbird were all at Jamaica.

Ten Spotted Towhees were found with an amazing seven at DeSoto, but single Eastern Towhees at Davenport, DeSoto, and Boone County were more typical. American Tree, Fox, Harris’s, and White-crowned sparrows were in record numbers. Snow Buntings rebounded somewhat from last season’s decade low. Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles had their best count in 20 years and Rustys had their best year in ten. Pine Siskin numbers were the highest in 20 years. Common Redpolls numbers were unprecedented statewide.  And both Red and White-winged crossbills were seen this year on a combined six counts. Eurasian Tree Sparrows were again at record numbers and continue their expansion north to Clinton and west to North Linn.