Birdwatchers brave cold for annual count

Photo by Chris Bosak A pair of Horned Larks were found at Oystershell Park in Norwalk during Sunday's Christmas Bird Count. Photo by Chris Bosak A pair of Horned Larks were found at Oystershell Park in Norwalk during Sunday's Christmas Bird Count. Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Birdwatchers brave cold for annual count 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

NORWALK -- Wet feet and cold hands were the order of the day as local birdwatchers braved the slushy, freezing weather to participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC).

The CBC, sponsored by the National Audubon Society, is an annual bird census held throughout North America and conducted by volunteers. The data collected is used by scientists to track the population of bird species. The first CBC was held in 1900 as an alternative to the "side hunt," a tradition whereby participants shot as many birds and small mammals as possible.

The local count, also known as the Westport Circle, is in its 67th year and includes all or parts of the following towns: Norwalk, Darien, Westport, Wilton, Fairfield, Easton and New Canaan. The CBC is held for a 24-hour period, although "count week" birds are also recorded in the data, but labeled as such. Participants count total number of birds and number of bird species.

This year, more than 20 birders participated and counted 102 different species of birds. The numbers were compiled at a pot luck dinner held Sunday evening at Birdcraft Museum, a Connecticut Audubon property in Fairfield.

Slushy conditions greeted birdwatchers Sunday morning as a result of Saturday's snow/rain mixture. Birders walked through up to four inches of slush and treaded carefully on icy patches to perform their counts. By late morning the sun had come out, making for more comfortable conditions.

The boat team, which scours the Norwalk Islands and surrounding waters of Long Island Sound, had to cancel its trip because of the cold, windy conditions. The East Norwalk team was able to count several duck and fowl species from Calf Pasture Beach, including nearly 1,000 Atlantic Brand.

Townsend Dickinson, a long-time participant of the Westport Circle count, said the lack of a boat team resulted in fewer species of shorebirds being found this year. Dickinson and his wife, Mardi, are the count compilers for the Westport Circle. The team covered Manresa Island in Norwalk and found, among several other species, Bald Eagle, Common Raven and Northern Harrier.

"After all the snow, sleet, rain and freezing temperatures, the day wasn't so bad," Townsend Dickinson said. "We did a good job to get to 102 species."

Birders also found four "write-in" species, which are birds that are so uncommon to New England in the winter they are not listed on the checklist team captains use. Among those species were: Eurasian Wigeon; Baltimore Oriole and Barrow's Goldeneye.

"That's unusual, to say the least," Townsend Dickinson said.

The CBC is held for a 24-hour period, although "count week" birds are also recorded in the data, but labeled as such. A Snowy Owl was counted a few days ago in the Westport Circle area. Snowy Owls are an Arctic species that are being seen in unsually high numbers throughout the East Coast this winter.