Other Rarities 75TH ANNUAL SASKATCHEWAN A few other rarities of note were CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT - 2016 recorded; an exception was our seventh Red-bellied Woodpecker at Alan R. Smith Raptors fared much better. The Nipawin. Box 154 , Avonlea, SK S0H 0C0 Sharp-shinned Hawk has in recent [email protected] years been catching up to the Merlin Count areas and participants as the small diurnal raptor. On the (Names of compilers are in italics). The Counts provincial CBC 20 years ago, Merlins The number of counts increased outnumbered Sharp-shins 13 to two; 1. ARCHERWILL. Gerald Hiron, Susan slightly from last year’s 93 to 95 this this CBC the falcon outnumbered its Hiron, Audrey Hnetka, Perry Hnetka, year. Effort as measured by hours in rival by only 19 to 15. Elaine Hughes, Dorothy Klettberg, the field and at feeders or kilometres Another hawk, the Northern Willie Klettberg, Annette Kozak, Judy walked and driven were about Harrier made the strongest showing Revoy, Stan Revoy. average for this century. ever with 11 birds on eight counts. 2. AVONLEA. Randi Edmonds, Terry The harriers joined Rough-legged Miller, Alan Smith, Blaine Sudom. The Weather Hawks and Short-eared Owls to Average minimum and maximum feast on large numbers of voles. 3. BALGONIE. Jared Clarke, Rowan count temperatures this past count Vole numbers were up because the Clarke, Teal Clarke, Ryan Dudragne, Chris Harris, Phil Holloway, Fran Kerbs, period (with 2015-16 records in wet fall weather had forced many Maureen Lee, Jeannette Luther, Kristen brackets) were -17 to -11 C (-13 to farmers to leave unharvested crops in Martin, Jim Nordquist, Brett Quiring, -9 C), wind speeds 8 to 18 km/h (7 the field. Chris Selness, Wendy Woodard. to 14 km/h), and snow depths 6 to Results for two introduced species 14 cm (6 to 13 cm). As can be seen, were mixed. The Eurasian Collared- 4. BENGOUGH. Randi Edmonds, Alan winter temperatures were lower Dove population continues grow and Smith. compared to last year (winds speeds spread with a record high of 653 5. BIGGAR. Mary-Jo Danychuk, Tammy and snowfall were, however, about birds in 29 localities, seven of them the same). Danychuk, Blair Slowski, Monica new: Balgonie, Bengough, Denholm, Slowski, Larry Sutherland, Melfort, Qu’Appelle, Rouleau and Guy Wapple, Rob Wapple. The Birds Saskatchewan Landing P. P. On the The total of 119,750 birds other hand, House Finch numbers 6. BIRCH HILLS. Margaret Mareschal, counted was much lower than have stabilized at around 1,000 to Maurice Mareschal. 2015’s 177,799, but was about 1,200 birds for the last several years. 7. BORDEN-RADISSSON. Sara Bryson, average for this century. The average Only two new localities were added Kyron Giroux, Mike Heseltine, Ron number of species per count at 18.7 at Duval and Togo; these did not, Jensen, Jennipher Karst, Stan Shadick, was also on par since 2000. however, extend the overall range of Phil Taylor. For the first time in since 1988, the species. 8. BROADVIEW. Barb Weidl, Don Gardiner Dam won the crown for Numbers of most other finches Weidl. the most species on a count with 44 were down. An exception was the species; the usual winner, Saskatoon, White-winged Crossbill, whose high 9. CATER: Beverly Beland, Orval Beland. came in second with 42 species (plus numbers and widespread distribution 10. CHATSWORTH S.D. Herb Cross, one during the count period). presaged breeding across the Charles Dyck, Donna Dyck, Lisa southern portion of the province this Herminson, George Maben, Robert Population Trends past spring. Waterfowl numbers were down Mess, Wionna Mess, George Murray, Laurie Murray, Marcel Pelletier, Kerri substantially in both numbers and New Species variety. For example, Canada Geese Rooke, Stewart Rooke, Carol Tangedal, One new species was added to Rudy Tangedal. were down from 43,711 in 2015 the all-time list: a Northern Pygmy- to 17,219 this past winter, while Owl was recorded on the Martineau 11. CHRISTOPHER LAKE. Jeannie Mallards were down from 15,488 to River count by Stan and Jan Shadick. Walker. 4,629. Species plummeted from 24 The CBC list now stands at an to 17. amazing 191 species. 32 BLUE JAY FALL 2017 VOLUME 75.3 12. CHURCHBRIDGE A. Ron Johnson, 22. DUVAL. Ryan Dudragne, Merv Hey, 34. GRAYSON. Jack Carrigan, Carina Elin Johnson. Brett Quiring, Lloyd Saul. Helm, Charles Helm, Daniel Helm, Linda Helm, Jeanette Zimmer, Karl Zimmer. 13. CHURCHBRIDGE B. Dennis 23. EASTEND. Loraine Armstrong, Petracek. Roxie Binkley, Duane Bristow, Kevin 35. GREENWATER. Bill Gudjonson, Bristow, Betty Davis, Cynthia Fehr, Brian Shuya, Helen Toovey. 14. CLARK'S CROSSING. Christine Robert Gebhardt, Allan Gorrie, Sherry Christensen, Dave Cook, Louise 36. HARRIS. Ron Jensen, Nick Gorrie, Sandy Hagen, June Higgins, Cook, Phyllis Deason, Lorne Duczek, Saunders, Guy Wapple. Joan Hodgson, Harvey Johnson, Joshua Erikson, Shelly Fisher, Bob John McIntyre, Heidi Topham, Jack 37. HAZLET. Ryan Dudragne. Godwin, Marilyn Haskins, Ron Jensen, Wilkinson, Jan Wilkinson. Gwen Klypak, Heney Klypak, Brian 38. HUDSON BAY. Judy Block, John McGill, Eileen McGill, Lynn Oliphant, 24. EBENEZER B. Harvey Wegner. Daisley, Agnes Lewellin, Dennis Reimer, John Patterson, Sylvia Raginski, Nick Gloria Stang, John Zolkavich. 25. ENDEAVOUR. Ed Harris, Norman Saunders, Stan Shadick, Rhonda Harris. 39. INDIAN HEAD. Ethan Archer, Olivia Shewfelt, Marten Stoffel, Mary Toews, Archer, Anika Blair, Chris Blair, Kay Guy Wapple, Diane Wells, Michael 26. ESTEVAN. Barry Dies, Marilyn Dies, Dixon, Irvin Escott, David Gehl, Roberta Williams. Ryan Dudragne, Garry Leslie, Craig Gehl, Sharon Hearn, Mavis Jealous, Palmer, Guy Wapple, Sandra Wapple. 15. CORONACH. Ryan Dudragne, Chris Jim Jinks, Linda Jinks, Dan Loran, Dora Harris, Bob Luterbach, Dan Sawatzky. 27. ESTUARY NORTH. Barry Cocks, Nichols, Jim Rudack, Ruth Rudack, Cathy Cocks, Dean Francis, Fran Lorette Schaeffer, Raymond Schaeffer, 16. CRAVEN. Hiroyuki Aoki, Barbara Francis. Chris Skinner, Fred Skinner, Conrad Barnett, Jessica Beaubier, Stephen Schreiner, Brian Scott, Glenn Scott, Davis, Karen Goldie, Chris Harris, 28. FENTON. Carman Dodge. Lorne Scott, Elaine Wiliamson. Trevor Herriot, Louise Holloway, Phil 29. FLORAL. Jeff Jensen, Ron Jensen, Holloway, Fran Kerbs, Laurie Koepke, 40. KENASTON. Tyler Beckie, Nick Saunders, Guy Wapple. Jeannette Luther, Judy Lynn, Kent Lynn, P. Lawrence Beckie. Barbara Mader, Kim Mann, Val Mann, 30. FORT QU’APPELLE. Steve Abbott, 41. KENOSEE LAKE. Jaxon Finkas, Amelia McDonald, Jaret McDonald, Jean Ashcroft, Megan Ashcroft, Peter Boyd Metzler, John Pollock. Barry Mitschke, Rhonda Phillips, Ashcroft, Jared Clarke, Ryan Fisher, Curtis Pollock, Brett Quiring, Dan Kate Hersberger, Alice Isfan, Jack Lowe, 42. KETCHEN NORTH. Dallas Fairburn. Sawatzky, Brian Sterenberg, Bernadette Marg Lowe, Tom McDougall, Alan 43. KILWINNING. Ed Driver. Stevenson, Jeanette Taylor, Rob Taylor, Mlazgar, Paul Paulhus, Wendy Paquin, Lorna Tyler, Mary Worel. Florence Pearpoint, Keith Stephens, 44. KINDERSLEY NORTH. Jean Harris, Kim Stephens, Colette Stushnoff. 17. CREIGHTON. Karen Prokopetz, Keith Harris. Brenda Schmidt, Harvey Schmidt, Terry 31. GARDINER DAM. Ryan Dudragne, 45. KINLOCH. Wayne Fletcher, Smith. Krista Ellingson, Greg Fenty, Maxine Don Forbes, Doreen Forbes, Carter Forsberg, Jeff Jensen, Ron Jensen, 18. CROOKED LAKE. Jaxon Finkas, Haroldson, Robert Haroldson, Clifford Bob Luterbach, Scott Olshanoski, Nick Boyd Metzler. Logan, Doreen Wickstrom. Saunders, Stan Shadick, Marten Stoffel, 46. KUTAWAGAN LAKE. Valeriana 19. CROOKED RIVER. Margaret Mehler, Guy Wapple. Morley Mehler. Harris, Sheila Lamont. 32. GOOD SPIRIT LAKE. Joyce Anaka 47. KYLE. Arlene Campbell, 20. CYPRESS HILLS PROVINCIAL PARK (non-participating compiler), Dorothy Glen Pederson, Dan Zazelenchuk. (Centre Block). Dwight Dobson, Nancy Riesz, Ray Riesz, Lloyd Wilson, Marg Dobson, Al Hartley, Joan Hodgins, Wilson. 48. LA RONGE. Sid Robinson, John David Larson, Margarette Larson, Schisler, Jan Shewchuk, 33. GRASSLANDS NATIONAL PARK. Brynne Martin, Mimi Martin, Melody Dave Smallwood. Alison Bennet, Anne Bennet, Nick Nagel-Hisey. Cairns, Justin Crowe, Ryan Dudragne, 49. LAC LA PLONGE. John Conkin, 21. DENHOLM. Beverly Beland, Gerard Samantha Fischer, Laura Gardiner, Katherine Conkin. Beland, Linda Beland, Orval Beland, Kathy Grant, Stefano Liccioli, Davis Anna Symynuk, Larry Symynuk. Shields, Mark Shields, Terry Shields, 50. LAST MOUNTAIN LAKE NWA. Nathan Young. Valeriana Harris, Sheila Lamont. FALL 2017 VOLUME 75.3 BLUE JAY 33 51. LEADER NORTH. Daisy Meyers. 63. ODESSA. Arden Curts, Denise Ratch, Ed Rodger, Daniel Sawatzky, Curts, Denny Curts. Nick Selinger, Sheri Selinger, Joanne 52. LOVE - TORCH RIVER. Isaiah Shurvin-Martin, Frank Switzer. Mary Backlund, Theresa Belliveau, Hal Birkett, 64. PIKE LAKE. Denise Bezoplenko, Switzer, Hanna Walczykowski, George Joan Birkett, Bert Dalziel, Joan Dalziel, Ron Bezoplenko, Donna Bruce, Dave Wang, Bradley Yee. Sara Dalziel, Scott Edwards, Andrea Cook, Louise Cook, Lorne Duczek, Bob Fisher, Harold Fisher, Shelly Fisher, Taren Girvan, Bob Godwin, Greg Hutchings, 72. ROKEBY. Clarence Bishop, Lloyd Fisher, Elaine Inskster, Francis Inskster, Jeff Jensen, Ron Jensen, Audrey Liebrecht, Edna Lockhart, Morley Maier, Roseanne Kirkpatrick, Eilene L’Heureux, MacKenzie, Bill MacKenzie, Murray Stephanie Newsham, Lorne Niebergal, Lynn Matthews, Lillian Nesset, Audrey Morgan, Keith Paul, Sylvia Raginski, Fred Phillips, Martin Phillips, Kirk Schrader, Eric Schrader, Jared Taman, Marc Sabourin, Nick Saunders, Beverley Screpnick, Ray Thies, Allan