52nd ANNUAL SASKATCHEWAN CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT -1993 Compiled by WAYNE C. HARRIS and SHEILA M. LAMONT, Box 414, Raymore, Saskatchewan. SOA 3J0 With more seasonable tempera¬ Govenlock count, again seen from a tures than were experienced last distance and identity uncertain. As year, the number of counts was up neither a gull nor Snow/Ross’ Goose from 80 to 89. This number of counts were seen on any other count they is second only to the 99 received in do represent the presence of a spe¬ 1991. A total of 605 observers par¬ cies not otherwise recorded and ticipated in the counts and logged have been included in the total. over 1,120 hours in the field watch¬ ing birds, both well above last year’s The number of birds seen totalled totals but below the numbers from just over 81,000 individuals. Al¬ 1991. though this is less than the almost 100,000 seen in 1990, it is consider¬ Weather and Coverage Table 1 ably higher than most years. The summarizes the weather conditions most abundant species was the experienced by observers during the Snow Bunting (25,263 individuals), Christmas count period (17 Decem¬ followed distantly by House Sparrow ber 1993 through 03 January 1994). (15,744), Rock Dove (6,333), Com¬ Temperatures were near seasonable mon Redpoll (4,474) and Horned norms with lows around -20°C and Lark (4,098). Population trends of daytime highs approaching -12°C. some of our more common species Winds were mostly light (10-15 are provided in Table 7. Most nota¬ kmph) and snow cover moderate ble were the large increases in two (20-30 cm). A total of 298 hours semi-hardy species which are rarely were spent on foot, 511 in vehicles found in numbers greater than one and 320 at feeders (Table 2). A wide or two. Cedar Waxwing was up an variety of habitats were covered (Ta¬ amazing 1,117% over last year’s to¬ ble 2) in areas ranging from tals and even when compared to the LaRonge on the north to Govenlock five-year average the increase was on the south (see Figure 1). more than 700%. American Robins showed similar but slightly smaller The Birds There were 95 species increases. Other species which recorded on count day with three showed increases of more than more species seen during the count 100% in both categories were also period but not on count day (Tables species which tend to linger late 3 and 4). Included in the 95 count rather than truly overwinter: Canada day species are two from the uniden¬ Goose, Common Goldeneye, Bald tified category (Table 5). The first Eagle, Red-breasted Nuthatch, was a white goose at Fort Qu’Ap- Dark-eyed Junco and Pine Siskin. pelle which was either a Ross’ or Snow but no one could be sure. The Declines were evident for all mem¬ second was a white gull on the bers of the grouse family. Owls were 4 Blue Jay 52(1). March 1994 5 noticeably less frequent with Short¬ a summary of new high numbers re¬ eared Owls completely absent for corded during this year’s count. Most the first time in recent years. This is impressive were the increases in most alarming considering that this Canada Goose, Common Gold¬ species is currently under review by eneye, Cedar Waxwing and Dark- the Committee on the Status of En¬ eyed Junco. But in my opinion it was dangered Wildlife in Canada for pos¬ the 22 House Finches at Weyburn sible listing on Canada’s Threatened that was most surprising. and Endangered Wildlife list. Trends from Christmas Bird Counts (CBC’s) Count Areas and Participants of the past ten years certainly sup¬ Names of compilers are in italics. port this concern. Both Golden- Number of participants in each count crowned Kinglet and Brown Creeper are in parentheses following the were well below their average names. numbers. 1. ABERNETHY-KATEPWA LAKE. Ron Winter finch numbers were mixed Bittner, Errol Cochran, Lyle Downing, Carol Anne Fitch, Keith Gibbens, this year. Pine Grosbeaks were Doug Harmon, Ron Hooper, Lloyd scarce while Common Redpolls Leader, Steve Lucyck, Joy McKen, were slightly above normal and Eve¬ Lome Rowell, Kim Stephens, Wanda ning Grosbeaks very close to both Steuk. (13) last year’s numbers and the long¬ 2. ARCOLA. Bernice Angus, Sheila term average. House Sparrows con¬ Burland, Bob Hawman, Gloria Lees, tinued a gradual decline. Veronica Pastefield, Adrian Paton, Kevin Paton, Marcie Paton, Scott Pa¬ ton, Nora Weightman, Jim Young. Rare Species No new species were (11) added to the all-time list though a 3. ARMIT. Wayne Harris. (1) Mallard — American Black Duck at Regina was a first. For only the sec¬ 4. ASSINIBOIA, Jack Burgeson, Cecil ond time in the fifty-two-year record Hayward, Delmar Pettem, Wilf Pren¬ of CBC’s in Saskatchewan a Vesper tice. (4) Sparrow was reported on a count 5. BANGOR. Jean Hilton. (1) when two separate feeders in Swift Current had an individual present. 6. BETH LINE. Doug and Vera Laing. (2) The only previous record was from 7. BIGGAR. Kelly Foster, Guy Wapple, Saltcoats in 1952. Two of last year’s Robert Wapple. (3) new species were present again this 8. BIG MUDDY LAKE. Martin Bailey, year, Lincoln’s Sparrow and House Carol Bjorklund, Anne Harris, Valeri Finch. The latter found in almost un¬ Harris, Wayne Harris. (5) believable numbers at Weyburn (22 9. BIRCH HILLS. Marg Mareschal, compared to the two at Regina last Maurice Mareschal, Don Weidl. (3) year). This year both Fort Qu’Appelle and Leader (north) had Rufous-sided 10. BROADVIEW. David Chaskavich, Stephanie Chaskavich. (2) Towhees; the only previous record was from Moose Jaw in 1963. Other 11. BROMHEAD. Martin Bailey, Carol rarities included a Common Snipe at Bjorklund. (2) Saskatchewan Landing Provincial 12. CABRI. Carman Dodge. (1) Park, Chipping Sparrow at Swift Cur¬ rent and a Fox Sparrow at Kamsack. 13. CANDLE LAKE. Burke Korol, John Korol, Daryl Reesor. (3) Record Numbers Table 6 provides 14. CECIL FERRY. Joe Graumans. (1) 6 Blue Jay 15. CLARK’S CROSSING. Ann Ander¬ Harris, Wayne Harris, Ron Jensen, son, Sandy Anderson, Carol Blenkin, Burke Korol, Sheila Lamont, Guy Muriel Carlson, Don Doell, Bernie Wapple. (7) Gollop, Kay Jones, Erling Larsen, Grethe Larson, Vance McNab, Janet 29. GRAND CENTRE-PIERCELAND. McVittie, Menno Nickel, Elsie Rayner, Lome Elliot, Ron Knox, Heidi Roy, Doug Schmeiser, Stan Shadick, Jessica Roy, J. Frank Roy, Margaret Wayne Shiels, Arie Van Duyvendyk, Roy, Robin Roy. (7) Hilda Voth, Jim Wedgwood, Michael Williams, Lois Wooding. (22) 30. GRASSLANDS NATIONAL PARK. Wayne Harris. (1) 16. CRAVEN. Margaret Belcher, Andy Belyk, Al Binney, Betty Binnie, Dot 31. GRENFELL. Jim Elliott. (1) Evans, Trevor Herriot, Phyllis Isley, Bob Kreba, Ron Myers, Bill Ogilvie, Al 32. HEPBURN. Phyllis Siemens. (1) Sulma. (11) 33. HUDSON BAY. Zack Bevridge, Scott 17. CROOKED LAKE. Warren Hjertaas, Connell, Ian Daisley, John Daisley, Bill Livsay, Mayta Livsay, Dorothy Robert Daisley, Jim Hamilton, Curtis Skene, Ed Skene. (5) Hayes, Joyce Hayes, Bruce Keyowski, Stacy Lozinski, Blair Mag- 18. DALMENY. Loyd Sperling, Mara nusson, Ryan Zens. (12) Sperling. (2) 34. HUMBOLDT. Ed Brockmeyer, Mike 19. DILKE. Margaret Belcher, Ken McAr- Volk. (2) ton. (2) 35. INDIAN HEAD. Rolfe Antonowitsch, 20. DUVAL. Donna Brockman, Enid Jan Beattie, Denise Beaulieu, Vic Cumming, George Herber, Merv Hey, Beaulieu, Irv Escott, David Gehl, lain Richardson. (5) David Gray, Mavis Gray, Gordon Howe, John Kort, Mary Kort, Peter 21. EDAM. Marg and Tom Terpstra. (2) Kort, Fred Lahrman, Dora Nichols, Adam Scott, Heidi Scott, Lome Scott, 22. ENDEAVOUR. Norman Harris. (1) Chris Skinner, Fred Skinner. (19) 23. FENTON. Carman Dodge. (1) 36. KAMSACK. John Barisoff, George and Mary Bernard, Agnes Betz, Mike 24. FORT QU’APPELLE. Jim Armstrong, and Sally Bishop, Mable Buceuk, John Banick, Phyllis Bordass, William Donna Duwores, Lindee Dewore’s, Bordass, Errol Cochrane, Anne Barb and Dave Elasser, Bert and Davies, Doug Evans, Evelyn Flem¬ Doris Franklin, Jay and Lena Fry, ming, Dorreen Harman, Doug Har¬ Betty Greba, Bill Koreluik, Sid Law- man, Ronald Hooper, Jared Kaye, erce, W.J.C, May, Adaline and Lois Lamontagne, Vic Lamontagne, George Nykolaishen, Dallas, Kelsey George Larocque, John Lennox, and Riley Rezansoff, Isabel Ritchie, Maurice Lindgren, Jack Lowe, Steve Dave and Elsie Severson, John Sol- Lucyk, Don McDougall, Brian mon, Elenor and Cherle Sookocheff, McKenna, Jean McKenna, Alan Stan Stone, Ed Van Perry, Phylliss Mlazgar, Raymond Mlazgar, Dolores Ward, Elaine Wilson, Ann and Gor¬ Palmer, Webb Palmer, Paul Paquin, don Wlasichuk. (36) David Pipes, Joe Price, Doreen Row¬ ell, Lome Rowell, Bill Whiting. (32) 37. KELVINGTON. Pat Finnie, Dianne Sloan, Marguerite Sloan. (3) 25. FORT WALSH. Anne Harris, Valeri Harris, Wayne Harris, Ron Jensen, 38. KENASTON. Lawrence Beckie. (1) Burke Korol, Sheila Lamont, Wilkes Parsonage, Guy Wapple. (8) 39. KILWINNING. Ed Driver, Marg Driver. (2) 26. GARDINER DAM. Anne Harris, Valeri Harris, Wayne Harris, Burke Korol, 40. KINDERSLEY. Jean Harris, Keith Sheila Lamont, Guy Wapple. (6) Harris. (2) 27. GOOD SPIRIT LAKE. Bill Anaka, 41. KINLOCH. Claudia Denowski, Wayne Joyce Anaka, Julia Wiwchar. (3) Fletcher, Don Forbes, Doreen Forbes, Merle Jackson, Florence 28. GOVENLOCK. Anne Harris, Valeri Oleksiewicz, Wilt Rodenberg. (8) 52(1). March 1994 7 42. KUTAWAGAN LAKE. Wayne Harris. 58. MISSINIPE. Joesph Glass, Shirley (1) Glass, Eric Layton. (3) 43. KYLE-SASKATCHEWAN LANDING. 59. MOOSE JAW. Elsie and Jack Adkins, Cliff Matthews, Garth Moreside. (2) Andy and Vi Anderson, Edith Bell, Duncan Blackwell, Doug and Helen 44. LA RONGE. Jim Paul, Lorie Ann Brunsdon, Muriel Dormer, Barry and Paul. (2) Fern Dowse, Eve King, Cy and Leith Knight, Gerald Lynn, Connie and 45. LAST MOUNTAIN LAKE N.W.A.