Birds in the Watershed

Every once in a while, you open your email to a real treat. Such was the case last week, when I received an message from John Stinson listing the birds that he noted in the watershed for the Christmas Bird Count. Although the Audubon event is in its 109th year, it's the first time in years that the Little Falls Watershed has been censused. He and his two colleagues followed the path of the Little Falls Branch until they hit the C&O Canal and turned towards Chain Bridge. They found 34 species and were pleased to see Pine Siskins and Kingfishers.

The following is a complete list. If you want the numbers, please email me (Sarah Morse) and I'll forward John's chart.

Bird Count: Little Falls - Bethesda to Chain Bridge Road, December 20 (5 hours, 3 miles)
Eastern Towhee, Great Blue Heron, Northern Flicker, Red-shouldered Hawk, Ring-billed Gull, Winter Wren, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Mockingbird, American Robin, Belted Kingfisher, American Crow, Fish Crow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Gull sp., Song Sparrow, Blue Jay, Dark-eyed Junco, Pine Siskin, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, House Finch, Downy Woodpecker, White-throated Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Crow, sp., Mallard, House Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Canada Goose, Northern Cardinal and European Starling.

I'm especially happy to see crows on the list. I know they are a common bird, but the West Nile Virus wiped out the foursome that hung out in my backyard, so I'm glad to see they're back in the watershed.

John is planning on participating in the Backyard Bird Count February 13-16. So hopefully, we'll have another report on who lives in the Watershed. If anyone else is participating, please send me your list and I'll post it.

Sarah Morse