by Laurie Pocher
The Christmas Bird Count, running since 1900, is one of the longest-running community science projects in North America. Each winter, thousands of volunteers across the Western Hemisphere venture out to count birds within designated 15-mile diameter circles, providing crucial data on bird population trends and early warnings about environmental health. This year marked the 126th annual count and the 66th for the Biddeford/Kennebunkport (MEBK) circle.
Eight MYBC members braved bone-chilling temperatures on December 27th—starting at 11°F and eventually “warming” to 17°F—to cover most of Section 1 of the MEBK circle and contribute to this important census effort.
Here’s how our frigid day unfolded.
Early Morning — Saco
We started the morning with incidental sightings of Common Ravens and American Crows as we drove through Saco. Apple Ridge Parcel yielded Dark-eyed Juncos, a Downy Woodpecker, and a White-breasted Nuthatch.
New County Road in Biddeford added our first waterfowl of the day—a Common Goldeneye—along with Black-capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, and American Goldfinches, all while dodging snow plows treating the icy roads. Smutty Lane proved productive with a small flock of 4 Dark-eyed Juncos and a pair of Eastern Bluebirds huddled against the cold.
We added 26 Wild Turkeys at Sokokis Drive and 10 Canada Geese at Foss Road before heading toward the coast.
Mid-Morning — Old Orchard Beach
Old Orchard Beach was particularly brutal—the wind off the ocean made the already frigid temperature feel even colder. But the birding made it worthwhile. We tallied 23 Sanderlings scurrying along the shoreline, 17 Black Scoters bobbing in the surf, and a pair of Horned Grebes. On the sand, 42 American Herring Gulls huddled together against the cold, while 67 Rock Pigeons flew around the pier.
A brief stop at Ocean Park Memorial Bandstand added 17 more Canada Geese before we moved inland to warm up a bit.
Late Morning — Guild Park Area
Free Street, a neighborhood near Guild Park with active bird feeders, turned into our most productive stop of the day with 18 species. The highlight? A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker—always a treat during the CBC. We also spotted 5 Bald Eagles soaring overhead, a Gray Catbird (a late lingerer), and a nice variety of backyard birds including Northern Cardinals, House Finches, Purple Finch, Tufted Titmouse, and both Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches.
Rachel Carson NWR at Goosefare Brook gave us good waterfowl diversity: 8 American Black Ducks, 6 Buffleheads, 3 Black Scoters, 2 White-winged Scoters, and a Common Goldeneye.
The Final Push
Middle Goosefare Trail presented a challenge with about 8 inches of snow in the unplowed parking lot, but our 4WD Honda Pilot powered through! The effort was worth it—we spotted 7 Eastern Bluebirds flitting around enjoying winterberries and a Red-shouldered Hawk on a fly-by.
Our final stop at Woodman Avenue added a Brown Creeper and a Carolina Wren to round out the day.
MYBC by the Numbers:
Total Species: 42
Checklists Submitted: 21
Total Individual Birds: 491
Highlights: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 5 Bald Eagles
Temperature Range: 11°F to 17°F
Another group of birders covered parts of Section 1 and added American Robin, Fox Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, and Golden-crowned Kinglet, bringing the Section 1 total to 47 species. You can see our combined eBird Trip report here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/452144
Despite the brutal cold and relatively quiet birding conditions, we contributed valuable data to the 126th Christmas Bird Count. The low temperatures likely kept many birds hunkered down and less active, but we still managed a respectable species count for a frigid December day in southern Maine.
Our next outing will be a combination of birding and wildlife tracking with Dan Gardoqui. Stay tuned for details about how to join us. Until then… happy birding!
