ASWP Birding
Pittsburgh CBC 2009 Results
2009 Data Table (PDF)
The complete results of the 2009 Pittsburgh CBC, listed by species and count area. The 2009 results are also available as an Excel spreadsheet. All results since 1959 are available in a single table as an Excel spreadsheet or a PDF.
The weather was overcast in the morning with early morning mist that soon stopped. The afternoon was sunny and clear. Temperature ranged from 34 to 45oF. Winds were 0-10 mph. There was still some snow cover, but rain the previous day had melted most of the snow. Ponds were still mostly frozen, but rivers and small streams were all open. We had 112 observers, 87 in the field and 25 at feeders. Our totals included 64 species and 24,511 birds. The species count was just below our 10 year average, but the total count of birds was over 2,000 higher than the 10 year average, due to the high number of crows.
Noteworthy sightings include:
- A Tundra Swan on the Allegheny River, only the fifth time ever sighted on our CBC (Steve and Suz Thomas).
- Our first Red-breasted Merganser since 1989, found on the Allegheny River (Ben Coulter and Dan Yagusic).
- Ruffed Grouse returned to our count after several years' absence with a single bird flushed by Brian Shema in Fox Chapel.
- Wild Turkeys were found in 10 of our 12 count areas.
- A new record of 29 Double-crested Cormorants. First found in our CBC in 1983, the species is much more common now.
- An adult Bald Eagle seen flying along the Allegheny River near Etna. First found on our count in 2006, they have been seen now 4 years in a row.
- Two American Kestrels tied the lowest number ever seen (set in the early 1960's and in 2000). This reflects the shrinking available habitat for this species in our count circle.
- A Merlin in Etna (Dan Yagusic and Ben Coulter) continues our record of seeing this species every year but one since 1997.
- Five Peregrine Falcons are a new record for our CBC.
- 1,162 Ring-billed Gulls were a nice total, but were far from our record of 3,397 set in 1995.
- 289 Herring Gulls were second only to the record of 424 set in 1995.
- Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, and Iceland Gull were tallied in the count week but not on the count day.
- Two Barred Owls were found this year, one in North Park and the other in Indiana Township.
- A new record of 78 Northern Mockingbirds surpassed the 60 found in 2006. This species is obviously still expanding in numbers in our area.
- The American Crow roost in the city was estimated at about 7,000 birds this year.
- A lingering Brown Thrasher found by Dan Yagusic at his work location was a nice find. Dan reports that one usually lingers at this location each year well into December.
- No Field Sparrows this year marks only the second time in our count history that we have missed this species, both in the last 7 years. Again, habitat loss is probably the key factor.
- 414 Dark-eyed Juncos were the lowest count since 1962.
- 143 House Finches were our lowest total since 1979, when the population was still growing after expanding into our area in 1977.
- 15 Pine Siskins in a flock in Hampton Township were the only ones found.
- Six species were seen during count week. Besides the three gull species mentioned previously, Common Goldeneye, Common Raven, and Brown-headed Cowbird were also seen.
No Ring-necked Pheasants were seen for the 9th year in a row.
Thanks to all of the compilers and participants for making this another successful count year.
-- Jim Valimont