For over 100 years, Audubon members in chapters across the country have recorded the numbers and types of birds they see on a "count day" during the Christmas season. This annual census is invaluable for scientists monitoring the status of our bird populations. Wabash Valley Audubon members have been counting birds in the Terre Haute area for over 40 years. Our Christmas count circle is centered in Terre Haute (see map below), and divided into 9 territories. If you would like to join us (no birding experience necessary - we will pair you with experienced birders), or if you would like us to count the birds at your feeder and/or near your property, please email Peter Scott (pscott@indstate.edu) or call him at 237-2403 or 877-2097. Co-compiler is Dan Weber, 877-1810. On count day, we meet for lunch at Subway on Third Street (near College Ave) at Noon to share information and target species for the afternoon. At the end of the day, we get together for a "countdown party" with potluck dinner.

Results of this year's Christmas Bird Count, by Peter Scott.
Terre Haute’s CBC was held Jan. 5, 2008. 28 field observers in 15 parties, 1 full time feeder watcher. Total, 90 species (1 less than our maximum). Weather: temperatures 38-44 degrees, with 10-15 mph south winds, light rain for brief periods, overcast all day. Still water mostly frozen, with a few important exceptions. Highlights were the vast numbers of Canada Geese and Mallards along the Wabash River; 5 geese species (Ross’s new for the count); Tundra Swan; our largest ever flock of Lapland Longspurs, accompanied by several Snow Buntings; Gray Catbird, Eastern Phoebe, Pine Siskin. Over 500 Ring-billed Gulls flew north up the Wabash River in the morning. Our ever-growing winter Crow population (66,000) was rivaled in numbers by Starling (44,000) and Cowbird (30,000), and outdone in tonnage by Canada Geese (11,000). Bluebirds (14) were scarce. Carolina Wrens (42) seem to have recovered from local extirpations last Jan-Feb. The Indiana State University Peregrine (Helga) was spotted for the sixth consecutive year. A Short-eared Owl was at Hulman Airfield at dusk. Bald Eagles have now been counted for 10 consecutive years, and this year’s total of 6 was our highest. Gr. White-fronted Goose 210 Snow Goose 4 ROSS’S GOOSE 2 Canada Goose 11,353 Cackling Goose 8 Tundra Swan 3 Wood Duck 6 Gadwall 152 Am Wigeon 1 Am Black Duck 94 Mallard 2400 No. Shoveler 22 No. Pintail 15 Ring-necked Duck 44 Lesser Scaup 3 Com. Goldeneye 11 Hooded Merganser 47 Wild Turkey 47 No. Bobwhite 1 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Great Blue Heron 19 Turkey Vulture 34 Bald Eagle 6 No. Harrier 18 Sharp-sh. Hawk 7 Cooper’s Hawk 7 Red-shouldered Hawk 25 Red-tailed Hawk 37 Rough-legged Hawk 6 Amer. Kestrel 14 Peregrine Falcon 1 Amer. Coot 4 Bonaparte’s Gull 1 Ring-billed Gull 516 Rock Pigeon 926 Mourning Dove 906 E. Screech-Owl 1 Great Horned Owl 3 Barred Owl 5 Short-eared Owl 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-headed Woodpecker 15 Red-bellied Woodpecker 85 Y-b Sapsucker 3 Downy Wpkr 77 Hairy Wpkr 20 No. Flicker 28 Pileated Wpkr 16 Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue Jay 314 Amer. Crow 66,598 Horned Lark 107 Carolina Chickadee 180 Tufted Titmouse 130 Red-br. Nuthatch 22 White-br. Nuthatch 97 Br. Creeper 3 Carolina Wren 42 Winter Wren 1 Gold.-cr. Kinglet 4 Ruby-cr. Kinglet 1 E. Bluebird 14 Hermit Thrush 3 Amer. Robin 45 GRAY CATBIRD 1 No. Mockingbird 8 Br. Thrasher 1 Euro. Starling 44,798 Cedar Waxwing 11 E. Towhee 18 Amer. Tree Sparrow 173 Field Sparrow 7 Fox sparrow 4 Song Sparrow 61 Swamp Sparrow 6 White-throat. Sparrow 130 White-crown. Sparrow 93 Dark-eyed junco 697 Lapland Longspur 500 Snow Bunting 5 No. Cardinal 416 Red-winged Blackbird 5524 E. Meadowlark 1 Com. Grackle 1000 Brown-h. Cowbird 30,277 Purple Finch 6 House Finch 162 Pine Siskin 2 Amer. Goldfinch 139 House Sparrow 314 Total, 90 species -- Peter Scott, compiler