MALHEUR NWR CBC (P-RANCH) took place on Wednesday Dec 20, 2023 [CBC 124]
Historic count start date: 1939 (53 species on that first count)
Total number of Christmas Bird Counts: 69
CBCs missed: 15, mostly in 1940s and 1950s, and in 1995 due to a government shut down and in 2008 and 2009 for unknown reasons. In 2015 an unstable environment on the refuge resulted in a cautious count.

In this report, uncommon sightings will often be followed by a number in parentheses. That number indicates the number of times that species has been observed on CBCs since 1939, including this year.

This year, 13 field birders navigated a partially dense patchy foggy and occasionally sunlit landscape that became fully engulfed by dreaded fog by end of the count.  Temperatures were mild (25-39) compared to last year’s record low of -18°F. The lack of snow, partially open water, relatively high number of observers and a day of scouting before the count combined for a high count. Our local refuge residents missed the count but left well-stocked bird feeders attracting several species that may have been missed otherwise. And we welcomed 6 new local birders (3 from the USFS, 1 from MNWR, 1 from the Agricultural Research station, 1 from Hines Middle School) and 3 out of town observers, 2 that were new.

Krumbo Reservoir was completely obscured by dense fog in the morning, but cleared up briefly in the afternoon for a tally of water birds on partially open water. We lucked out.

Boca Lake escaped fog most of the day, providing small areas of open shallow water and feeding habitat for numerous water birds, including many trumpeter swans.

Due to good old fashioned persistent birding, sharp eyes, good ears and paper maps a flabbergasting all-time record of 80 species were observed for the day! 9 species higher than last years record! Three out of the last 4 years high count records were set, in different weather conditions.  A fox sparrow was observed a few days later, but outside the count period.

Last year I said, “Knowing a total of 160 species have been observed on this CBC since 1939, I think our goal should be half of that, 80.”  Mission accomplished one year later!

I think it is safe to say if we have perfect mild weather conditions before and during the count combined with exceptional birders, we could reach 90 species. Which means if the Bend CBC had a really bad year and we had an exceptionally good year, we could eke by them! A Reposado Tequila party!

There was a potential for even a higher count, but unseasonably cold weather in late November and early December caused open water to completely freeze, pushing some species south. And fog eliminated that bluebird count day weather along with the bluebirds, American dippers, red-shouldered hawks and American pipits.

While the Blitzen Valley and Alvord Basin were fogged in at 39°F, Catlow Valley was clear with blue sky and 54°F! Krumbo Reservoir, Benson Pond, Boca Lake and Page Springs campground area provided some of the best winter birding as usual.

Dense fog at night probably resulted in several missed owl species.

Species Accounts:

We added two new species to the count!

Hammond’s Flycatcher that took a liking to the garbage can at P-Ranch house and a Black Phoebe that has been hanging around since February, sometimes with a second bird.

By far the most startling high-count observation was that the two Bewick’s wrens observed on last year’s Christmas bird count hatched 17 young that were counted this year😜 for a record total of 20 on this count! That may be more Bewick’s in 1 square mile than all the other wrens in Harney County (10226 sq mi)!

The mild weather also resulted in a reverse effect for mammal activity, a record low number. No cougars, bobcats, beaver, mink, weasels, muskrats, otters, raccoons, or elk were observed, not even a mouse! But 6 bighorn sheep, including 3 large rams, were observed on the cliffs above Frenchglen. Very few deer and only two coyotes were observed. Which means there were far more Bewick’s wrens than all mammals combined! In fact, I bet there were more Bewick’s than Buicks out and about that day in Harney County.

One American white pelican was observed on Knox Pond dike. He appeared uninjured but my guess is he may have flight issues since he should be hundreds of miles south of here by now.  The more intriguing question is, what is he feeding on: and what will eventually feed on him.

Greater sage-grouse tracks at Boca Lake provided a moment of excitement and hope to add this bird to the count but they eluded 5 observers that gathered there to count water birds. Three counters were caught poaching that segment of the circle but with good intentions, so no citations were written. Next year refuge law enforcement officers will be invited!

The red-shouldered hawk (right) that was in the count circle earlier decided blue sky and 54°F, 12 miles to the south at Roaring Springs Ranch HQ, was better wintering habitat than dense fog and 39°F.

Rough-legged hawk (left) [6] and red-tailed hawk [9] numbers were substantially low compared to previous years of about 15 each.

The best groups of small birds included 3 flycatchers, 5 wrens (in poker, a flush) and 4 sparrow species that accounted for 15% (12) of the 80 species.

Noteworthy observations included (*= CBC Rare):

Cackling goose 2* (5)
Barrow’s goldeneye 1 (30)
Pied-billed grebe 2 (44)
American white pelican 1* (5)
Merlin 1 (4)
Greater yellowlegs 1* (2) 2020 first observed
Wilson’s snipe 1 (56)
Ring-billed gull 1* (7)
Eurasian collared dove 1* (3)
Mourning dove 1* (7)
Hammond’s flycatcher 1* (1);New count species
Black Phoebe 1* (1) New count species
Say’s Phoebe 1* (3)
Loggerhead shrike 1 (49)
California scrub-jay 1*(7)
Mountain Chickadee 2 (34)
Brown creeper 1*(3)
Rock wren 1 (27)
Canyon wren 2 (50)
Bewick’s wren 20! (9)
Pacific wren 2 (28)
Varied thrush 1* (8)
Yellow-rumped warbler 2 *(8)
American tree sparrow 2 (26)
Lincoln’s sparrow 1* (8)
White-throated sparrow 2* (4)
White-crowned sparrow 1 (18)

Winter Birding Cheers,
Rick Vetter and Joan Suther, CBC Compilers