MEMORANDUM 
TO Participants in 1990 SERC winter bird count 
FROM : Jim Lynch 
SUBJECT : Results of 1990 count DATE : 27 December 1990 
Eight observers participated in the count, which occurred between 0800 
hrs and 1530 hrs on Sunday, 23 December 1990. In sharp contrast to last 
year's count, which was characterized by sunny but brutally cold weather 
(T=18-25°F), deep snow cover, and frozen inlets, this year's weather 
featured overcast, occasionally drizzly skies and record-high 
temperatures (T=60-70° F). Although our coverage was slightly less 
intense this year than in 1989 (8 vs. 12 observers; 21 vs. 26 party-hrs), in 
both years 4 parties surveyed the same 4 sectors (total area: 72 km2) of 
the Rhode River watershed. Results from 1989 and 1990 should therefore 
be comparable. 
In all, 60 bird species were sighted in the 1990 count (vs. 65 in 1989). 
Although some of us were surprised that the mild weather conditions did 
not produce a higher total of species, most discepancies between the two 
years can be attributed to the absence this year of several rarities (e.g., 
American Woodcock, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Fox 
Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow) that were represented by single 
individuals in 1989. Whether such species actually were absent from the 
count area in 1990, or were simply more difficult to locate because the 
mild weather had not concentrated them in localized refugia, is 
impossible to say. Some winter residents that were common in 1989 were 
much scarcer or altogether absent this year (e.g., Redhead, Canvasback, 
Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Hermit Thrush, White- 
throated Sparrow). Other northern species (e.g., Canada Goose, Tundra 
Swan, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dark¬ 
eyed Junco) were present in similar numbers in both 1989 and 1990. 
About the only species whose numbers reflected a major positive response 
this year's mild conditions were the European Starling, Brown-headed 
Cowbird, and the Common Grackle! 
Thanks again for your help; I hope we can count on you for next year! 
cc: C.Barkan, R.Greenberg, J.Harms, E.Morton, L.Remenapp, B.Stutchbury, 
G.Ruiz, D.Whigham 
