Fishers Island Conservancy Fall 2018 Bird Migration Survey Results

Preparation for the FI Conservancy’s Fall Migration Bird Count included a Parade Ground tour on Saturday afternoon, September 22 to prepare for the actual count on the morning of Sunday, September 23.

All were welcome to join the Fishers Island Conservancy as they do the annual Fall Migration Bird Count – rain or shine!

Saturday afternoon the volunteers met the experts from the University of Delaware at the Conservancy’s Demonstration Garden. UD’s Adam Mitchell, PhD, Emily Baisden, and Will Aleida gave a quick tour of the Parade Grounds and a tutorial on counting birds. They reminded everyone to dress for a long walk and to bring binoculars!

In the fall of 2017, a total of 48 species of bird were recorded for the survey from the 15 specific points along the length of the Island.

FI Conservancy Fall 2018 Bird Migration Survey Results

The Fishers Island Conservancy Fall 2018 Bird Migration Survey was held on September 23, 2018. Following Audubon bird count rules, the group made 15 five-minute stops. At each timed stop, the birders would count birds and call out what they saw.

We observed a total of 41 species, less than last year but still higher than average for past Fall counts. Starting later in the month than usual, we missed out on the large migration of swallows that occurred the week before, and certain species of warblers, but made up for it in the number of raptors (hawks and falcons) that were making their way south during the count.

Here’s the list of species reported from the 2018 count:

by Adam Mitchell, Associate Wildlife Biologist ® PhD Student, Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology University of Delaware

To learn more about the Fishers Island Conservancy please visit www.ficonservancy.org