2023 Lehigh Valley Christmas Bird Count Summary

Orange-crowned Warbler

On December 16th, 2023, 40 counters participated in the 2023 Lehigh Valley Christmas Bird Count. This marked the 80th year of this particular count, and 124th year of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count overall. 86 species and 40,826 individual birds were counted. Highlights included the first ever sighting of an Orange-crowned Warbler in the Topton area, a wintering Eastern Phoebe near Fogelsville, Cackling Geese in Allentown, and a Wilson’s Snipe in the western part of the circle. High counts were achieved for Green-winged Teal and Common Merganser, with 67 and 73 individuals respectively. Only 22 Black Vultures were counted, likely an impact of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak. Thank you to all of the counters who participated! The 2024 count is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, December 21, 2024.

Wilson’s Snipe

Observers: Terry Master, Barbara Malt, Brian Stamper, Stephen Kloiber, Mark Boyd, Chris Sipos, Makayla Hernandez, Brandon Brogle, Luke C . Miller, Kennedy Sullivan, Jenith Flex, Felice Cragin, Grant Stephenson, Jason Horn, Brandon Swayser, Jon Mularczyk, Steve Smith, Frank Dickman, Dan Klem, Peter Saenger, Jim Funk, Todd Underwood, Todd Watkins, Fritz Brock, Jeff Hopkins, Joe Zajacek, John Mitchell, Anne Wenninger, Carl Veltri.

CBC4KIDS 2023

Barbara Malt in January - March 2024 Newsletter of The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society

Photo of CBC4Kids Participants 2023

Another CBC4Kids is in the books! We were lucky with the weather – the field count part of the activities took place after the night’s rain ended and before the high winds really kicked up . Our teams this year were the Gnarly Nuthatches, Ninja Crows, and Marauding Mallards . They spotted 355 birds, of 37 different species! Highlights included Bald Eagle, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and American Wigeon . As usual, we wrapped up with a tally and sharing favorite sightings, snacks, and a visit to the Muhlenberg bird museum . Kudos to the nine children and their family members who turned out despite somewhat dire weather predictions . And thank you to the LVAS volunteers who helped in the classroom and in the field – Mark Boyd, Felice Cragin, Dan Pokras, and Paul Sherrer . (Organized by Barbara Malt and Chad Schwartz with assistance from Peter Saenger)

Bethlehem-Easton-Hellertown Christmas Bird Count for National Audubon Society 65th Year – December 30, 2023

Elaine and Don Mease in January - March 2024 Newsletter of The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society

Thank you for participating in our 65th Bird Count for the Bethlehem-Easton-Hellertown Area and Audubon’s 124th Year!!

A total of 86 species were recorded.

The Western Kingbird was a new species for us. It was seen at the Archibald Johnson Preserve by many observers before and after, as well as by our team on count day.

Numbers for Geese or Vultures reported by the feeder counters were included in the field count.

The Snow Geese were mostly at the Nazareth Quarry, however there were MANY flocks over the entire circle that day. The ones seen at the southern edge were probably from Merrill Creek. We tried to account for that.

The Chickadee count will be listed as Chickadee Species for Audubon. The Black-capped and Carolina Chickadee are appearing in our area recently and are known to hybridize as well. ID can be difficult.

Thanks to Grant Stevenson and Kaitlyn Sommer for taking on the task of counting the crows at a roost in the western edge of the circle.

We have a cumulative list for all the past years, if anyone is interested. We don’t list past years because of so many variables in weather and effort, but it can be sent out, if requested.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to call or email us. Next year’s count will be December 28, 2024.

Count Area: A circle 15 miles in diameter with its center on Applebutter Rd ., 0 .3 mile east of the Bethlehem City line

Weather: A .M . overcast; P .M . overcast; Low - 30; High - 44; still water, rivers and streams open; ground muddy

Observers: 53; 14 at feeders with 65 hours; 39 in the field in 18 parties totaling 116 hours and 399 miles, plus 2 hours and 4 miles owling

Field counters: Jane Barker-Hunt, Virginia Derbyshire, Dave DeReamus, Linda Freedman, Anne Frye, Marilyn Hessinger, Jason Horn, Tim and Stephanie Kita, Arlene Koch, Pete Kwiatek, Gerald, Jonathon and Robert Lahr, John Landis, Barbara Malt, Mike and Penny Maurer, Elaine and Don Mease, Carole Mebus, John Mularczyk, Brad Orey, Dan Pokras, Jason, Michelle and Aidan Porter, Chuck Pyro, Sharon Roehrig, Kyle Rogers, Barbara Ryan, Pam Schmaldinst, Ed Sinkler, Mike Skinner, Kaitlyn Sommer Family, Grant Stevenson, Jennifer Tucci, Emma Walters, Joseph Yuhas, Joe Zajacek, Dan Zmoda Feeder counters: Tom Ahern, Glenn Breidenbach, Leslie and Thaddeus Encelewski, Julie and Gary Hofbauer, Margaret Hood, Pete Jarrett, Barbara Johnson, Vivian Noblett, Barbara Ryan, Ruth Smith, Maryann Snyder, Sherry Strock

Bethlehem-Easton-Hellertown Christmas Bird Count Results 2023

LVAS: 2014 Christmas Bird Counts

The 115th Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is rapidly approaching. Please read the National Audubon article below, giving some background on the Christmas Bird Count and, if you’re not already a regular participant, consider joining this important activity.

Important: A CBC Dinner will be held following the Allentown Bird Count on Dec. 20.

Following are the dates and contacts for the various area counts in the Lehigh Valley. If you are interested in participating, please contact your group leader from last year or the contacts listed below.

Saturday, 12/20 - Allentown CBC, compiler: Stephen Kloiber 610-863-3889

Sunday, 12/21 – Wild Creek/Little Gap CBC, compiler: Josh Nemeth 610-573-8577 or email at allroy1313@rcn.com

Saturday, 12/27 – Bethlehem/Easton/Hellertown CBC: compilers: Don and Elaine Mease 610-346-7754

Christmas Bird Count – From National Audubon Society From December 14 through January 5 tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas take part in an adventure that has become a family tradition among generations. Families and students, birders and scientists, armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists go out on an annual mission - often before dawn. For over one hundred years, the desire to both make a difference and to experience the beauty of nature has driven dedicated people to leave the comfort of a warm house during the Holiday season. Each of the citizen scientists who annually braves snow, wind, or rain, to take part in the Christmas Bird Count makes an enormous contribution to conservation. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this longest-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations - and to help guide conservation action. From feeder-watchers and field observers to count compilers and regional editors, everyone who takes part in the Christmas Bird Count does it for love of birds and the excitement of friendly competition -- and with the knowledge that their efforts are making a difference for science and bird conservation.