Thanks to all the folks who shared observations for the Franklin County
year list. We found 102 species in the county in January. This will be
our biggest monthly number of the year, as it includes all the common
resident birds. We did very well, without missing any of the expected
species.
     The Columbus Audubon Society will keep a running total of this list
on the Avid Birders page at
http://columbusaudubon.org/production/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=634&Itemid=216
   or you can go to the CAS site at  http://www.columbusaudubon.org/ ,
then to Groups, then Avid Birders, where you can select "Franklin County
Year List" from the menu on the right. We challenge other counties to
give this a try this year!

     Our February list will be a lot shorter, among the shortest of the
year. We'll add a few of the earliest northbound migrants, mainly
waterfowl but also cranes & woodcocks & snipes, etc. later in the month,
and with luck we may add a few of the remaining scarce winter visitors
(golden eagle, various white-winged gulls, snowy owl*, black-capped
chickadee, crossbills, etc.) before things get too warm for them. You
can see what we have and what we need by checking the list, where
species seen are in bold type and have an asterisk. I'm guessing we'll
be lucky to add thirty species this month, most of them the earliest of
migrants. But these will be vital to a good count for the year as few of
them will stay for long. Actually, by the end of February we may have
about half of the species we'll see in 2011.
        We'll update the list throughout the rest of the year. Please help if
you can, either by posting on the state mailing list or contacting one
of us.  One more thing--if you have a bird whose location you would
rather not share publicly, like a barn owl in your barn or a varied
thrush at your feeders, please report and let us know it's private, and
we'll put it on the list keeping your name and location secret. And
we'll stay out of your yard without your permission.
        The latest addition to the list came just this morning, from Sam Corbo,
who reported a shrike--which species has yet to be determined--yesterday
out on the west side near Darby Creek Metro Park....if you go out there
to see the bisons, keep an eye peeled for this one and let us know.
         I'll send list updates more often than monthly.
Good birding,
Bill Whan
for Bill Heck and Brad Sparks

* Though they've been scarce recently, snowy owls are surprisingly easy
to overlook in the relentlessly white landscapes we've had recently.
Back in the winter of 1963-64, the city of Columbus had five, including
birds in urban spots along Parsons and Indianola Avenues, on the OSU
campus, and at Greenlawn Dam. Heads up!


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