Bird Count Reports

The fifty-one participants in the Saskatoon Nature Society fall count on September 6, 2025 enjoyed mostly sunny skies, mild temperatures and light winds. The species count of 167 was the highest since 2010 and well above the long-term average of 152. Pine Warbler was seen for the first time, Eastern Bluebird and Veery for only the second time.

Water levels have recovered somewhat from several dry years, and of the dabbling ducks only Northern Shoveller count (43% of LTA) was significantly below normal. However, several of the diving duck counts were uniformly low: Canvasback (13%), Ring-necked Duck (0%, the first time none have been observed), Lesser Scaup (16%, a new low), Bufflehead (9%), Hooded Merganser (9%), Ruddy Duck (18%).

With ample shoreline habitat, the overall shorebird count was above normal (152% of LTA). Stilt Sandpiper (915%) and Semipalmated Plover (872%) were particularly abundant., along with Least Sandpiper (273%) and Semipalmated Sandpiper (600%).

Black Tern is an example of a species whose fall migration has shifted earlier. In the last ten years a total of only four have been counted. In the previous 12 years the count averaged 26 per year. In contrast, Turkey Vultures (363%) seem to be staying longer into the fall. The four highest counts have been recorded in the last four years. .

The warbler count this year was exceptional, with a new high of 20 species observed. Yellow-rumped Warbler (54%) which dominates the fall count was lower than usual, but offsetting that were new high counts for Ovenbird (475%), Northern Waterthrush (695%), Cape May Warbler (424%), Bay-breasted Warbler (812%) and Blackpoll Warbler (469%).

Thank you to all who participated in the count this year. We hope you will join us again on future counts.

John Patterson (compiler)

Stan Shadick (organizer)

Notes: Long-term averages (LTA) are calculated from 2004 – present. Counts prior to 2004 are not comparable as they were conducted a week later. To make year-to-year count comparisons valid, raw counts have been corrected for effort (annual corrected count = annual raw count x long-term average party hours / annual party hours). Counts quoted in the narrative and presented as a % of the LTA are corrected. Raw counts are shown in the tables.