In a message dated 12/3/2004 6:32:06 AM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:
Well, you should, Rick - it's a reat count, and in many ways, the data is
more useful than the "Christmas" counts. Nyah, nyah!!!
Frank
Frank,
A "great" count is in the eyes of the beholder! I cannot think of a single
way in which the data from this count would be more useful than any CBC. The
C&O Canal mid-winter count, while a nice walk along some pretty winter woods,
seems to me to be rather a useless count, for the most part. It is a very
restricted linear count, and the birds seen are really nothing out of the
ordinary for this area in winter. The only difference I see in the birds along a
stretch of the canal in Georgetown and those in Cumberland, are the 2 chickadee
species (and where the line of separation is). The numbers of birds (both
species and total number seen) could probably be extrapolated after a few
seasons of the count. Any variance in numbers (species in decline, etc.) can be
seen from the CBC's which cover areas of the canal (Seneca, Sugarloaf, etc.)
and which have a long history.
The fact that the "canal" is such a narrow entity in many parts of its 185
miles, really restricts its usefulness as a count, IMHO. Perhaps someone could
put together a checklist of the winter birds along the C&O Canal eventually.
A more useful count would be doing it at least once in every season, with
breeding birds included.
I wish we'd bring back the Montgomery County mid-winter count. Now THAT was
a great count! Anyway, just my opinions here, please everybody don't jump
down my throat...
Rick Sussman
Ashton,MD
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