We held our second annual New Year's Bird Count for Kids today at Brent Elementary.  The event was very well attended, with about 70 families dispersing for birdwalks at three locations:  Haines Point, the National Arboretum, and Kennilworth Aquatic Gardens.  This event was part of the growing movement of Christmas Bird Counts for Kids, being held all over the country and Canada this month.  It was a huge success, and a lot of young birders and their families had a very positive experience with our feathered friends.  

Total species for the day:  29
Total individuals for the day:  1,111 (including the 713 Canada Geese seen from Haines Point)
Highlight birds, as shared by the kids:  "Female Cardinal,"  Cardinal, and Bald Eagle

Haines Point (led by Paul Baicich and Molly Edmonds)

Canada Goose 713
Mallard 23
Northern Shoveler 2
Bald Eagle
Ring Billed Gull 141
Herring Gull 15
Great Black Backed Gull 20
Rock Pigeon 
Lesser Scaup
Merlin
Blue Jay 7
Fish Crow 2
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling 5

Kennilworth Aquatic Gardens (Led by Dan Rauch and Alicia King)

Canada Goose  34
Mallard 14
Red Shouldered Hawk 
Ring Billed Gull 16
Downey Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 27
Fish Crow 
Carolina Chicadee
Carolina Wren
American Robin 8
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 27
Song Sparrow 3
White Throated Sparrow 3
Dark Eyed Junco 2

National Arboretum (led by Dave Wood, Susan Bradfield and Noah Kahn)

Canada Goose
Black Vulture
Ring Billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Red Bellied Woodpecker 2
Yellow Bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 3
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Wren 2
Eastern Bluebird 2
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Towhee 3
Song Sparrow
White Throated Sparrow
Dark Eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Common Grackle
House Sparrow 10