On a chilly December day, 52 intrepid volunteers searched a total of 90 hours and found 45 species in the Jackson Hole Christmas Bird Count--the same number of species we saw on count day last year. Other highlights of the 2022 count included 500 Bohemian Waxwings. Not only were the Bohemians notable for being the most populous species this year; they are a species we don't always see on every count. In fact, during last year's count we did not find one Bohemian Waxwing.
Bohemian Waxwings were named for their sporadic, wandering flocks that swoop into areas south of their usual winter range. Sugary fruit is their primary winter food and they have an unusual ability to find widely scattered groupings of fruit-laden trees and shrubs. Bohemian Waxwings also eat buds and insects in winter.
Another highlight of the 2022 count was the return of 85 Red Crossbills. Also a nomadic species, Red Crossbills were not seen at all in 2021. In 2020, an excellent year for Douglas-fir cones in our area, count participants found 297 Red Crossbills.
The Christmas Bird Count is the largest and oldest citizen science project in the world. Data collected by volunteers in Jackson Hole each year helps researchers, conservation biologists, wildlife agencies and other interested individuals understand how bird populations change over time and space. This information helps protect birds and their habitat. To volunteer for the next Jackson Hole Christmas Bird Count, subscribe to the Jackson Hole Bird & Nature Club e-news and watch for announcements.
The 2022 Jackson Hole Christmas Bird Count was coordinated and compiled by Susan Marsh. Many thanks to Susan and to all who participated in the 2022 count! American Coot 1
American Dipper 10 American Goldfinch 41 American Robin 3 Bald Eagle 32 Barrow's Goldeneye 88 Belted Kingfisher 5 Black-capped Chickadee 92 Black-billed Magpie 97 Bohemian Waxwing 500 Brown Creeper 2 Bufflehead 5 Canada Goose 14 Cedar Waxwing 11 Clark's Nutcracker 4 Common Goldeneye 26 Common Merganser 10
Common Raven 140 Downy Woodpecker 3 Eurasian Collared-Dove 2 European Starling 45 Evening Grosbeak 20 Gadwall 43 Golden Eagle 1 Green-winged Teal 16 Hairy Woodpecker 4 Hooded Merganser 2
House Finch 10
House Sparrow cw Junco-dark-eyed (Oregon) 3 Mallard 454 Mountain Chickadee 32 Northern Flicker 6 Northern Goshawk 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl 1 Pine Grosbeak 2 Pine Siskin 3 Red Crossbill 85 Red-breasted Nuthatch 15 Red-winged Blackbird 14 Song Sparrow 6 Steller's Jay 6 Townsend's Solitaire 4 Trumpeter Swan 20 White-breasted Nuthatch 6 Wilson's Snipe 2
Individual birds observed: 1887
Number of species: 45 plus 1 during count week (cw)
Number of counters: 52
Total hours of observation: 90