Results of the McCreary County, Kentucky, Spring BirdBlitz—24 April 2009
The first bird count of any kind to be conducted in McCreary County, this spring birdblitz was a moderate success. Some factors that led to its success were the addition of three new species to the county's bird list (listed in red in the table below), bringing the all-time list of species occurring in the county to 176, and the acquisition of sufficient data to allow the relative abundance of various species in the county to be compared with their relative abundance elsewhere Regionally; in particular the data for some of the breeding Neotropical migrants of the county were impressive. Another factor in the success of the count was the acquisition of valuable information about some of the uncommon or very uncommon breeding birds of the Upper Cumberland Region, including Ruffed Grouse, Cerulean Warbler, and Swainson's Warbler. Finally, quite a number of latish dates for winter resident species were obtained, as well as some earlyish dates for summer resident species. On a more personal note, I had one of the most enjoyable days afield that I have had in a long time while participating on this count in the fine forests of the extreme southwestern Daniel Boone National Forest.
Eight observers (see Key to Observers after the table below) took part in this inaugural bird count in the county, finding 117 species. See the table and notes below for details about the results of the count.
To see the results of this birdblitz in the context of other counts made during this season, click on the following link:
Table 1. Results of the 2009 McCreary County Spring BirdBlitz.
| Location | N | W | E | SW | SE | |
| Party Leaders | RMD | JK | BHS | SJS | LMM | Total |
| Party Members | DS | TMS | TBM | |||
| Number of Field Observers | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Number of Field Parties | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Number of Feederwatchers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Start EDT | 0545 | c. 0600 | 0500 | 0530 | 0610 | 0500 |
| End EDT | 1600 | c. 1200 | 2045 | 2015 | 2030 | 2045 |
| Hours on Foot | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 8 |
| Hours by Car | 8 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 11.75 | 45.75 |
| Total Party Hours | 10 | 6 | 12 | 13.5 | 12.25 | 53.75 |
| Miles on Foot | 2.5 | 1 | 3 | 2.5 | 0.25 | 9.25 |
| Miles by Car | 70 | c. 50 | 95 | 149 | 118 | 482 |
| Total Party Miles | 72.5 | c. 51 | 98 | 151.5 | 118.25 | 491.25 |
| Owling Hours | 1 | 0 | 1.5 | 1.25 | 0.25 | 4 |
| Owling Miles | 5 | 0 | 24 | 9 | 2 | 40 |
| Feeder-watching Hours | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Low Temperature (F) | 52 | |||||
| High Temperature (F) | 92 | |||||
| Wind Direction | NA | |||||
| Wind AM (mph) | 0–15 | |||||
| Wind PM (mph) | 0–30 | |||||
| Sky AM | mcle | |||||
| Sky PM | mcle | |||||
| Precipitation AM | none | |||||
| Precipitation PM | none | |||||
| Moon Phase | near new | |||||
| Location | N | W | E | SW | SE | |
| Canada Goose | -- | -- | 12 | 4 | 20 | 36 |
| Wood Duck | -- | 1 | 3 | -- | 4 | 8 |
| Mallard | -- | -- | 1 | -- | 7 | 8 |
| Blue-winged Teal | -- | -- | -- | -- | 8 | 8 |
| Northern Bobwhite | -- | -- | 1 | -- | 1 | 2 |
| Ruffed Grouse | 1 | -- | 1 | -- | -- | 2 |
| Wild Turkey | -- | 1 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 15 |
| Great Blue Heron | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- | 1 |
| Green Heron | -- | -- | 2 | -- | 2 | 4 |
| Black Vulture | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 |
| Turkey Vulture | 19 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 22 | 66 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | -- | -- | 1 | -- | -- | 1 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 2 | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | -- | 1 | -- | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Killdeer | -- | 1 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 19 |
| Solitary Sandpiper | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| American Woodcock | -- | -- | 1 | -- | 2 | 3 |
| Rock Pigeon | -- | 1 | -- | 3 | -- | 4 |
| Mourning Dove | 11 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 32 | 89 |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | -- | 1 | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | -- | -- | 3 | 1 | -- | 4 |
| Great Horned Owl | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | 2 |
| Barred Owl | -- | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| Common Nighthawk | -- | -- | 1 | -- | -- | 1 |
| Chuck-will's-widow | -- | -- | 1 | -- | -- | 1 |
| Whip-poor-will | 12 | -- | 23 | 13 | -- | 48 |
| Location | N | W | E | SW | SE | |
| Chimney Swift | 8 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 27 |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | 1 | -- | 2 | -- | -- | 3 |
| Belted Kingfisher | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- | 1 |
| Red-headed Woodpecker | 4 | -- | 2 | -- | 9 | 15 |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | 13 | -- | 7 | 8 | 11 | 39 |
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 |
| Downy Woodpecker | 2 | -- | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| Hairy Woodpecker | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
| Northern Flicker | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 20 |
| Pileated Woodpecker | 6 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 37 |
| Eastern Wood-Pewee | -- | 2 | -- | -- | 1 | 3 |
| Acadian Flycatcher | -- | 1 | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
| Eastern Phoebe | 20 | 4 | 6 | 29 | 25 | 84 |
| Great Crested Flycatcher | 1 | -- | -- | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| Eastern Kingbird | 2 | -- | 3 | 5 | 5 | 15 |
| White-eyed Vireo | 15 | 14 | 6 | 25 | 25 | 85 |
| Yellow-throated Vireo | 17 | -- | -- | 14 | 8 | 39 |
| Blue-headed Vireo | 5 | -- | 7 | 6 | 3 | 21 |
| Warbling Vireo | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 |
| Red-eyed Vireo | 47 | 27 | -- | 115 | 25 | 214 |
| Blue Jay | 20 | 19 | 17 | 24 | 44 | 124 |
| American Crow | 28 | 36 | 45 | 43 | 38 | 190 |
| Purple Martin | -- | -- | -- | -- | 14 | 14 |
| Tree Swallow | -- | -- | 8 | -- | 2 | 10 |
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow | 14 | 4 | 6 | 17 | 15 | 56 |
| Barn Swallow | 8 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 31 | 63 |
| Carolina Chickadee | 6 | 8 | 20 | 45 | 17 | 96 |
| Tufted Titmouse | 70 | 4 | 16 | 92 | 27 | 209 |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | 8 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 29 |
| Location | N | W | E | SW | SE | |
| House Wren | -- | -- | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Carolina Wren | 40 | 15 | 14 | 49 | 33 | 151 |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | 47 | 6 | 14 | 86 | 25 | 178 |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | 1 | -- | 1 | 4 | -- | 6 |
| Eastern Bluebird | 9 | 7 | 16 | 26 | 24 | 82 |
| Swainson's Thrush | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | 2 |
| Hermit Thrush | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- | 1 |
| Wood Thrush | 9 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 12 | 45 |
| American Robin | 18 | 20 | 22 | 32 | 32 | 124 |
| Gray Catbird | -- | -- | 1 | -- | 1 | 2 |
| Northern Mockingbird | 1 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 26 |
| Brown Thrasher | 6 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 16 | 38 |
| European Starling | 13 | 20 | 35 | 85 | 68 | 221 |
| American Pipit | -- | -- | -- | -- | 10 | 10 |
| Cedar Waxwing | 21 | 2 | -- | 3 | 7 | 33 |
| Ovenbird | 33 | 19 | 16 | 76 | 28 | 172 |
| Worm-eating Warbler | 10 | 7 | 4 | 47 | 12 | 80 |
| Louisiana Waterthrush | 4 | -- | 2 | 8 | 6 | 20 |
| Blue-winged Warbler | -- | 3 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 19 |
| Black-and-white Warbler | 48 | 12 | 13 | 71 | 23 | 167 |
| Swainson's Warbler | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- | 1 |
| Tennessee Warbler | -- | -- | 1 | -- | -- | 1 |
| Kentucky Warbler | -- | -- | -- | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Common Yellowthroat | 6 | 2 | -- | 15 | 32 | 55 |
| Hooded Warbler | 84 | 16 | 22 | 129 | 29 | 280 |
| American Redstart | -- | -- | -- | 10 | 2 | 12 |
| Cerulean Warbler | 2 | -- | 1 | 4 | 5 | 12 |
| Northern Parula | 14 | -- | 6 | 41 | 11 | 72 |
| Magnolia Warbler | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 |
| Yellow Warbler | -- | 2 | -- | 5 | 5 | 12 |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | -- | -- | 1 | -- | 2 | 3 |
| Palm Warbler | -- | -- | -- | -- | 3 | 3 |
| Pine Warbler | 9 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 5 | 36 |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | 9 | -- | 2 | 12 | 4 | 27 |
| Yellow-throated Warbler | 34 | -- | 1 | 31 | 12 | 78 |
| Prairie Warbler | 31 | 21 | 44 | 26 | 29 | 151 |
| Black-throated Green Warbler | 23 | 10 | 4 | 70 | 18 | 125 |
| Yellow-breasted Chat | 6 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 11 | 35 |
| Location | N | W | E | SW | SE | |
| Eastern Towhee | 26 | 7 | 32 | 22 | 21 | 108 |
| Chipping Sparrow | 49 | 1 | 26 | 39 | 23 | 138 |
| Field Sparrow | 5 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 17 | 32 |
| Savannah Sparrow | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 |
| Grasshopper Sparrow | -- | 4 | -- | -- | 1 | 5 |
| Song Sparrow | 7 | 10 | 22 | 48 | 29 | 116 |
| Swamp Sparrow | 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 6 |
| White-throated Sparrow | 5 | 3 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 46 |
| Summer Tanager | -- | -- | 1 | -- | 2 | 3 |
| Scarlet Tanager | 7 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 8 | 36 |
| Northern Cardinal | 22 | 29 | 27 | 67 | 46 | 191 |
| Blue Grosbeak | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- | 1 |
| Indigo Bunting | -- | 3 | -- | 2 | 10 | 15 |
| Red-winged Blackbird | 10 | 1 | 18 | 10 | 45 | 84 |
| Eastern Meadowlark | -- | -- | 1 | 6 | 19 | 26 |
| Common Grackle | 1 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 37 |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | 13 | 5 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 52 |
| Orchard Oriole | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | 2 | 4 |
| Baltimore Oriole | -- | -- | 1 | -- | -- | 1 |
| House Finch | 2 | -- | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| Pine Siskin | -- | 1 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 17 |
| American Goldfinch | 20 | 8 | 17 | 54 | 34 | 133 |
| House Sparrow | 7 | 1 | 4 | 25 | 14 | 51 |
| Total Individuals | 1010 | 438 | 715 | 1771 | 1256 | 5190 |
| Total Species | 69 | 61 | 85 | 83 | 94 | 117 |
| Location | N | W | E | SW | SE |
Key to Observers:
| RMD | Roseanna M. Denton |
| JK | James Kiser |
| LMM | Lynda M. Mills, co-compiler |
| TBM | Thomas B. Mills, co-compiler |
| TMS | Thomas M. Saya |
| BHS | Barbara H. Stedman |
| SJS | Stephen J. Stedman |
| DS | Doug Stephens |
Notes:
The county was divided into the following territories for this spring birdblitz:
North (RMD)—north
of KY 90 (Falls Highway) and north of KY 927 (
West (JK, DS)—south
of KY 927 (
East (BHS)—south
of KY 90 (Falls Highway), east of US-27, and north of KY 478 (
Southwest (SJS, TMS)—south of KY 92 and west of US 27;
Southeast (LMM, TBM)—south
of KY 478 (
The Common Nighthawk was observed at dusk along Rt. 92 west of Stearns but is included in the list of the observer (BHS) rather than in the list for that territory.
The Chuck-will's-widow, new to the county bird list, was found on FR 159 in the Daniel Boone National Forest (BHS).
The American Pipits, new to the county bird list, were recorded at the McCreary County Airport (TBM, LMM).
The Swainson's Warbler was found on FR 137
near Great Meadows in the Daniel Boone National Forest (SJS, TMS).
The Swamp Sparrows, new to the county bird list, were located at the end of Rt. 1609 (RMD).
Quick links to other sections of this website: