On Saturday, December 17, nine members of the Nasketucket Bird Club led by Justin Barrett, Club President and Mike LaBossiere, Past President, scoured the marshes, woods, thickets and shoreline of Fairhaven during the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. The count has been going on for over one hundred years and our club has participated since 2007.
According to Audubon, “the data collected by observers over the past century allow researchers, conservation biologists, and interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America.” Although the numbers of birds and species seen may vary a lot from year to year depending on weather and the number of counters, the data collected over the long term is valuable.
The best birds of the day were two Razorbills seen close to shore off West Island. They are related to Puffins and usually spend their lives at sea. A Peregrine Falcon posed atop the mill on Angelica Rock and a disgruntled Great Horned Owl was woken up from its nap. Sixty-two species were identified.
The Nasketucket Bird Club meets most months at the Mattapoisett Public Library on Barstow Street at 7:00 pm on the fourth Thursday. Check the website at MassBird.org/Nasketucket/index.htm. Nasketucket members include birders from Mattapoisett, Wareham, Marion, Rochester, Fairhaven, Acushnet, and other area towns. The next meeting will be Thursday, January 26 when the group will discuss plans for programs, trips, and speakers. Everyone is welcome.
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Longworth