The Sterling CBC was held this past Tuesday (12/20). Nine birders in four teams covered this central Logan County circle that ranges from the South Platte in Sterling to North Sterling State Park. This was the 15th consecutive year for the count, although there were also three Sterling counts in the 1940s.
A total of 61 species were tallied which matches 2011 and 2014 for the low count over the past 10 years compared to a high of 74 in 2010. That variance is largely driven by how much open water there is on North Sterling Reservoir—in this year only a narrow sliver a few hundred yards long. So, for instance, in 2010 we recorded 11 diving ducks, grebes and gulls versus 5 this year.
There were highlights this year, however, most notably the counts first Varied Thrush and Greater Prairie Chicken for the 4th time and with a record of 12 individuals compared to only 7 in the previous three years of observation, 2010, 2014 and 2015. I bet the combination of Varied Thrush and Greater Prairie Chicken might me unique in CBC history!
Bill Kaempfer
Boulder
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