HARTFORD SUMMER BIRD COUNT SUMMARY – JUNE 7-8, 2025
The Hartford Summer Bird Count (SBC) was held on June 7th-8th. This marked the fourteenth consecutive weekend that featured some rain. More importantly for our Count, the month of May 2025 was the third rainiest May since the start of record keeping, and temperatures struggled to reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, the thermometer reached 70 on only four days the entire month. Such cold, wet weather is known to play havoc with the nesting season, and how many waterfowl nests that were washed out by high water levels cannot be determined. It is known that several participants remarked upon a lack of ducklings, although Canada geese goslings seemed to have weathered (sorry about that) the cool, damp conditions.
Saturday began overcast with temperatures in the mid 60s, and by 10 am the predicted rains had arrived, and they continued throughout the day. Sunday also began overcast and cooler, and while there was no measurable precipitation, the skies did not begin to clear until later in the day with the mercury reaching into the mid-70s later in the afternoon.
Although skies were gray, and there are always numerous conflicts to mid-June birding, 61 participants fanned out over our 15 mile diameter circle, only two fewer than the previous year. Of greater interest, 47 parties birded for a cumulative 177.5 hours, 5 more parties and 15 more hours than in 2024. Total species tallied was 109, three fewer than last year, and a reasonable total considering the weather. Eight species seen in 2024 were absent this year. These Gadwall, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Solitary Sandpiper, Great Horned Owl, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, and Black-throated Green Warbler. Several of these are not to be expected on our Hartford Count, while others like the owl were likely victims of inclement weather for night birding. Five species that did not appear last year found their way onto this year’s Count. These included a pair of Green-winged Teal at Station 43, South Windsor, three Herring Gulls making their way down the Connecticut River in Glastonbury, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo and a Least Flycatcher, both in Glastonbury, and a surprising total of 9 Brown Thrashers from three areas, including birds with young in Manchester and Bloomfield! Other rarities included a Least Sandpiper in Manchester, and an American Woodcock in Bloomfield. Several warblers of note included Worm-eating in Bloomfield, Black-and-white in Farmington/Avon and Chestnut-sided in both Farmington/Avon and Manchester. Manchester also tallied a pair of White-throated Sparrows, a species that apparently no longer nests in Connecticut.
In terms of numbers, American Robin again led the way with 1143 individuals. This total, some 250 fewer than in 2024, would likely have been higher if not for the rains of Saturday! Rounding out the top five were European Starling (1065), House Sparrow (834), Red-winged Blackbird (797) and Gray Catbird (460). The catbird beat out Common Grackle (459) by one bird! Although several areas commented on a paucity of ducklings, waterfowl numbers were higher for Canada Goose, Wood Duck and Mallard this year. Other water birds including Double-crested Cormorant and Green Heron also showed increased numbers. All raptors with the exception of Cooper’s Hawk and Bald Eagle showed a decrease, in part, no doubt because overcast, rainy weather is not conducive to soaring. Higher numbers were tallied for all woodpeckers (except Northern Flicker), the three recorded vireo species, all the flycatchers, Blue Jay and Common Raven. Swallows were down in number with the exception of the Purple Martin colony in Glastonbury that showed a small increase from 8 to 10 birds. Cliff Swallow colonies continue at West Hartford Reservoir #6 and at CIGNA in Bloomfield. A steep decline for Bank Swallows could be attributed to fewer sandbanks and sand piles in which this species builds its nests. Chickadees and titmice increased in number, while White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina and Northern (note the new name) House Wren decreased. Orioles, particularly Orchard Oriole, increased over 2024, while Red-winged Blackbird and Common Grackle both declined. Finally, House Sparrow showed a significant increase of 18%. This was due to one area making a concerted effort to count the house sparrows in their town.
This is the Hartford Summer Bird Count’s 35th year, and whereas we might not garner the species totals found on those counts that take place along Connecticut’s coast, there are plenty of birds to be found in our part of Connecticut.
The Summer Bird Count is an important survey, providing information on the status of breeding bird populations. Thank you to the area captains and all participants who donated their time to participate in the Count this year. Results of ours and the other seven Connecticut SBCs will be published in an upcoming edition of The Connecticut Warbler, the quarterly journal of the Connecticut Ornithological Association. A full accounting of the species found on the Hartford Count is available by e-mailing me at jaybrd49@aol.com
I hope that many of you will be able to participate in our 2025 Christmas Bird Count, the longest running of all “citizen science” surveys. The Christmas Count will take place on Sunday, December 14, 2025. Save the date!
Jay Kaplan, Compiler
Hartford Summer Bird Count
