A total of 10,719 birds representing 87 species were identified in the Middle Peninsula Audubon Christmas Bird Count, which was held on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, throughout the region, according to compiler Susan Crockett.
The most numerous species spotted by the 53 participants were Red-Winged Blackbirds (3,046), Ruddy Ducks (1,122) and Ring-Billed Gulls (959). Of the 53 participants, 30 were Virginia Master Naturalists from four local chapters.
Volunteers were in the field counting birds for 10 hours traveling in cars and walking on foot to find the birds in three counties—parts of Gloucester, Middlesex, and King and Queen counties. Public parks were visited and many, many private property owners allowed the volunteers access to count the birds. “We are very appreciative of their support for this important citizen science event,” Crockett said. The Christmas Bird Count has been organized and sponsored by the National Audubon Society for 123 years.
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