** UPDATED CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS **

We conducted two Christmas Bird Counts in December, one centered around Greater Muskegon (Dec. 14) and one including the Muskegon County Wastewater properties (Dec. 18). 

UPDATE (1/7/20):  On the City of Muskegon CBC Dec. 14 our totals from the three groups (17 locations) were 52 bird species and 2,979 individual birds.  

The most numerous species were waterbirds: Common Merganser (689), Redhead (270), Lesser Scaup (245) and Common Goldeneye (236).

Species with individual numbers over 100 were the 125 Canada Geese, 135 Mute Swans, 192 Mallards, 125 Red-breasted Mergansers, 103 Ring-billed Gulls, 107 "Sea Gulls" (Herring or Ring-billed) and 162 Rock Pigeons. 

Eight species were recorded only once: American Wigeon, Red-throated Loon, Great Blue Heron, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin and American Kestrel.

Thanks to the 19 people who participated!