Date: 1/20/26 5:40 pm From: Toddy Guidry via groups.io <guidrys...> Subject: [labird] Palmetto island CBC summary
Hey all
The 10th Palmetto Island Christmas Bird Count was held January 5 2026. The
count circle is centered at Palmetto Island State Park just south of
Abbeville in Vermilion Parish.
The species count this year was the lowest on record but still a good 149
species. This is slightly below the longterm average of 154 and
significantly below last year's record count of 165.
Bird numbers were about average, except similar to last year, low numbers of
raptors and ducks were seen.
We have 3 large private access tracts and boat only area out of Intracoastal
city.
The circle essentially is an intersection of several terrain types,
accounting for this steady species counts.
From 'urban' Abbeville, to ag fields, hardwoods at the park, Cajun prairies
and the Cameron like port of Intracoastal City. It is easy to see why the
count always has a good species count.
9 of the 12 groups(including feeders) had 'exclusives', a function of each
group having its own little ecosystem.
2 new birds added to the count, Black Headed Grosbeak from Judge and
Elizabeth's feeder, and Bobwhite from the Henry area(Brad Price). The master
list is now at 204 species.
So:
9 areas, 26 field volunteers, 3 feeders
New to the count: Black Headed Grosbeak, Bobwhite
Best of the rest: Limpkin, Black Bellied Plover, Lesser BB Gull, American
Bittern, Least Bittern, W/WF Ibis hybrids, Swainsons Hawk, Lark Sparrow,
Bronzed Cowbird, YH Blackbird, 3 Hummingbird species, 16 waterfowl
including only 3rd Fulvous Whistling Duck
Worst misses: Lesser Scaup, Canvasback, Redhead, Ruddy Duck, Avocet,
Caspian Tern, BC Night Heron, Wilsons Warbler, B-W Warbler
High Count records: Double Crested Cormorant(546), Great Egret(1225),
Glossy/WF Ibis hybrids(8), Osprey(22), Red Shouldered Hawk(41),
E.Phoebe(214), YH Blackbird(38)
.
Noticeably Low Counts: waterfowl in general, Western and Least Sandpipers,
Tree Swallow
Thanks to: Mac Myers, Brad Price, Angela Trahan, Patti Holland, Dave
Patton, Zack Guidry, Rob Dobbs, Andy Form, Judge Edwards, Elizabeth Edwards,
Phillip Wallace, Mark Shirley, Gil Wade, Deb Wade, Sean Edwards, Erik
Johnson, Danielle and Felicity Avila, Mike Musumeche, John Parker, Cheryl
Huner, Stacey Scarce, Jim Parker, Chuck Battaglia, Kathryn Cannon, Ivy
Bonin, and Sandra Dehart.
If anyone would like to see the compilation workbook, just shoot me an
email.
