Date: 5/17/26 7:51 pm From: William Bennett (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Grandfather Mountain IBA Spring Bird Count results
This year the Grandfather Mountain IBA Spring Bird Count was held on Saturday, May 2nd. Six counters in four groups covered over 15 miles by foot and nearly 50 miles by car, and found 911 individual birds of 67 species. The weather was foggy in the AM, with high winds on the ridge and chilly all day, with temps ranging from 30 to 51 degrees F.
The results are on par with our averages; since the count began in 2011 we have averaged 910 individuals of 70 species, with an average of 7 counters covering 12 miles by foot and 32 by vehicle. Two count firsts were Fish Crow and Swainson's Warbler, both single vocalizing birds. Notable missed species are Chimney Swift, Peregrine Falcon, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-pewee, and Indigo Bunting. The count was held around a week earlier than usual which likely contributed to some of these misses.
Several new high counts were set: Canada Goose (36 individuals, beating 20 in 2018), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (7 over 6 in 2023), American Crow (61, 45 in 2014), Tree Swallow (64, 30 in 2013), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (18, 13 in 2025), American Robin (100, 96 in 2022), and Red-winged Blackbird (25, 16 in 2016).
Several locally breeding species had lower numbers than normal: Blue-headed Vireo (13 recorded, with a historical average of 27), Winter Wren (4, average 13), Golden-crowned Kinglet, (11, average 40), Veery (6, average 29), Chestnut-sided Warbler (9, average 18), and Ovenbird (6, average of 13). Like the missed species, timing of the count could contribute to some lower numbers, and weather hampered effort on some routes. It remains to be seen from longer term data collection whether habitat change following Hurricane Helene contributes to any lower species numbers on this count.
Thanks again to all of our counters! The species results follow:
