More than 2,000 birds counted by annual watchers

Data from the Island count is added to Seattle Audubon’s compilation for the area.

The 116th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count was held on Mercer Island on Saturday, Dec. 26.

Mercer Island is one of 14 counting districts that includes Seattle and parts of Bellevue, said Islander Judith Roan, who organized the count.

The day held a steady 40 degrees in temperature, with no wind or rain, which made it a perfect day for birding, she said.

Twelve participants started at 8 a.m., and counted all the birds that they heard and/or saw throughout the Island, focusing on Luther Burbank Park, Pioneer Park and the west side lake landings. The group found a total of 56 species with 2,066 individuals birds.

“If I were to include a couple of birding highlights, it would be two Barred Owls and two Pileated Woodpeckers found in Pioneer Park near the fire station, a Red-breasted Sapsucker, and a Spotted Sandpiper found in the south end of Luther Burbank Park,” Roan said.

In addition, Luther Burbank Park had a Merlin, Cooper’s Hawk and Peregrin Falcon. Six Bald Eagles were counted throughout the Island.

Last year, they tallied 58 species of bird and had a total of 2,625 individual birds.

The data from the Island count is added to Seattle Audubon’s compilation for the area.