KU Natural History Museum sets Kansas single-day record in annual bird count

Editor's note: A complete list of the species counted is available.

LAWRENCE -- A team of ornithologists sponsored by the University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center recently set a record for the number of bird species counted in Kansas in a single day with a total of 225 species. The previous record, set in 2000, was 210 species.

Only counts in Texas and California, where the occurrence of shorebirds makes higher counts possible, are higher than the Kansas record. This year's count ties Kansas with New Jersey.

The count was conducted this month as part of the museum and research center's Bird-a-Thon, part of a 32-year tradition of Big Days bird-watching competitions governed by the American Birding Association. The association requires that each member of a Big Day team remain within hearing of all other members throughout the excursion and that all team members observe at least 95 percent of the species. The event must occur during a single calendar day.

The Bird-a-Thon team -- Mark Robbins, the museum's collection manager for birds, and associates Roger McNeill and Mike Rader -- began their trek at midnight west of Topeka, where they recorded several tallgrass prairie birds, such as greater prairie-chicken, Henslow's sparrow and upland sandpiper. At dawn the team was at the Leavenworth Bottoms on Fort Leavenworth, where they recorded many woodland species, including 28 kinds of warblers.

Late in the morning, team members traveled around Clinton Lake near Lawrence, where they spotted nesting bald eagles, a rainbow-colored painted bunting and a red-shouldered hawk carrying a snake. By noon team members had headed west to Junction City, where they added red-breasted nuthatch.

Two western species, the rock wren and Say's phoebe, were added at Wilson Reservoir. At 4 p.m., burrowing owls were seen at the prairie dog town near Cheyenne Bottoms in Barton County. During the next two hours at Cheyenne Bottoms, the team added shorebirds and species that inhabit marshes.

The last stop of the day was at the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Stafford County. A number of species were added there, including the endangered piping plover and the secretive black rail. The final species of the day, a common snipe, was heard shortly after sunset. The team covered 596 miles during the event.

The Bird-a-Thon raises funds for field studies by KU graduate students studying ornithology. Pledge, ranging from 10 cents to $5 a species, are based on the number of species counted. To contribute, contact the museum and research center at (785) 864-3657.