Village Bird Count 2007
On Friday, February 9, 2007 numerous members, organized by John Affleck, with approval from the Villages' golf administration, set out to do the first complete bird count of The Villages (by golf cart). The teams set out before the 7 AM golfers to do the various golf courses and then continued with other areas later. Pictured below is the group of volunteers who participated in this count.
Area #1 Historical side east of 441/27, Hacienda Golf Course areas stretching from 441/27 down El Camino to Cazaraz over to Rio Grande Ave. up to Delmar Drive. This includes downtown areas of Spanish Springs as well. Captain Linda Felker, Team: Dave Felker, Steve Norton, Liz Allison. Golf Courses responsible for: Orange Blossum (front nine), either Silver Lake or Hilltop Executive nine.

Area #2 Entire Nancy Lopez area from route 42 to Belle Meade (including pond south of Belle Meade next to circle) Captain Alice Horst, Team: Jerry and Vicky Schneider, Marcy Klepinger, Margie Thalberg, Kris St. Germain. Golf Courses responsible for: Nancy Lopez (Torri Pines nine), Amberwood, Oakleigh, Walnut Grove, Briarwood.

Area #3 Glenview area from Belle Meade on north to 466 on south including Polo Ground area. Captain John Affleck, Team, Jim Dinsmore, Bob Pum, Joyce Dotterweich, Frank and Karen McDermott. Golf Courses responsible for: Glenview (Tally Ho nine), El Santiago, El Diablo, Sandlebrook, Hawkes Bay.

Area #4 Tierra Del Sol areas from Del Mar Drive to Rio Grande across Morse Dr. to Modero Dr. over to Buena Vista, not including Polo Ground. Captain Barb Gay, Team: Mary Lou Miller, Gert Shaeffer, Donna Schromm. Golf Courses responsible for: Tierra Del Sol (back nine), De La Vista, Chula Vista, Mira Mesa.

Area #5 South of 466 west of Buena Vista to entire length of new Village areas stretching out to 466A. Captain Paul Nistico, Team: Charlie Finkbiner, Barb Athanasiou, Rich Gurzungle. Golf Courses responsible for: Pelican, Heron, Pimlico, Churchill, Belmont.

Area #6 South of 466 east of Buena Vista east to Morse Blvd. All the way to 466A. Captain Norm Lantz, Team: Pat Affleck (will have cart for you Norm), WS Scott, Lyn Comans. Golf Courses responsible for: Palmer (Riley nine) Bogart Executive Course

Area #7 South of 466, west of Morse Blvd. all the way south to 466A Captain Gene and Laura Eide, Team: Marge and Tom Allen, Ann and Lincoln Sunderland. Bacall Executive Course. (talk to Norm about this overlap) With tornado of Feb.2nd damage, golf courses may not be accessible for counts,such as Mallary. Please use good judgment here

For the itemized report of the results go to the spreadsheet view here

Brief summary of the results:

Greatest number of birds in a species: (top ten)

1. Cedar Waxwings 4,747
2. Tree Swallows 923
3. Robins 836
4. American White Pelican 770
5. Mallard 739
6. Ring-billed Gulls 584 (thanks to Alice and Marcy for saving one more)
7. Double-crested Cormorant 506
8. Common Grackle 421
9. Red-winged Blackbirds 353
10. White Ibis 340

Birds recorded in all seven districts of Villages: (27)

Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Hooded Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, White Ibis, Wood Stork, American Coot, Killdeer, Wilson’s Snipe, Mourning Dove, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, Tree Swallow, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, House Finch

Bird Counted only time in overall count:

District 1 Wood Duck, American Wigeon,Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Field Sparrow
District 2 Black Vulture, Western Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
District 3 American Bittern, Purple Martin, Brown Thrasher, House Sparrow
District 4 Gadwall, Hybrid Duck, Green-winged Teal, Great Horned Owl, Black & White Warbler
District 5 Eastern Towhee
District 6 Redhead Duck, Least Bittern, American Avocet, Franklin Gull, White-eyed Vireo
District 7 American Woodcock, Downy Woodpecker, Wilson’s Phalarope

Group picture taken at the pizza party afterwards.

John organizing the collection of data.