Rachel and I enjoyed helping out with the Marietta CBC today, 12/17/06. This is my second CBC, and her first. I'm sure Bob Z will post a more extensive highlight list. Here are our favorite birds from Area 3:

Sora 1 Great Horned Owl 2 Brown Creeper 1 Winter Wren 3 Hermit Thrush 1

We noted a drop in waterfowl from last year - most notably 157 Ring-necked Duck in '05 to zero this year; also fewer Hooded Merganser and Pied-billed Grebe. All areas report continued loss of habitat to development; this year I could not tromp through a marsh for sparrows (zero field sparrows) and snipe (also zero) because a townhome project is now finished and gated. The same area did produce the Sora, so even though we had to play a CD at great distance to hear it, at least some species are hanging on to what little they have left! Another highlight was arranging access to a large private land holding that includes a lake. The owners were very nice once they learned about the CBC and what we wanted to do. The lake only yielded a Pied-billed Grebe this year, but there are extensive woods and some open habitat in there as well, so this new partnership may turn up some nice species in years to come.

Ken Blankenship Marietta, GA (Cobb County) http://www.wingsoverga.com

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