Stanton holds 39th Christmas bird count
LEWISTON — The Stanton Bird Club conducted its 39th Christmas Bird Count of the Lewiston-Auburn area on Saturday, Dec. 29. In total, 17 people participated and recorded 42 species; the average since 2000 is 48.
There was 1 inch of snow on the ground and most open water was frozen. The grand total of 4,331 individual birds was well below the average of 5,600. They had a partly sunny and windy day, with temperatures starting at 32 degrees, rising to 46 by the end of the day. Count week added three additional species.
Overall, waterfowl numbers were low in comparison to prior years. There was open water on the Androscoggin River, little open water at Lake Auburn and no open water at Sabattus or Taylor Pond. Raptor counts were up this year, driven by a new count high of 35 Bald Eagles (21 on Sabattus pond ice), and a new count high of 3 for Sharp Shinned hawk.
There were no new bird species added to the count this year.
Less-often-seen birds included a Merlin, a flock of snow buntings and pine grosbeaks. Count for tufted titmouse and white-throated Sparrow reached new highs, while mallard, song Sparrow and Northern cardinal counts were above average. On the low side, American crow, black-capped chickadee, blue jay and mourning dove were below average this year.
Auburn OES to meet
AUBURN — Pine Cone Chapter 26, Order of the Eastern Star, will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, at the Masonic Hall, 1021 Turner St.
The chapter will honor the stations of warder and sentinel. Marc Precourt, grand warder, has been invited. Arthur Dunlap, grand sentinel, will be present. The meeting will be preceded by a potluck supper at 6 p.m. All Eastern Star members are welcome.
Cribbage league results
LEWISTON — Results for the Lewiston Senior Cribbage League for the week of Jan. 3 are: First place, Don Haley and Maurice Gagne; second place, Gene Brown and Chanel LeBlanc; third place, Terry Chambers and Roger Labbe; fourth place, Cecile Bussiere and Richard Cloutier; and fifth place, Dick Dennis and Val Madore.
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