Nokesville Christmas Bird Count (CBC)
Resources:
MAPS
NOKESVILLE CBC RESULTS
National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count website
 Now in its 112th year, the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the oldest and largest citizen science event in existence. The National Audubon Society leads the effort, compiles data nationwide and makes the results available to all on their website here.
All CBC Circles cover a 15-mile diameter circle (113,000 acres). The information collected by citizen scientists provides a snapshot showing what birds were found on one particular winter day over many years.
The Nokesville count circle, centered at Merrimac Farm WMA, covers a diverse landscape at the edge of the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area and captures the transition from coastal plain to piedmont ecosystems.
It extends from the Prince William County landfill on Route 234 to Nokesville Proper, and from the Lunga Reservoir near I-95 to Catlett in Fauquier County. The count circle includes portions of Prince William Forest Park, Manassas Airport and large areas within MCB Quantico.
Parks and conservation areas include Merrimac Farm, the Cedar Run Wetland Bank, Foggy Bottom Wetland Bank, Nokesville Park, Brentsville Courthouse, Bristoe Battlefield Park and Hellwig Park.
The count circle covers part of Prince William's Rural Crescent, where 10-acre subdivisions, small farms and private ponds of all sizes are common. In Fauquier, birders survey small hamlets along Elk Run Road and near Bristersburg, as well as most of Catlett, and Calverton.
December 26 2011
 Warmer than previous years, temperatures ranged from under 30°F in the morning to nearly 50°F after midday. More than 30 people helped make this count a fun and memorable experience. Together we tallied 81 species.
Highlights of the day include 12 bald eagles seen at the Prince William County landfill. The Bald Eagles were watching/hunting the 1000+ gulls, mostly ring-billed, foraging through uncovered trash. One Raven was also seen at the landfill, with 2 others at MCB Quantico and 2 in Fauquier County.
A Screech Owl was in Fauquier County along with Barred Owls, which were also seen at Merrimac Farm. Woodcock were seen at MCB Quantico and in Fauquier County. There were many Eastern Bluebirds, with an impressive flock of 50+ at the Rte 234 Wetland Mitigation Area.
Foggy Bottom Wetland was the only place Tree Sparrows were seen, for the 2nd year in a row. It was also produced the only sighting of Fox Sparrow. Savannah Sparrows were spotted at Merrimac Farm and in Fauquier County. Merrimac Farm added Chipping Sparrow, Wild Turkey and Brown Thrasher to the list.
December 27 2010
 It was a tough day for birds and birders, cold with steady winds gusting to 30+ mph. But despite the wind and mostly frozen ponds, 26 people sighted 85 species at the Nokesville CBC.
Highlights of the day include an immature Golden Eagle at MCB Quantico, and Brewer's Blackbirds at a dairy farm on Fleetwood Drive, near the intersection with Aden Road.
Owls included a Great Horned Owl, Short-eared Owl on Parkgate Road, Eastern Screech Owl at Prince William Forest Park, and Barred Owls at MCB Quantico and Fauquier County. A Merlin was seen at the Rte. 234 Wetland Mitigation Area.
There was a Yellow-breasted Chat at the Kelly Leadership Center and a Ring-necked Pheasant was spotted near the Cedar Run Wetland Bank, likely escaped from a nearby hunting preserve.
We had just one Winter Wren, found at Merrimac Farm, and one Purple Finch, spotted in Fauquier County. American Tree Sparrows and a Meadowlark were at the Foggy Bottom Wetland Bank.
There were many White-throated Sparrows, especially in the wetland areas clustered near Cedar Run and MCB Quantico. Wilson's Snipe were seen at two locations and it was good to see Northern Bobwhite on the list after two years with none.
December 27 2009
 Despite some morning fog, flooded creeks and frozen ponds, it was a beautiful day and the weather was more cooperative than what could have been, especially considering the recent snow. In the afternoon, tempertures rose to the mid-40's, but most ponds were frozen and waterfowl sightings were few and far between.
Twenty-two people participated and together recorded 84 species and 36,709 individuals. This year the count benefited from considerably better coverage in the Fauquier portions than previous years, which added three species to the list - Wilson's Snipe, Purple Finch and Loggerhead Shrike.
We saw Red-headed Woodpeckers at four locations - Merrimac Farm WMA, Cedar Run Wetland Bank, Foggy Bottom Wetland Bank and in a narrow tree line along Deepwood Lane. Other notable species include a variety of owls - Saw-whet, Screech, Barn, Barred and Great-horned - as well as a Merlin, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Horned Larks, and American Pipit.
The Cedar Run Wetland Bank produced the count's only Northern Bobwhite and a lone Coot was spotted among a large flock of Mallards in a pond off Wright Lane in Nokesville. Despite the many Wild Turkey tracks in the snow at Merrimac Farm, no actual birds were seen and the only one recorded was near Manassas Airport.
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