Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

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ALAUDIDAE

Horned Lark  Eremophila alpestris

WINTER:  Uncommon Resident.  Appears to have declined since 1990's.  Last recorded, through 2004-2005 CBC, on Ona CBC in 1989 and Huntington CBC in 1997.  See Remarks section for CBC data.

SUMMER:  Uncommon Resident.  Previously considered a common resident in appropriate habitat (Edeburn et al. 1960) and a fairly common resident by Kiff et al.(1986).  None were recorded in Lawrence Co., OH, during the breeding bird atlas survey for the state of Ohio (Peterjohn 2001).

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Uncommon Migrant during February into March.

 Fall:  Uncommon to Fairly Common Migrant from October into December.  Early date, fifteen on 04 September 2003 (KK).

REMARKS:

Nesting Data:  Nest with 3 eggs on 21 April 2004 at Byrd Locks & Dam (GPS: 38 degrees 40.78 North and 82 degrees 10.90 West) (KK).

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Recorded on 44% of Counts.  Total Birds:  414.  Range:  1 to   60.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Recorded on 78% of Counts.  Total Birds:  452.  Range:  1 to 200.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Recorded on 78% of Counts.  Total Birds:  478.  Range:  1 to   56.

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Number of Counts:  61.  Total Birds/Party Hr.:  <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:  7.7
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Number of Counts:  18.  Total Birds/Party Hr::  <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:  0.9
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Number of Counts:  40.  Total Birds/Party Hr.:  <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:  3.8.