Continuing from the stormy fall season, this winter was wet overall, and characterized by mild temperatures statewide. At Archbold Biological Station, Bachman's Sparrows began singing in mid-January, and Scrub Jays initiated nesting a month early, presumably in response to the favorable weather. Possibly also related to the weather, scores to hundreds of dead Common Loons and Northern Gannets washed up on Atlantic coastal beaches from Brevard County south to at least Martin County. In the Naples area however, only 1 loon was seen all winter, a number that Ted Below called "absurd".
Large numbers of American Robins and Cedar Waxwings were reported statewide, and Red-headed Woodpeckers were widespread, even in southern Florida. At least 18 Groove-billed Anis were reported in the Panhandle. Reports of Black-shouldered Kites, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Blue Grosbeaks, Grasshopper Sparrows, and Yellow-headed Blackbirds were unusually frequent this winter. Overall, most Christmas Bird Counts reported higher-than-normal numbers of species.
Rarities reported this winter included at least 3 Common Eiders, Hudsonian Godwit (first winter record), Curlew Sandpiper, Iceland Gull, 2 Sabine's Gulls, Thick-billed Murre (first Florida record), Long-eared Owl (first recent Florida record), Vaux's Swift (first potential Florida record), and Buff-bellied Hummingbird. By contrast, winter finches were notable by their virtual absences statewide.
?After many years of preparation, a project to establish a non-migratory breeding population of the Whooping Crane in Florida began this winter. Personnel from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission released a total of 14 birds into the Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area in Osceola County, with more releases planned. Four of the birds were later killed by bobcats.
Contributors: Bruce Anderson, Leif Anderson, Sybil Arbery, Brooks Atherton, Lyn Atherton, Stephen Backes, Jocie Baker, John Bateman, Ted Below, Brad Bergstrom, Wes Biggs, Paul Bithorn, Susan Blackshaw, Paul Blair, Reed Bowman, Bill Boyle, Greg Bretz, Fred Broerman, Jane Brooks, Bob Brown, Dan Canterbury, Jim Cavanagh, Barbara Center, Ted Center, L. Chapman, Buck Cooper, Linda Cooper, Mort Cooper, Phil Cronin, Jim Cox, Mary Davidson, Don Devitt, Joe DiPasquale, George Donaldson, Jerrie Donaldson, Jim DuBois, Bob Duncan, Lucy Duncan, William Duncan, Mike Eagan, Rebecca Elliott, Keenan Ennis, John Epler, Duncan Evered, Ursula Feller, Donna Fellers, Paul Fellers, Joe Fisher, Tom Fleck, Eula Fontaine, Clarice Ford, Don Ford, Paul Franklin, Dot Freeman, J. Gardner, Marie Garland, Chuck Geanangel, Wally George, Pete Gezovich, Red Gidden, Jill Goldstein, Steve Goodbred, Dave Goodwin, Venetta Goodwin, Catherine Graham, Mary Harrell, Tom Hayman, Dale Henderson, John Hintermister, Wayne Hoffman, Judi Hopkins, Larry Hopkins, Brian Hope, Bob Hornback, Diane Houser, Ron Houser, Marie Hughes, Gloria Hunter, Ann Ingram, Richard Ingram, Cherie Irby, Deborah Jansen, Patrick Jodice, Bernie Johnson, Eloise Jones, Herb Kale, Randy Kautz, Ilon Kedon, Adam Kent, Bruce Kittredge, Marion Kittredge, Sandy Komito, Reiner Kruger, Barbara Krummrich, Tony Leukering, Jay LaVia, Howard Langridge, Fran Leslie, Fred Lohrer, Joan Lynn, Lorne Malo, Sharon Maxwell, Jim McGinity, Vince McGrath, Bob McKenney, Joy McKenney, Mike McMillian, Tony Menart, Lyla Messick, Jim Miller, Ruth Miller, Tom Morrill, Barbara Muschlitz, Gil Nelson, Kris Nelson, Steve Nesbitt, Katy NeSmith, George Nicholson, Jerrie Nicholson, Joe Ondrejko, Tom Palmer, Bruce Parkhurst, Kim Petry, Cynthia Plockelman, Peggy Powell, Bill Pranty, Byrna Rackett, Arnold Rawson, Joe Reinman, Philip Rhinesmith, Jim Richardson, Pat Rider, Don Robinson, Harry Robinson, Ted Robinson, Ed Rosenberg, Rex Rowan, Sean Rowe, Ted Rybicki, G. San Miguel, Brenda Scott, Nedra Sekera, David Simpson, P. William Smith, Ron Smith, Hank Spielberger, Millie Spielberger, Annette Stedman, Stanley Stedman, Gene Stoccardo, Doug Stuckey, Julie Stutevoss, Keith Tarvin, Mike Taylor, D. Teague, Pete Timmer, Mark Turner, Sandy Turner, Noel Wamer, Don Ware, Tom Webber, Chuck Weber, Ellen Weigley, Ira Weigley, James Weimer, Rick West, James Wheat, Margie Wilkinson, Don Woodard, Glen Woolfenden, Paul Wright, Paul Young.