Mild weather pushed up the numbers of some, but lowered others, during the annual Christmas Bird Count.
Wildlife biologist and consultant, Kelly McKay from Hampton, says the count, from mid-December to early January, followed one of the coldest Novembers ever. And that affected the numbers of "semi-hardy species," including robins, sparrow, warblers, and thrushes.
These species used to leave the Quad Cities, and migrate south during the winter, but he thinks a warmer climate has shifted their winter range to the north. And that's what killed large numbers of them last year during a very frigid winter.
Mild weather meant more open water along the Mississippi and other rivers, so he counted fewer bald eagles.
Each year, McKay and thousands of other people count birds across North America and submit their results to the National Audubon Society. It started the Christmas count 115 years ago.
(with thanks to Steve Hager for the pictures taken during the count)