The Warren Christmas Bird Count Results
Here's the complete list of birds spotted on January 2nd:
The 39th annual Warren Christmas Bird Count was held on Monday, January 2nd. The count includes the city of Warren and portions of Helgeland, Brislet, Farley, McCrea and Warrenton townships. The weather was sunny, but cold (6º to 8º F) with light winds at 15 mph from the west. Road conditions after the weekend snow made driving (on the township roads) within the 15-mile diameter count circle a little dicey. Counters spotted a total of 704 birds representing 24 species.
Heidi Hughes, Manager of the Audubon Center of the Red River Valley, was the lone counter in the field. Tom Valega, Larry and Faith Rud, Elly Peterson and Diana Morkassel counted birds in their yards.
Heidi Hughes, Manager of the Audubon Center of the Red River Valley, was the lone counter in the field. Tom Valega, Larry and Faith Rud, Elly Peterson and Diana Morkassel counted birds in their yards.
While there were no new species this year, there were some surprises.
Numbers of several species were way below average - likely due to the low number of observers in the field. We did not spot any starlings. Other notable absences were Gray Partridge, waxwings, Purple Finches and grosbeaks. Rock Pigeon and House Sparrow numbers were very low.
Numbers of several species were way below average - likely due to the low number of observers in the field. We did not spot any starlings. Other notable absences were Gray Partridge, waxwings, Purple Finches and grosbeaks. Rock Pigeon and House Sparrow numbers were very low.
On the plus side, we spotted a lone male Harrier (formerly known as a "Marsh Hawk") - the 5th ever for this count. We saw a record number of Rough-legged Hawks perched, hovering and soaring over CRP lands looking for rodents; and we broke the record (8) for Common Ravens. Other notable birds were the Brown Creeper, 2 Short-eared Owls and a Great Horned Owl at the Audubon Center.
Here's the complete list of birds spotted on January 2nd:
1 Bald Eagle
1 Northern Harrier (male)
10 Rough-legged Hawk
17 Rock Pigeon
1 Great Horned Owl
2 Short-eared Owl
2 Short-eared Owl
4 Sharp-tailed Grouse
7 Downy Woodpecker
3 Hairy Woodpecker
5 Blue Jay
4 Black-billed Magpie
14 American Crow
19 Common Raven
16 Black-capped Chickadee
3 Red-breasted Nuthatch
4 White-breasted Nuthatch
17 Dark-eyed Junco
475 Snow Bunting
55 Common Redpoll
25 Pine Siskin
14 American Goldfinch
5 House Sparrow
A Snowy Owl and a female Pine Grosbeak were observed during the count week (3 days before and 3 days after the count day).
It would be great to have more people in Warren and the rural townships participate in the feeder counts in 2012. Please contact Heidi Hughes at the Audubon Center if you're interested (218-745-5663).
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| Warren MN CBC circle |
When: Monday - January 2, 2012 8:30am to 4:30pm
Feeder Watchers Wanted!
To participate, please contact: Heidi Hughes 218-745-5663
AgassizAudubon@gmail.com
Starting back in 1970, a handful of intrepid birdwatchers have ventured out over the holidays to help Agassiz Audubon Society count birds in the Warren area – as part of National Audubon Society's annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC).
Over the past 40 years, nearly 39,000 birds (and 32 species) have been tallied in the Warren area. This year Agassiz Audubon will be doing it again.
The 2011 Warren Christmas Bird Count will be held on Monday, January 2, 2012 - the official New Year’s Day “Monday" holiday.
You don’t have to be an expert at bird identification to join them. In fact, you don’t have to know anything about birds. This year’s adventure is open to anyone and everyone – regardless of skill level - from the “just curious” beginner to the expert birdwatcher.
And this year, thanks to a grant from the Warren Community Fund and support from Cabela's, you don’t even have to own binoculars - Agassiz Audubon has binoculars to loan participants for the day.
Not to worry – the count accuracy is assured by having new participants join a group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher. Volunteer bird-counters follow specified routes through a designated 15-mile diameter circle – by car or on foot, on skis or snowshoes, or even from the comfort of your home.
“We’re looking for people who want to learn more about birds - and are willing to keep records of the birds at backyard bird feeding stations,” says Heidi Hughes, this year’s “count compiler,” who will present a free public program on the history of the CBC and tips on how identify winter birds (for more information, call 218-745-5663 or send an email to agassizaudubon@gmail.com).
More than 300 people have participated in the Warren count - with an additional 21 counting birds at backyard bird feeders.
The key to success, says Hughes, is dressing for the cold. Over the years, the average low temperature on “count day” has been -1.7 °F while the average high has been 7.8 °F.
Why count birds at Christmas time?
“It’s a globally recognized example of crowd-science,” says Gary Langham, National Audubon Society’s Chief Scientist, who took his young daughter and wife on last year’s CBC. “Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count is also a tradition that does good things for families, communities, and the conservation movement.”
Scientists rely on the CBC data to better understand how birds are faring in North America and beyond our borders.
“Everyone who takes part in the Christmas Bird Count plays a critical role in helping us focus attention and conservation where it is most needed.” said Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count Director, Geoff LeBaron. “In addition to Audubon’s reports on Common Birds in Decline, it is the foundation for Audubon’s WatchList, which most identified species in dire need of conservation help.”
Last year’s count shattered records. A total of 2,215 counts and 62,624 people tallied over 60 million birds. Counts took place in all 50 states, all Canadian provinces, plus 107 count circles in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands.
