Wild River Audubon chapter will conduct their 44th Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on Saturday, December 14th. These bird watchers will try to accurately count as may birds as possible in the 15-mile circle that includes the Chisago Lakes Area, Taylors Falls, Franconia, and Almelund.
The results of Wild River Audubon’s count will be included with 1,975 other counts held in the US and these included as part of the 2,615 counts from across the Western Hemisphere. By counting during a single 24-hour time span within the dates of December 14th and January 5th a fairly accurate ‘Citizen Science’ database is generated for the overall bird population. This amazing database goes all the way back to the first count that was conducted in 1900! Our local data goes back to 1976 when the first Wild River CBC was held.
The Wild River CBC data and ALL of the other count data is open to the public at no charge. It is used to judge changes in bird populations, and even redistribution of bird species over the last 120 years. Some of the points noted in the Wild River CBC show that in the last 43 years of counting, there have only been 4 days with clear skies, one afternoon with light rain, and one afternoon where if never got above -10 degrees F. Some local bird species have been counted every year, like the pigeon that inhabits our local barns, pheasants, chickadees, and crows. The migrants that have returned each year are the tree sparrow and the dark-eyed junco. However, the evening grosbeak, a bright yellow, black, and white bird about the size of a robin that once spent the winter here have not been counted since 1995 when only 5 were seen. This contrasts with the 250 that were counted in 1981!
Even if you are not a Wild River Audubon member, you are still cordially invited to help with the CBC! If you have an active bird feeder, counting the maximum number of each species seen throughout the day on December 14th would be of great help. Your data could then be added to the WR CBC data. Or, if you would like to join one of our experienced teams for the day please contact Joe Sausen at jcsausen@earthlink.net or call 651-210-4368.
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