Rick Ernst has submitted a report on the 112th Audubon Christmas Bird Count taken on New Years Day.
The day was a little on the cool side the temperature hovering around -10 to -20 in the Trapper Creek-Talkeetna Count Circle but there was no breeze and it was clear.
18 field observers skied, walked or snowshoed thorough the woods looking for birds. There were also 23 feeder observers checking their suet and sunflower seed feeders. A total of 603 birds were recorded, including 16 species seen on the count day, including one Bald Eagle.
The most common birds were Black-capped chickadees, Pine grosbeaks, and black-billed magpies. Also seen were ravens, hairy woodpeckers a goshawk, 16 willow ptarmigan, and a few red-breasted nuthatches.
The count is a valuable tool in assessing the winter time population and location of birds in this country and many countries in Central and South America.
- Black-capped Chickadees 257
- Boreal Chickadees 11
- Common Redpoll 25
- Pine Grosbeaks 164
- Gray Jays 10
- Black Billed Magpie 55
- Common Raven 13
- Downy Woodpecker 13
- Hairy Woodpecker 11
- Red-breasted Nuthatch 8
- American Dipper 11
- Ruffed Grouse 4
- Goshawk 1
- Willow Ptarmigan 16
- Dark-eyed Junco 3
- Spruce Grouse 1
