Birders scan branch and bush during New Year's Bird Count

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