Birders were out in force counting more than 40 species of birds in the annual Cook County Audubon Christmas bird count. Although not as many birds were spotted during the count week this year as compared to last year, over 1,900 birds were seen and recorded by those who took part.
Birders spotted plenty of black-capped chickadees, common redpolls, blue jays, common ravens, cedar waxwings, ruffed grouse, and pine grosbeaks during the Audubon Christmas bird count (CBS), but plenty of other species including American robins, boreal chickadees and snow buntings weren’t seen at all.
“It was slow for everyone,” reported CBC organizer Jeremy Ridlbauer.
All told 48 species were spotted over the count week, 40 species on the big count day.
According to Ridlbauer the results released were preliminary.
For those who took part, “The weather wasn’t bad and the excitement and camaraderie was excellent,” stated Ridlbauer.
Saturday, December 16 was the big count day. Over the course of the week over 1,900 birds were tabulated, about half of what was totaled last year.
Birders counted in a 7.5-mile radius circle from a point three miles south of the middle of Devil Track Lake. The count circle covered Highway 61 to Lindskog Road and north, some of County Road 60, Gunflint Trail to the landfill road, Pine Mountain Road to the back side of Elbow Lake, Devil Track Road to Bally Creek Road, Ball Club Road to the Grade, Pike Lake Road, and Highway 61 west to Cascade Lodge, and all of the lakeshore between Lindskog Road and Cascade Lodge.
There was still time for birders to add to the total when this information was gathered, so more species might have been found.
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