Volunteers wanted for bird count

Contributed report

The National Audubon Society is looking for volunteers to join in the longest-running community science survey, the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC). On Monday, January 1, birders and residents in Northern Wright County will take part in this tradition, many rising before dawn to participate.

This annual census of local birds covers the cities of Monticello, Buffalo and Maple Lake, Chatham Township, Silver Creek Township and portions of Marysville, Corinna and Rockford townships.

Residents are encouraged to fill their yard birdfeeders to attract birds to these areas. Counters will look for both common and unusual birds. A Snowy Owl may appear in Wright County this year as these Canadian residents have already been seen in several areas of the state.  This year the Audubon Christmas Bird Count will mobilize nearly 80,000 volunteer bird counters in more than 2,600 locations across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America. The Audubon Christmas Bird Count utilizes the power of volunteers to track the health of bird populations at a scale that scientists could never accomplish alone.  Data compiled in northern Wright County will record every individual bird and bird species seen in a specified area, contributing to a vast community science network that continues a tradition stretching back to 1900.

Interested birders must arrange with the count compiler in advance to participate. To sign up for the local count, please contact Claudia Egelhoff at (651) 455-1955. To look for a count circle near you, go to Audubon’s www.christmasbirdcount.org. Using the map, you can contact the circle compiler to arrange to participate.

The Audubon Christmas Bird Count is a free community science project organized by the National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada in Canada. Counts are open to birders of all skill levels and Audubon’s free Bird Guide app makes it even easier to learn more. For more information and to find a count near you visit www.christmasbirdcount.org.