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At this time of year, holiday traditions abound. For many that means shopping, baking, sending greeting cards and wrapping gifts. But for a hardy group of local nature-lovers, Christmas means it’s time to count the birds.

Two dozen long-time members of the area chapter of the Wild River Audubon Society gathered for “Birds & Beers” at the Uncommon Loon brewery Nov. 19.   This year is the 50th Anniversary of the Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count as of Saturday, Dec. 20. The Wild River group includes 200 households within Chisago, Isanti, northern Washington, and southern Pine counties. 

Society veterans Tom Anderson and Joe Sausen, along with club Vice President Michelle Terrell, guided the discussion at the Uncommon Loon, sharing statistics, providing history and eliciting memories of past bird counts. Also present was Dorothy Chrun, the only member who has taken part in all 50 Wild River Christmas Bird Counts.

Much like the post office’s commitment to deliver the mail, in “rain, sleet or snow,” she and other Audubon members, had identified and counted birds in all manner of weather conditions.  

Wild River’s bird count is one of hundreds held across the country between Dec. 13 and January 4 each year.         The local count is part of the North American continent-wide Christmas Bird Count (CBC), which has been conducted since 1900. Data gathered is used to evaluate population trends, the effect of climate change on native birds and the response of birds to weather extremes.

Ironically, the decision to count birds at Christmas was made in response to an early day New England tradition of hunting birds (and killing as many as possible) on Christmas morning. Bird feathers and entire birds were a popular adornment for fashionable women’s hats and garments. When the first “bird census” was held in 1899, ornithologists wanted to determine to what degree bird hunting was harming the bird population.  The bird count gradually spread across the nation.

At first, only adults who paid a small fee, which ranged from 50 cents to $5, could join in the count. That ended in 2012. Now young people and interested adults, especially those who own bird feeders, are encouraged to join the Audubon Society in the count.  In Chisago County, in 1975, Tom Anderson, who had participated in a bird count in Itasca County, invited a few friends to join him in the area’s first informal count. That day they counted 1,259 birds and 22 species. 

When a formal count began the following year, Anderson created the Wild River Christmas Bird Count Circle, covering 177,000 acres in a 15-mile radius that includes Wild River State Park, Wild Mountain, a sliver of Wisconsin and the St. Croix River north of Taylors Falls, the entire Chisago Lakes Area and Kost Dam Park.  That circle is divided into sections with volunteer counters assigned to a specific section. (Graphic on page 9)

After 1975, local bird counts were held annually, sometimes in challenging weather conditions. The coldest bird count took place on Dec. 17, 1983, at minus 20 degrees with 18 inches of snow on the ground.

Weather wasn’t the only challenge for volunteer counters, who sometimes were eyed  with suspicion. Anderson was once stopped by the  sheriff when residents of the area where he was counting, reported seeing people with binoculars “acting suspiciously.”  

Fortunately, the opposite situation is also true, with some property owners inviting bird counters in to warm up and enjoy coffee and cookies or a fresh batch of cinnamon rolls.

One of the favorite locations for counters is a home surrounded by bird feeders.  Invited to come inside, the counters can observe birds at the feeders from almost every window. The volunteers not only count birds and identify species, but record weather conditions, food sources and other data.

Changes not only in the environment but within the culture have had an impact on the bird count. 

In the early years, volunteers posted near local feed mills counted hundreds of pigeons picking up grain. As the feed mills disappeared, so did the pigeons. And as the climate changed, other birds vanished. This includes the evening grosbeak, last reported here in 1996 with 90 percent of the species now found in Canada. 

Anderson explains that Minnesota bird counts are higher in an “irruption year” when there’s not enough food for the birds in Canada. which will drive birds into Minnesota.    

While some birds are rarely seen, others have made a comeback. These include the bald eagle, considered endangered in 1978 and now a common sight, the Canadian goose, Trumpeter swan, now found frequenting open water in the winter, and the Woodland turkey.         Several years ago, the Department of Natural Resources released Woodland Turkeys in the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area and in southern Minnesota. As the climate warmed the turkeys began appearing further and further north. They were first counted in Chisago County in 2018 and are now  abundant. 

“The Great Canadian Goose, once rarely seen, is now present in such numbers it’s becoming a pest,” said Anderson.

The northern cardinal, which had disappeared from Minnesota, has returned. 

In all, counters in Chisago County have recorded 170,729 individual birds of 72 species. The more people who count, the more birds are counted, said Anderson.

Each bird count ends with a potluck supper at Chisago Lake Lutheran Church in Center City where volunteers share stories and see the results tallied. All are welcome to the potluck, whether they counted or not.

Young people and people with home bird feeders are especially welcome to become part of the count. 

New Wild River Audubon Society members are always welcome.  The group meets monthly over the fall and winter months for “Birds & Beers” and a featured speaker at the Uncommon Loon in Chisago City. Bob Dunlop of the Minnesota Biological Survey will speak on Jan. 14.  Check the Wild River Club’s website for additional dates.

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