Christmas Bird Count in Cook County

The  Audubon Christmas Bird Count tradition continued in Cook County on Sunday, December 18. Jeremy Ridlbauer, compiler of results for the Christmas Bird Count visited WTIP with a report on this year’s count.

Here are the preliminary results in order of abundance from Sunday and during the count week:

Black-capped Chickadee
Pine Grosbeak
Cedar Waxwing
American Goldfinch
Purple Finch
Common Raven
American Robin
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
Common Redpoll
Herring Gull
American Crow
Common Goldeneye
European Starling
Pine Siskin
House Sparrow
Rock Pigeon
Hairy Woodpecker
Evening Grosbeak
Bald Eagle
Pileated Woodpecker
Long-tailed Duck
White-winged Crossbill
Dark-eyed Junco
Gray Jay
Ruffed Grouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
American Tree Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Canada Goose
Northern Shrike
Rough-legged Hawk
White-throated Sparrow
Bohemian Waxwing
Bufflehead
Fox Sparrow
Harris' Sparrow
Hermit Thrush
Mallard
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Song Sparrow
Unknown Buteo
Varied Thrush
Red Crossbill (seen on count week only so far)
The first known Minnesota CBCs were conducted on Christmas Day 1905 in Minneapolis and Red Wing. During those last 109 years, the Christmas Bird Count has been conducted uninterrupted in the state and has grown to include almost 70 census circles and involved more than 28,000 participants. Each and every year more than 1,000 participants canvass the state to conduct the survey.
Anyone who would like more information about the Audubon Christmas Bird Count may call Ridlbauer at (218) 370-0733.