The 125th Christmas Bird Count in Minnesota

The one hundred and twenty fifth annual Audubon Christmas Fowl Rely was efficiently run in 90 circles throughout Minnesota within the winter of 2024/2025, down one from final 12 months’s document of 91 circles. Whereas the rely two years in the past was characterised as snowy, chilly, and white and final 12 months’s was moist, heat and brown, this 12 months’s rely was proceeded by an unseasonably heat late fall, however then the climate grew to become arctic, and the lakes froze. That quick deep freeze was adopted by affordable, although chilly birding climate throughout a largely snow free state. With the lakes frozen Canada Geese numbers had been 57% beneath the ten-year common. Since Canada Geese account for about 97% of the variability within the complete chicken rely outcomes, the overall chicken rely was down. The whole species rely for the state (132) was down from final 12 months’s 142.

Information on this abstract is just for Minnesota and doesn’t embody participation and birds from outdoors the state in border counts. One energetic rely didn’t report knowledge. Extra assessment was required of 139 unusual and uncommon chicken studies (vs. 178 and 164 within the earlier two years). Twenty-six sightings weren’t accepted due to insufficient or no documentation.  Three different sightings had been withdrawn, as apparent identification errors or data-entry errors.

Whole participation was 2103, a 6.6% lower from final 12 months’s document and decrease than two years in the past. Six counts had greater than 60 complete individuals, which was the identical as three of the earlier 4 years. The St. Paul North rely had 112, probably the most.

Species which can be virtually yearly setting data as their inhabitants develop (Trumpeter Swans, Bald Eagles, and Wild Turkeys) did properly. Trumpeter numbers hit a document as they’ve unfold throughout the state. Wild Turkeys and Bald Eagles had been at close to document numbers. Waterfowl numbers had been largely down with solely Trumpeter Swans, Mallards and Comon Goldeneye recorded above their ten-year common. 

Along with turkeys, Ruffed Grouse additionally set a document and Sharp-tailed Grouse had been close to a document. Pheasants and Prairie Rooster numbers had been down, and Spruce Grouse weren’t reported in any respect. A Sandhill Crane was discovered on the Henderson rely. 

Bald Eagle, although at close to document numbers, could have been undercounted as a result of they weren’t concentrated as ordinary at just a few open river areas. They had been exhibiting up in dry areas throughout the state in native document numbers. One surveyor on the Iron Vary in northern Minnesota reported an astonishing 150 eagles, that he admitted was most likely a gross undercount on the native landfill. Cooper Hawks and Pink-shouldered Hawks had been reported in document numbers. Golden Eagles had been reported on a number of counts in North Central Minnesota and proceed from Camp Ripley to Sax/Zim after the rely. A Turkey Vulture was photographed above the Mississippi River at Frontenac State Park. 

Whereas Brief-eared Owl and Lengthy-eared Owl numbers had been up and Barred Owls had been counted in document numbers, the rely didn’t foretell the irruption of Nice Grey Owls and Boreal Owls within the northeast later within the winter. A Barn Owl was reported on the LaCrosse rely simply over the border in Wisconsin.

Passerine numbers had been combined with Pink-headed Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse,  and Japanese Bluebirds reported in document numbers. The 164 Pink-headed Woodpeckers counted at Cedar Creek in Anoka County, had been virtually 90% of all these woodpeckers within the state. This quantity most likely exceeds the overall rely in any state throughout the northern border states. Corvid numbers had been about common apart from Grey Jays, which had been at one in all their lowest ranges in recent times. Thrush numbers had been robust, whereas waxwing numbers had been down. Winter area birds had been combined with Horned Larks at their second lowest numbers within the final ten years, Lapland Longspurs at their second highest peak ever, and Snow Buntings barely above common.

Sparrows largely had robust numbers with White-crowned Sparrows attaining a document. A Subject Sparrow and a Noticed Towhee had been documented on the St. Paul counts. Aside from the low numbers of Pine and Night Grosbeaks, finches had a robust  irruption 12 months with document numbers of White-winged Crossbills, Pink Crossbills at their second highest ever had been discovered outstanding as far south because the Metro Space. Purple Finches their highest numbers in 20 years. 

Outstanding finds embody a fantastic immature Harlan’s Hawk on the Fairmont rely and one other photographed for a second 12 months on the Bloomington rely. 5 Eurasian Tree Sparrows in numerous areas on the Hastings Rely. The 5 Eurasian Tree Sparrows exceeded the overall anticipated variety of sightings within the state in ten years just some years in the past. Different passerines reported which can be normally not discovered within the state included a Northern Mockingbird at St. Cloud, a Grey Catbird at Rochester, an Japanese Phoebe at St. Paul, and a Marsh Wren at Redwood Falls.

An entire desk of the outcomes of the one hundred and twenty fifth Christmas Fowl Rely in Minnesota (contains knowledge from outdoors of Minnesota from border counts) is accessible at: https://moumn.org/CBC/coordinator_yearend_table.php?main&year=2024 
 

For Minnesota knowledge solely, which was used on this abstract: https://moumn.org/CBC/coordinator_yearend_table.php?main&year=2024&mn 
 

A desk exhibiting what sightings had been reviewed, what documentation was obtained, eBird postings, and whether or not studies had been accepted is accessible for obtain at: https://moumn.org/CBC/documents/MN%20CBC%20125%20Birds%20for%20Review.htm 
 

Pictures of birds submitted for documentation (and never on eBird) can be found at: https://moumn.org/CBC/recent.php?count_year=125&op=