The 125th Christmas Bird Count in Minnesota

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

Knowledge on this abstract is just for Minnesota and doesn’t embrace participation and birds from exterior the state in border counts. One lively rely didn’t report information. Extra evaluate was required of 139 unusual and uncommon fowl stories (vs. 178 and 164 within the earlier two years). Twenty-six sightings weren’t accepted due to insufficient or no documentation.  Three different sightings have been withdrawn, as apparent identification errors or data-entry errors.

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

Species which are nearly yearly setting data as their inhabitants develop (Trumpeter Swans, Bald Eagles, and Wild Turkeys) did effectively. Trumpeter numbers hit a document as they’ve unfold throughout the state. Wild Turkeys and Bald Eagles have been at close to document numbers. Waterfowl numbers have 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 have been close to a document. Pheasants and Prairie Hen numbers have 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 common at just a few open river areas. They have been displaying 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 Purple-shouldered Hawks have been reported in document numbers. Golden Eagles have 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 have been up and Barred Owls have 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 have been combined with Purple-headed Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse,  and Japanese Bluebirds reported in document numbers. The 164 Purple-headed Woodpeckers counted at Cedar Creek in Anoka County, have been nearly 90% of all these woodpeckers within the state. This quantity most likely exceeds the whole rely in any state throughout the northern border states. Corvid numbers have been about common excluding Grey Jays, which have been at one among their lowest ranges in recent times. Thrush numbers have been sturdy, whereas waxwing numbers have been down. Winter subject birds have 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 sturdy numbers with White-crowned Sparrows reaching a document. A Discipline Sparrow and a Noticed Towhee have been documented on the St. Paul counts. Apart from the low numbers of Pine and Night Grosbeaks, finches had a robust  irruption yr with document numbers of White-winged Crossbills, Purple Crossbills at their second highest ever have been discovered exceptional as far south because the Metro Space. Purple Finches their highest numbers in 20 years. 

Exceptional finds embrace an exquisite immature Harlan’s Hawk on the Fairmont rely and one other photographed for a second yr on the Bloomington rely. 5 Eurasian Tree Sparrows in numerous areas on the Hastings Rely. The 5 Eurasian Tree Sparrows exceeded the whole anticipated variety of sightings within the state in ten years just some years in the past. Different passerines reported which are often 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.

A whole desk of the outcomes of the one hundred and twenty fifth Christmas Chook Rely in Minnesota (consists of information from exterior of Minnesota from border counts) is offered at: https://moumn.org/CBC/coordinator_yearend_table.php?main&year=2024 
 

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

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

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