Uppgaard bird count notes new species

The sixth annual Uppgaard Wildlife Management Area Christmas Bird Count was held on Dec. 31. The count circle has a 15-mile radius centered at Ideal Corners and covers much of the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway. Other areas included are Breezy Point, Crosslake and Pequot Lakes. The Uppgaard WMA, which the count is named after, has always been an area of interest but due to recent logging wasn't surveyed.

The Uppgaard CBC had a total of nine participants and two feeder watchers who count from home. A new participant drove from Bemidji to help. The weather conditions were colder than last year with a starting temperature of only 8 degrees and clear skies with light winds. This year's count added two new species white-winged crossbill (eight) and wood duck (one).

One of the new birds added last year was the red crossbill. Both white-winged and red crossbill species are uncommon for this area, according to bird count coordinator Judd Brink. This year total species counted included 28 compared to 34 last year. The total number of birds was impressive at 813, despite the weather and having a few less participants, according to Brink who is owner and guide at MN Backyard Birds.

"I think this year's count had a good variety of birds with white-winged crossbill being a nice surprise," Brink said. "A new high count for hairy woodpecker and pileated woodpecker was also recorded during this year's count."

The official tally from Uppgaard included:

American crow (54), American goldfinch (20), bald eagle (5), barred owl (one), black-capped chickadee (357), blue jay (32), common merganser (one), common raven (19), dark-eyed junco (three), downy woodpecker (33), hairy woodpecker (30), hooded merganser (two), house sparrow (33), mallard (12), northern cardinal (4), northern shrike (one), pileated woodpecker (20), red-bellied woodpecker (13), red-breasted nuthatch (24), red crossbill (25), red-tailed hawk (two), rock dove (four), ruffed grouse (four), trumpeter swan (22), white-breasted nuthatch (58), white-winged crossbill (eight), wild turkey (26), wood duck (1).

Visit Audubon.org to find the complete results from across the country and to find out how to participate.

1/3: A white-winged crossbill is observed during the Christmas Bird Count Dec. 31 in the Uppgaard WMA zone. LeAnn Plinske photo

2/3: Trumpeter swans are observed during the Christmas Bird Count Dec. 31 in the Uppgaard WMA zone. Thomas Anakkala photo

3/3: Several bird counters assembled during the Christmas Bird Count held Dec. 31 in a 15-mile radius around Ideal Corners. Photo by Judd Brink