Kim Fundingsland/MDN Birders use binoculars to count waterfowl on the Souris River below Lake Darling Dam during the Christmas Bird Count held this past December. Canada geese and mallard ducks were plentiful due to open water and minimal snow cover.

A record number of bald eagles were sighted during area bird counts held in December.

Total numbers of birds and species were compiled by avid birder Ron Martin of Minot following Christmas Bird Counts held in four separate areas. The counts were held Dec. 14 at Garrison Dam, Dec. 21 at the Denbigh Experimental Forest, Dec. 22 in Minot and Dec. 27 at the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge.

Overall bird numbers have been declining for several years. That trend was reflected during the Minot count, conducted on a day when the thermometer reached 45 degrees. In his summary submitted to the Audubon Society, the agency that has been conducting Christmas Bird counts for 120 years, Martin concluded that, “Bird numbers in Minot were generally quite low.”

Despite low numbers of birds being seen in Minot on the day of the count, there were a couple of notable sightings. A lesser scaup and a lone gray catbird were spotted. It marked only the second time a lesser scaup had been seen during the Minot count and the first time ever for a gray catbird. The Minot counts began in 1981.

In stark contrast to the overall low numbers of birds in Minot, bald eagle numbers were particularly high during the Christmas Birds counts. Sixty-five bald eagles were spotted at the Garrison Dam count, setting a new record. An additional 25 of the national symbol were counted at the Denbigh Experimental Forest, more than double the previous high for that count. Three bald eagles were counted in Minot, also a new high.

Two bald eagles were sighted during the Upper Souris NWR count. The Christmas Bird Count record for that area is nine. Many other species of bird were present at Upper Souris as well.

“The 38 species recorded at Upper Souris is on the higher end for this count,” wrote Martin.

One of the reasons for the high species count was open water on Lake Darling and below Lake Darling Dam during the count. Taking advantage of the open water was an estimated 3,000 mallard ducks and 2,700 Canada geese. The duck count, noted Martin, was “one of the higher counts for this species.”

The late freeze at Lake Darling held a couple other surprises too – a wood duck and a wigeon. It was the first time a wood duck had ever been present during a Christmas Bird Count and just the second time for a wigeon.

Perhaps topping the unusual for the December counts was a Wilson’s snipe seen during the Garrison Dam count. It was only the second time for such a sighting at that count.

A number of factors can affect how many birds remain in North Dakota for the annual Christmas Bird Counts. Those variables include wind, temperature, snow cover and available food and water. The counts are made by volunteer birders at each location.