WILLMAR — The results have been tallied, and there is no question. Mild weather and open water added up to big numbers of waterfowl – primarily geese- when volunteers conducted the Willmar Area Christmas Bird Count on December 17.
Volunteers in the area spotted 50 different species and tallied 10,126 birds during the annual event, organizers Joel Halbritter and Joel Schmidt recently reported to participants. There were 21 volunteers who took to the field while another seven kept their eyes on bird feeders.
The volunteers counted 7,063 Canada geese, a big part of the reason that this year’s tally was one of the largest ever. They also counted 199 mallards.
This was the 50th anniversary of the local count. Volunteers in the Willmar area have been participating in the National Audubon Society sponsored count since 1962. The Audubon Society began the practice nationwide
Canada Geese
The annual count provides a “snapshot’’ of bird species and numbers in areas throughout the country. It has helped scientists document the northward migration of many species and the arrival of invasive species.
The outing always allows observers to spot a wide variety of birds, and this year was no exception. They recorded spotting everything from red-tailed hawks and American kestrels to pileated woodpeckers and white-breasted nuthatches.
Each year the volunteers add new species to those seen during the count. This year a sandhill crane was observed and added to that list.
A trumpeter swan was spotted, but it was located in open water just 100 yards outside of the count area.
A birder was fortunate enough to spot a red-breasted nuthatch in the days prior to the count, but the opportunity to add this species to the count was denied. It could not be found on the count day.
The local volunteers make the count a fun, social event. Dave and Ardys Lais open their house for a warm-up cup of coffee during the day. Afterwards, everyone is welcome to join for a meal and fellowship.
On a sad note, the organizers pointed out that the 2011 count marked the first since the death of Ben Thoma. An avid conservationist for the area, Thoma was a founding father of the Willmar Area Count and helped lead it during its first 35 years.
- Tom Cherveny
