The cold and icy conditions of mid-December, 2016 adversely impacted the 117th Christmas Bird Count in Minnesota. Almost 20% of the counts were rescheduled or canceled and participation, as a result, was down close to 10%. The total bird count was more than 30% below last year and the total number of species dropped 10%. Only one quarter of the 82 species that last year had at least 20 birds counted, increased, and half of those were winter species that come in with the cold. In short, the 117th Count gave a picture of bird populations that was probably a better reflection of the impacts of cold weather on bird numbers than the trends over time of those populations.
Seventy-eight counts conducted and reported data, the same as last year. Two counts (Crosby and Winona) were canceled due to weather, but they were replaced by two new counts (Granite Falls and Hendricks). The counters at Granite Falls registered three first winter county records on their first count.
The total number of participants (about 1680) was down close to 10% from last year, despite a comparable increase in feeder watchers (524). Average participation dropped from almost 24 to 21 participants. The decrease resulted from lower turn out in rescheduled counts and the cancellation of one of the larger counts. Despite the drop-off in participation, 14 counts had more than 40 participants, up from last year's nine counts. Again, St. Paul (North) had the most counters in the field with 55, while Henderson had 86 and Owatonna had 71 feeder watchers, showing the strong community support. Interestingly, the Isabella count in northern Minnesota with few drivable roads had 40 counters in the field, the fifth highest in the state. It rarely has any openings for new volunteers.
In contrast to last year's good weather, snowy, icy, and cold conditions on the first weekend of the count definitely interfered with Minnesota's counts, causing two to be canceled and another 13 rescheduled. Even after the early weather problems, when the counts were finally conducted, it was colder than last year. At 14 counts the temperature never got above zero degrees. Last year no counts reported any temperatures below zero. Only eight counts had high temperatures above freezing. The coldest temperature (-39) was at the Itasca State Park count, but interestingly the coldest high temperature (-8) was in southern Minnesota at Mankato, both on the first Sunday (December 18th). Seventy-two out of 80 counts had snow on the ground, compared to 24 last year.
The total number of birds tallied (200,209) was over 30% below last year's total. As with last year, six species accounted for about half that total. The species count (126) was well off of last year鈥檚 count (140). Two additional (vs. 5 last year) species were among the eight reports that were not accepted due to inadequate documentation. Two other species, Wilson's Snipe and Boreal Owl, were observed during the count week. There were no new species to the count and few rarities. A Eurasian Tree Sparrow at Two Harbors was the second Minnesota count record. A Golden-crowned Sparrow was the fourth record.
Waterfowl numbers were below average across the board and well below last year's results. The cold weather at the start of the count period was definitely a factor in the low numbers, as only five counts did not report that their lakes were completely frozen, compared to only five having completely frozen lakes last year. The drop in waterfowl numbers accounted for almost three quarters of the drop in the total numbers. Canada Goose numbers were the lowest in 45 years. Mallard numbers were the lowest in 25 years. Numbers of nine of last year's ten most numerous species of waterfowl were off. The only one of the ten duck species to increase from last year, Common Goldeneye, had the second lowest count in the last 13 years. Even Trumpeter Swans, perhaps our most reliably increasing species, had a dip from last year. Eight species that were found in small numbers on the last count were missing this year. The only somewhat unusual species were Blue-winged Teal, found again on the Cedar Creek Bog count, and White-winged Scoter, which shows up about half of the years. The latter was a first record for the Grand Rapids count. Four of six water dependent species (cormorants, pelicans, herons, and kingfishers) were missing this count; only Great Blue Heron and Belted Kingfisher were found. This was only the third time in 30 years that pelicans were missed and the fifth time for cormorants.
Most upland game birds had the best numbers in the last three or four years. Ruffed Grouse numbers hit a new record. Sharp-tailed Grouse numbers, though well above average, were still lower than the last three years. After last year's record or near record numbers for raptors, the numbers fell back to approximately average numbers. Only Rough-legged Hawk were significantly more abundant than last year, surpassing all but one year in the last 20 years. Owl numbers were only slightly higher than last's year's unremarkable results. Winter irruptive owls were rare finds, even though they were better than last year. Falcons all had below average numbers based on the last ten years.
Herring Gulls were at the third lowest report in the last 20 years. Ring-billed Gulls were all but absent in the state, present at just above 1 % of last year's level. Four species of our uncommon gulls showed up along Lake Superior again this year, but none in numbers that could not be tallied on one hand.
Dove numbers were off from last year's respectable numbers with only the rapidly expanding Eurasian Collared-Doves above the ten year average. Common woodpecker numbers were all down from the last two year's record numbers to below the ten year average. Red-headed Woodpeckers dropped from the highest numbers in 35 years to a single bird representing the lowest count in 50 years. Woodpecker results probably best illustrate that this year's low count was probably not the result of low bird numbers, but poor conditions. Only Black-backed Woodpeckers were above average numbers.
Winter field bird numbers were also indicative of poor weather conditions affecting the count. Numbers are highly variable, peaking at this time of year in cold weather without deep snow cover. Horned Larks were counted in record numbers (4119). Lapland Longspurs were more widespread and more than five times last year's numbers, but below many strong irruption years. Only Snow Buntings showed a weak irruption result, significantly above last year's numbers, but below the ten year average. Buntings for a second year were found in slightly more than half the counts.
Corvid numbers were down across the board. Northern Shrike numbers were down to the second lowest level in 15 years. Brown Creepers hit the lowest in 20 years. Chickadee and nuthatch numbers, while relatively stable, were still down from last year. Tufted Titmice for the eighth year were more plentiful than recently.
The most plentiful thrush, the American Robin, had one of the few significant increases over last year's numbers. Eastern Bluebird numbers were the lowest in the last ten years. Five other thrushes and thrashers were again present in small numbers. The most unusual of these sightings was a first winter record Gray Catbird in Walker in Cass County and Hermit Thrushes in Grand Marais and Two Harbors along Lake Superior.
Waxwings continue to trend in an interesting pattern. (See graph below) When Bohemian numbers increase, Cedar numbers decrease. This count Cedar Waxwing numbers dropped over 40% and Bohemian Waxwing numbers increased by just under 40%. No analysis has been made of how the numbers are trending in different areas of the state, which would probably be significant and interesting. Starlings and House Sparrows, among the most common species in the state, both decreased from last year, although the effect of weather on the count cannot be dismissed. House Sparrows had the second lowest numbers in over 50 years.
Dark-eyed Junco numbers increased from last year, while American Tree Sparrows decreased. The two sparrows, which account for over 99% of the eight sparrows (last year 10), were both below the ten year average. The other sparrows reported: Eastern Towhee one (Fergus Falls first count record), Fox 15, Song 11, White-throated 23, Harris 10, and Golden-crowned for the third year in the same yard in Duluth. In addition, Minnesota's second Eurasian Tree Sparrow, an Old World sparrow, was found on the Two Harbors count. The usual five species of blackbirds were recorded in small numbers usually in ones and twos in about half the counts. One silent meadowlark sp. was recorded in the Fargo/Moorehead count, not a remarkable sighting for the count, probably a Western Meadowlark that would have been recorded as a Western, if it was across the river in North Dakota.
Northern Cardinals continued for the fourth year below the ten year average. While population increases attributed to their expansion north have obviously slowed, reasons for population declines are not apparent. One Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a first winter county record, was reported on the LaCrosse-LaCrescent count. Even though Goldfinch numbers were up slightly, the 鈥渟outhern finches鈥 (House Finch and American Goldfinch) continued to be scarcer than any time in more than a decade. The 鈥渘orthern finches鈥, which are the most variable bird category in the state, were mostly lower than last year and below average for the decade. The exceptions were the Pine Grosbeaks and Purple Finches, which each increased to the third highest levels in 20 years. White-winged Crossbills also increased over last year, but along with Red Crossbills, were still slightly below the ten year average. The other finches, Common and Hoary redpolls, Pine Siskins, and Evening Grosbeaks were well below the ten year average. Common Redpolls dropped 75% below last year鈥檚 numbers, but were not as low as some years when they are almost absent from the state. Pine Siskins had the third lowest numbers in 35 years and Evening Grosbeaks the second lowest in 50 years. Both had slightly lower numbers three years ago.
A complete table of the results of the 117th Christmas Bird Count in Minnesota by count is available at:
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A table showing what birds were reviewed, what documentation was received, and whether the report was accepted is available at: