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Mike Terrell

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December 24, 2008

Mike Terrell: Birds on the rise

By MIKE TERRELL

The 108th Audubon Christmas bird count was recently completed by local chapter members for Grand Traverse County, and it yielded a new high in the number of species identified according to chapter president Ed Moehle.

"We counted 74 species this year and that was compared to 65 last year, which was the previous high," said the longtime birder. "It's been above average the last couple of years and that's good news. The total number of birds that were counted was 9,250, and that was also way up. It was about a thousand more than the previous year."

The count is done each year on December 14 for the county. It takes place roughly between Old Mission Peninsula to just south of Mayfield on a north-south line, and from Williamsburg on the east side to Silver Lake on the west side. It's divided up into 11 different areas with 27 counters canvassing their areas on that day.

Quite a few miles are logged as counters hike roads, railroad tracks, trails and drive around in cars listening and looking for our feathered friends.

"We have a really diverse area in Grand Traverse County for counting the birds," Moehle explained. "It encompasses city, good open area, woods, farms, marshes, river land and along the bay. The birds are drawn to food sources this time of year, and there's a good source of berries and seeds, which they feed on in this area."

One of the more unusual birds that turned up during the count was a greater white-fronted goose, which was found near Logan's Landing on Boardman Lake, according to the avid birding expert.

"They are normally found on the western side of the Mississippi Flyway, and we are on the far eastern side," Moehle pointed out. "You normally don't expect to see them this far east, but he seems quite content to winter here."

Other unusual birds found during the count: a rose-breasted grosbeak, which are normally around in summer but not winter; a northern harrear (also called a marsh hawk), another summer bird normally not found here this time of year; and, trumpeter swans, which are starting to make a comeback in this area. Hatches for trumpeter swans have occurred on both Lake Dubonet and Brown Bridge Pond in the last couple of years.

The most prevalent birds seen are your typical back yard variety. Eagles were up, and turkeys, which move into more suburban areas this time of year, were also doing well.

The Christmas bird count was started by the Audubon Society at the turn of the last century, but it wasn't always such a friendly count for the birds, according to Moehle.

"In the late 1800s they started doing a count but they shot the birds so they could identify and study them. It was later that they realized perhaps they shouldn't be shooting the birds they were trying to befriend," he laughed. "It was a different society back than, and people didn't initially see the harm. Thank goodness attitudes have changed."

Michigan conducts 60 counts throughout the state, and there are untold thousands occurring across the continent, including Canada, throughout December and the first few days of January. For people interested in joining the local Audubon Society chapter, or learning more about bird counts and how to participate, they can log onto grandtraverseaububon.org.

"We are always looking for more counters, and people shouldn't feel intimidated about identifying the birds. You probably know a lot more than you think you do, and there are always field guides that you carry with you. Plus, we wouldn't put novice birders out by themselves. They would accompany one of our veteran birders," added the chapter president.

Birding is one of the fastest growing outdoor activities, according to Moehle.

"It's an easy outdoor activity to take up and inexpensive. You don't need any special equipment, except for a good pair of binoculars, and you can do it anywhere. The local Audubon chapter conducts field trips all year long and anybody is welcome," he concluded.

You might also check the schedule at the new Boardman River Nature Center. They will be putting programs on there as well as conducting field trips throughout the year.

Moehle also wanted to remind people to keep their bird feeders full. With the early, strong start to winter and heavy snows, birds will be searching for food sources.

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