Christmas Bird Counts started in the eastern United States in 1900 and since then the project has spread across the country. Several counts are conducted each year around Christmas time in the Minot region.

This past Saturday avid birders gathered at the Towner Cenex long before sunrise to discuss their plans for the day. Each group of birders was assigned a 15-mile diameter circle in which they were asked to identify and count birds throughout the day. Known as the Denbigh Experimental Forest Christmas Bird Count, the count included a wide area near Towner, which is a short distance from the Denbigh forest.

Among the birders taking part in last Saturday’s count was Diana Dugall of Powers Lake. She got out of bed at 3:30 a.m. to make the trip to Towner so she could take part.

“I’m birding all the time anyway and this is a way to make birding count. I just love it,” said Dugall.

Kim Fundingsland/MDN This sharp-tailed grouse made certain he was counted in the recent Christmas Bird Count conducted in the Towner area.

Much of Dugall’s previous birding has been done in the state of Michigan. She moved to North Dakota about five years ago but never put down her binoculars.

“There’s definitely way fewer birds in the winter here than in Michigan, although you do get some northern species that we don’t get in Michigan,” observed Dugall.

Christmas Bird Counts are held each year at the Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge, J. Clark NWR, Upper Souris NWR, Garrison Dam, Minot and Denbigh. The only one yet to be conducted is Upper Souris NWR which is scheduled this Friday.

“At the Garrison Dam count we had a Wilson’s snipe,” said Ron Martin, Minot, count organizer. “We’ve had them once or twice before but not very often. Actually they’re pretty tough, if there’s a piece of mud to stick their bill in. Overall I think we had 56 species which seems like kind of a normal number.”

Data from the bird counts is compiled and forwarded to the National Audubon Society, the parent organization for the Christmas Bird Counts. The counts are conducted between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5 each year. The results produce a profile of bird numbers and trends.

“I’m always birding so this is a way to do a scientific census of the area,” said Corey Ellingson, Bismarck. “I’ve been at it for 25 years. Some bird numbers are going up and some are much less than they used to be.”

Ellingson was paired with fellow birder Tucker Lutter of Bismarck for the Denbigh count. They were monitoring an area that included Towner and the neighboring countryside.

“It’s something I really like to do,” said Lutter. “It’s a passion of mine and I enjoy sharing it with other people. I’ve been bird watching since I was seven years old.”

Lutter said he enjoys getting together with other birders, which is the case for Christmas Bird Counts. There’s another reason too, said Lutter.

“I think being out in nature is a really good thing. It’s a good stress reliever,” said Lutter. “It’s a really good chance to record birds for something that really counts and it’s good to compare data every year.”

Lutter made good use of a pair of binoculars and a spotting scope while working his bird circle alongside Ellingson. One of the first birds spotted shortly after sunrise on the warm and calm morning was a sharp-tailed grouse. The grouse seemed to be enjoying the colorful sunrise from its perch high atop a roadside tree.

Ellingson and Lutter continually checked likely spots for birds – tree rows, farmsteads and cattail sloughs. A few coveys of sharptails were seen in the air and even more feeding on the far side of a large stubble field. An eagle was spotted in the distance and the usual sparrows and starlings were in abundance. Several ravens were recorded too. A bonus was seven white-tailed deer feeding in a field.

“The world is just so fascinating,” remarked Lutter. “It’s kind of hard to explain to people, but it is just kind of awe inspiring.”

Understandably, some people question the accuracy of the counts, wondering how it can possibly be done with birds flitting here and there and ducking into cover. The answer comes from the birders themselves. Most of them have been bird watchers for many years. Newcomers are paired with veteran bird watchers for the Christmas counts.

Veteran bird watchers know where to look for certain species of birds. They have excellent optics too. They can identify birds by flight patterns, size, coloration, wing and tail shape, the habitat they are using and by the sounds they make.

Martin started his day long before sunrise, listening carefully in the dark for bird calls. By doing so he was able to identify sounds made by two northern saw-whet owls and add them to the Denbigh count.