Submitted Photo The black-capped chickadee is among year-round birds that North Dakotans may see in the winter. (Pixabay)

Area residents will have four opportunities to participate in the National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas bird count this month.

The counts will take place Dec. 16 at the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge, Dec. 17 at Garrison Dam, Dec. 23 in Minot and Dec. 30 at the Denbigh Experimental Forest.

Ron Martin of Minot, who has helped coordinate the local counts for many years, said people do not need to be experienced birders to participate. Novices can be paired with more experienced bird watchers. Also, people who have bird feeders can participate in the counts by submitting information on their observations at their feeders, he said.

The events begin at 8 a.m. and people can stay as long as they wish to participate in the counts, which each cover 15-mile-wide circles. Participants will meet at refuge headquarters at Upper Souris, the headquarters for the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge for the Garrison Dam count, Broadway McDonald’s by the Town & Country Credit Union for the Minot event or the Cenex in Towner for the Denbigh count.

Binoculars and warm clothes are all people need to take part, Martin said. Walking and driving both may be involved, depending on snow and other conditions.

People interested in contributing bird feeder information or with questions about any of the bird count events can contact Martin at ronaldemartin56@gmail.com.

This is the 42nd year that Minot has participated in the bird count as part of the National Audubon Society’s compilation that occurs around the country between Dec. 14 to Jan. 5. Martin said some of the other bird counts around the Minot area have been around even longer. The National Audubon Society is holding its 123rd Christmas event this year in the Western Hemisphere.

The Audubon Christmas Bird Count is one of the longest-running wildlife censuses in the world. Participants tally all the birds seen or heard that day, not just the species but total numbers, to provide a clear idea of the health of that particular population.

“The Audubon Christmas Bird Count is a great tradition and opportunity for everyone to be a part of more than 12 decades of ongoing community science,” said Geoff LeBaron, Audubon Christmas Bird Count director, in a release. “Adding your observations helps scientists and conservationists discover trends that make our work more impactful. Participating in the Audubon CBC is a fun and meaningful way to spend a winter for anyone and everyone.”

When combined with other surveys, the Audubon CBC provides a picture of how the continent’s bird populations have changed in time and space over the past 100 years. It helps inform strategies to protect birds and their habitat and helps identify environmental issues with implications for people as well, according to the Audubon Society. For example, in 2019, a published study using Audubon CBC and other data reported a steady loss of nearly three billion North American birds since 1970.

Minot typically attracts 40-45 bird species in the winter, including a small number that stay year-round and a few northern birds for whom North Dakota is their southern, winter home, Martin said. Somewhat fewer species are commonly found at Upper Souris and Denbigh, but Garrison Dam attracts more than 50 species because of the presence of additional water birds.