Christmas Bird Count 2010

Volunteers gathered at refuge headquarters early Saturday morning December 18 to get this years count underway. The temperature was below zero at the outset, but fortified with coffee, pastries, and maps the group of about two dozen set off in teams to systematically drive all the roads within 15 miles of refuge headquarters. Each team was given a route map and a checklist with the objective to count and record all the birds seen along the way.

Some of the more athletic members of the group covered the Mahnomen and Blue Hill Trails within the refuge on cross country skis.

The event leader collects the results from all the field teams and tallies them. The results are then forwarded to the Minnesota Ornithological Union where they become part of the historical record used to track trends in bird populations. The count at Sherburne is just one small part of an effort that covers the entire country.

Refreshments and talk dispel the effects of early rising

on a cold day and set the mood for the morning.

Betsy Beneke photo

CBC 2010 leader Dean Kleinhans checks the route

assignments while Ken Brennen checks the master map.

Betsy Beneke photo

Dean makes sure the drivers know where to go.

Betsy Beneke photo

Then it's bundle up and out the door for three

or four (or more) hours of driving and counting.

Betsy Beneke photo