The 39th Minden Christmas Bird Count was conducted on Saturday (December 17). It was cloudy and a few degrees below freezing, providing good conditions for observing. All lakes were frozen, except the north end of Gull Lake. The Gull River and parts of other rivers were open. About 25 cm of snow on ground.
These preliminary results (with feeder reports still to be added) are provided on behalf of compiler Dennis Barry, currently off-line: Total Species: 45 (average over last 20 years: 42) Total Individuals: 4,077 (average over last 20 years: 4,148) New Species for Count: White-crowned Sparrow (1 first winter; photographed) All-time Highs: Bald Eagle (4) Sharp-shinned Hawk (2) Barred Owl (3) - ties record White-throated Sparrow (1) - ties record Northern Cardinal (6) - ties record Red-winged Blackbird (1) - ties record Noteworthy Numbers: Ruffed Grouse (2) - low Wild Turkey (88) - second highest Black-capped Chickadee (1,329) - still numerous, after fall flight in southern Ontario Finches: Pine Grosbeak (102) Common Redpoll (105) Pine Siskin (22) American Goldfinch (339) Evening Grosbeak (532) - highest number since 1999 Ron Tozer Dwight, Ontario
