Bird count covers more than 460 miles

Valley Life editor

Despite conditions that included rain, snow and poor visibility, 18 teams of field counters made the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count a success on Dec. 19.

Field counters covered a 15-mile radius of Four Corners, which encompasses Palmer and Wasilla, as well as large portions of the Palmer Hayflats. According to Bob Winckler, the event organizers, field counters covered more than 460 miles by car, 23 miles on foot, 14 miles by ATV and even 11 miles on dog sled.

This year, counts for many species was lower than normal, while other species had above-average counts.

Record counts for six species of birds were observed - the Lesser Canada Goose, mallard, bald eagle, downy woodpecker, American dipper and common redpoll. In all, 5,776 birds were observed representing 28 species. Previous high counts for two species were matched, and a cackling goose was spotted for the first time in the count's history.

Following the 26th annual count, participants gathered for a potluck dinner at Maggie and Dan Crowson's home.