Bird Count

Bird Count

More typical Alaska weather greeted birders participating in the 117th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count in Soldotna. Jack Sinclair, executive director of the Kenai Watershed Forum has been organizing the local count for since 1990 and has witnessed a lot of changes over the last quarter century, “Not only in the type of birds we are seeing move into the area, but the involvement and excitement and interest in birding has really grown in our area. It’s a great opportunity for anyone to come out and learn a little bit about birds and get excited about it. Our regulars are an excited bunch that participate in the Christmas bird count and we’re always glad to have new folks of any age join us,” said Sinclair. The local bird count is done within a relatively small area of the Peninsula that is primarily around the Soldotna area and includes the mouths of the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers. “But within the area we are fortunate to have a lot of activity, we have a lot of water birds and birds of the forest and raptors and eagles, so there are a lot of things to discover out there and won’t notice them unless you get out and spend the day at it,” added Sinclair.

The official Christmas Count Day was Saturday, December 17th and the national count week was December 14th through the 20th. The first local count began in 1984 according to Sinclair, but the history of the Christmas Bird Count goes back to the turn of the 20th Century

when hunters engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas “Side Hunt.” They would choose sides and go afield with their guns—whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won. Conservation was in its beginning stages in that era, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations. Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer in the Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition—a “Christmas Bird Census” that would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them.

Following the local count participants gathered for traditional pot luck at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge where they reported their sightings for the day. A couple of highlights of this year’s count reported Sinclair was the first recorded sighting of a Merlin throughout the count week and on the count day along the lower Kenai River. Also the first recorded Short-Eared Owl was spotted near the mouth of the Kenai River on the count day and throughout the count week as well. “We also had the highest circle count for Mew Gulls at the mouth of the Kenai River with a total of 362 this year,” said Sinclair. Total species tabulated were 38, total individuals were 4,226 and the total participants in this year’s Christmas Bird Count were 32 in the field and 3 feeder watchers reported Sinclair. The local complete specie by specie count can be found at www.audubon.org.

Bird Count
Bird Count
Bird Count

More in News

Rep. Justin Ruffridge, a Soldotna Republican who co-chairs the House Education Committee, speaks in favor overriding a veto of Senate Bill 140 during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
By 1 vote, lawmakers sustain Dunleavy veto of education bill

The bipartisan bill included $680 increase to per-student funding

The Sterling Highway crosses the Kenai River near the Russian River Campground on March 15, 2020, near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Russian River Campground closed for construction

The campground is expected to reopen on June 2

A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)
Fish and Game announces series of closures and restrictions for king salmon fisheries

Cook Inlet king salmon stocks are experiencing a prolonged period of poor productivity, the department said

Montessori materials sit on shelves in a classroom at Soldotna Montessori Charter School on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Education debate draws state attention to peninsula charter schools

Dunleavy would like to see a shift of authority over charter school approvals from local school districts to the state

The Nikiski Senior Center stands under sunlight in Nikiski, Alaska, on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Support available for community caregivers

Nikiski Senior Center hosts relaunched Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program

Flags flank the entrance to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Dunleavy vetoes bipartisan education bill

Senate Bill 140 passed the House by a vote of 38-2 and the Senate by a vote of 18-1 last month

The Alaska State Capitol on Friday, March 1, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
House passes bill altering wording of sex crimes against children

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer

Ben Meyer and Brandon Drzazgowski present to the Soldotna and Kenai Chambers of Commerce at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Watershed Forum gives update on streambank restoration

The watershed forum and other organizations are working to repair habitat and mitigate erosion

The entrance to the Kenai Police Department, as seen in Kenai, Alaska, on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai resident arrested on charges of arson

Kenai Police and Kenai Fire Department responded to a structure fire near Mountain View Elementary

Most Read