The Great Gray Owls did not return to Minnesota this year, according to a preliminary analysis of Minnesotaís Christmas Bird Count (CBC) data released by Audubon Minnesota and the Minnesota Ornithologistsí Union (MOU).

ìAfter the spectacular number of owls seen last year, we expected to see a higher than average number this year,î said Mark Martell, director of Bird Conservation for Audubon Minnesota.

In spite of last yearís dramatic invasion of northern owls, ìVery few have been reported on Minnesota CBCs with the exception of the Roseau count which tallied 12 Northern Hawk-Owls,î according to Roger Schroeder of the MOU. In addition to these 12 owls, a total of seven Snowy Owls were also seen across the state.

For the 100th year, Minnesotans counted every bird they saw on the annual statewide Christmas Bird Count. Over 700 people conducted counts on 70 individual census areas between December 14, 2005 and January 5, 2006.

Instead of owls, the surveys revealed an abundance of finches that moved into the state from Canada several counts in northeastern Minnesota reported dramatic numbers of finches. For example, the Duluth count reported over 7,000 finches, including record high counts of 1,309 Purple Finches, which is 10 times greater than the old record of 132 birds according to Schroeder.

Other unusual birds seen during this seasonís count include a Black-legged Kittiwake found in Bloomington. This was the first time this ocean-going bird was found on a Minnesota CBC; putting the state at the 200-mark for the total number of species observed over the history of the count.

In Western Minnesota no fewer than three Red-shafted Flickers (the western subspecies of the Northern Flicker) were reported, and a greater than usual number of Varied Thrush, Golden Eagles, and Bohemian Waxwings were observed throughout the state. All three of these species live in western North America for most of the year.

ìThe Christmas Bird Count is the longest-running bird census in the worldî said Martell. ìThe information provides a unique insight into changes in bird populations and distributions.î

A final compilation of the data will be completed sometime in March of 2006.

CBC results can be reviewed on the Minnesota CBC Web site (www.rohair.com/CBC) or the National Audubon Societyís Web site (www.audubon.org).

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