Field observers of all ages enjoyed the Rice Lake NWR Christmas Bird Count. - FWS Photo by Michelle McDowell

Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge coordinated the Christmas Bird Count on the refuge and surrounding area, December 30.

All birds observed within a 15-mile circle centering on the headquarters at Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge were counted.   A record 23 people were in the field counting birds like Pine Grosbeak, Rough-legged Hawk and Northern Shrikes.  

Thirty species were observed for the count, 1,918 birds total.  New species added this year were Northern Harrier, Rusty Blackbird, Hoary Redpoll and Lapland Longspur. The field participants were from as far away as Des Moines Iowa and many traveled over an hour to join the count. 

The Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge Christmas Bird Count was done in conjunction with the National Audubon Society, the Friends of Rice Lake Refuge and the Bee Nay She Birding Council. This year, nearly 2,000 counts have taken place throughout the Americas between the dates of December 14 and January 5.  The count is designed to monitor the status and distribution of bird populations across the Western Hemisphere.