Kenai area birders celebrate with a potluck dinner at the Refuge following the annual Christmas Bird Count

Late December in Alaska brings images of cold dark days and lots of snow.  It also turns out to be a pretty good time to view birds!  Kenai National Wildlife Refuge joined with local birders to host the annual Christmas Bird Count.  A record number of bird species (42) and total number of birds (3,849) were seen in the Kenai/Soldotna survey area.  Twenty-eight observers participated in the count.  Highlights included an ivory gull, rosy crown finches, and snow buntings at the City Dock; a chestnut-backed chickadee, Stellar's jay, and an American tree sparrow at feeders; a goshawk near Swiftwater Campground; and a slaty-backed gull at the landfill.  Individual birders tallied high counts of two species:  common redpolls (440) and Bohemian waxwings (210).  After the count, participants reported their results at a potluck held at the Refuge.  The annual Christmas Bird Count is held throughout the United States and celebrated its 107th season this year.