On Monday, Jan. 15 the Sax-Zim Christmas Bird Count was conducted with six groups of volunteers roaming the 15 square mile diameter circle. The wrap-up session at Wilburt’s Café resulted in an initial count of 25 species observed. Susan and I saw 15 species in our area with mostly individuals numbering in the single digits in each. Although we counted 113 black-capped chickadees across several parts of our area, the number was low compared to most years.
The enjoyment was not about numbers. It was out on the search, gathering with friends from many years, and having data to bring forth. Regardless of low or high numbers, species seen or not, it’s all data. Now we look forward to Ely’s count, followed for me by Carlton/Cloquet and Hibbing going into 2026.
Bonuses abound. The trip to Cook saved you the effort to get 2026 Friends of Sax-Zim calendars from the Ely Field Naturalists before Christmas and New Year’s Day. This Saturday morning the Naturalists Resource Center will be open from 9 a.m. to noon at 41 E Chapman Street above NAPA in Ely. There will be two short films, chat about Sax-Zim, and plan review for the Ely CBC.
The Ely Christmas Bird Count will be conducted on Saturday, December 27, 2025. It includes all the birds identified and reported any time within that 24-hour period.
The count area (circle) is within a 15-mile diameter circle that is organized with volunteers agreeing to count locations within that circle. You can look at the circle online for information on the Minnesota Ornithologists Union website. The site has a map and information on the Ely CBC and every other CBC in Minnesota.
Every count has its Count Day organized with volunteer counters who record sightings, tally birds identified and report the totals of each species to the count coordinator. Bill Tefft will provide information and sign up anyone who wants to volunteer for the Ely CBC. NJ Gates will collect the results and report them to the Minnesota Ornithologists Union.
On count day, when birds are seen and identified, each bird is counted to provide the number of individuals of that species seen on that day. Whenever counting during the day, each counter tries to avoid double-counting. This can be difficult because birds can fly and they are often coming and going. Counters should only record the largest number seen at one time for a location. The counter may have a larger number at a different time at that location or other birds of that species to add from other locations.
Members of the Ely Field Naturalists will be posting sightings of birds seen as emails on their Google Group over the next couple of weeks and in local newspapers. Those sightings give suggestions of what might be located on Count Day.
The two days before and after Sept. 27 are considered part of Count Week for the Ely CBC. If there are some species seen on those days that don’t get found on Count Day, then they can be added in the report as Count Week Species. The Count Week Species do not have the number of individual birds counted. You can check the CW column on any of the five days and then it can be determined if that species gets added after the Count Day list is completed by the compiler.
Keep an eye out for birds. Bird feeders are a good place to start. Are they filled or empty? What is the kind of feeder and its placement? Keep your ears open for tips. Word was out in Sax-Zim that there has been a Harris sparrow and an American tree sparrow recently visiting a feeder on E Madison Street in Ely. Get your friends, neighbors and family involved.
Volunteering for the Ely CBC can be a fun way to notice and learn about winter bird activities in our area. It provides information each year about the birds that are here and absent, their migration and food resources, and data that can be combined in total with other areas across the region, state, and countries.
Feeder Filled -No Birds
Ready for Ely Christmas Bird Count.
