Winter Bird Count Draws a Record 132 Participants
Saturday, December 20, started out at 27 degrees F. By 5 pm, the temperature had dropped to 12 degrees. Molly Jo Miller, Team Leader for Area 15 Pig’s Eye, said, “We could all feel the biting wind get colder and colder as the day went on.” She thanked her bird counters for their perseverance.
Kiki Sonnen & Greg Burnes – Saint Paul Bird Alliance volunteers, conducted this year’s Winter Bird Count, also known as the Christmas Bird Count, on Saturday, December 20, 2025. Our Count Circle is centered at County Road B and Dale Street and radiates 7.5 miles out in all directions. We have our Count Circle divided into 15 areas. Teams of volunteers search their assigned area, tabulating all birds seen or heard.
132 birders found a total of 54 species of birds in this year’s Count. A total of 14,392 individual birds were reported. Mallards won the count by a long shot with 7,306 (Thanks to those who took the time to carefully count thousands of Mallards). Rock Pigeons came in a distant second with 1,104, followed by Robins at 905 and House Sparrows at 897.
Several area teams found Great Horned Owls on this year’s Count. Jim Rogers said, “Spent a (very cold) morning with the delightful people of Saint Paul Bird Alliance, taking part in my first Christmas Bird Count…The best spotting was a pair of Great Horned Owls at Hidden Falls Park.” Another team in Roseville, led by Greg Burnes, saw a Great Horned Owl fly overhead while an 11-year-old girl and her mom were present. Even though they are regular visitors to the Raptor Center, they were so excited to see their first owl in the wild!
John Zakelj and Kathy Janis headed up the Area 10 team, finding 22 species, including Trumpeter Swans, ducks, Mourning Doves, and woodpeckers. Above is a picture of a Tree Sparrow John took.
While the project’s goal is to count birds, equally important is the connection we build with one another and with the birds we see. After the Count, 15 birders who were up for it came to the Post-Count Party. We talked about the day’s adventures, the sightings, the fun, and the cold.
Mark your calendars – next year’s Winter Bird Count will be Saturday, December 19, 2026.
Bird’s Eye View – January 2026
Hello Friends-
It’s been a rough start to the New Year. I’ve been very shaken up by Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) supervisor Jonathan Ross shooting protestor Renee Nicole Good in the head and killing her on a south Minneapolis neighborhood street on January 7. I know you too are upset at seeing masked gunslingers shoving people around and targeting people of color. It is just all too much!
But once again birds and being together with our birding community gives me hope for the future. I hope you had the chance to hear Tammah Watts’ inspiring presentation on our Bird Alliance Webinair program on January 8. She gave us advice on how to handle and react to the tragedy of the shooting. She had us breathe in and out to center ourselves – not to forget about the tragedy, but to acknowledge we can rise to remain supportive of our community during this critical time.
Tammah told us how birdwatching helps us all calm down and improve our mental health. Now more than ever birding in our parks, green spaces and at backyard feeders helps us see the bigger picture. She had us think about our earliest memory of a bird. And in so doing, we remember family members, earlier times, old neighborhoods, important connections.
Tammah Watts is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Certified Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide, California Naturalist, birder, and advocate for equitable access to nature, health, and mental wellbeing. Keep Looking Up: Your Guide to the Powerful Healing of Birdwatching, is her first book–a narrative memoir and guidebook with contemplative exercises– that chronicles her journey towards healing by meaningfully connecting with birds.
If you missed her talk or want to see it again, look for it on our YouTube channel.
If you would like to engage in birding adventures check out our events on our Saint Paul Bird Alliance website. We have had a lot of fun recently on our January birding events.
On New Year’s Day we gathered at Kap’osia Landing Park in South Saint Paul to watch scores of Bald Eagles. We saw some Eagles on nests already! Many people, new to our group, joined in the fun. One young woman using our loaner binoculars watched a Common Goldeneye on the Mississippi . Suddenly she shouted, “I just saw a Duck eat a Fish!” The joy was contagious.
A few days later we were at the Visitor Center at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Bloomington to celebrate National Bird Day. A mom and her young son Liam sat with us watching the Center’s expansive feeder system. Liam drew a marvelous side silhouette of one of the Tom Turkeys at the feeders. He has begun his Big Year tabulating species after watching the movie of the same name.
We’re looking forward to making new connections at upcoming birding events including Owl Prowls in Arden Hills, Winter Birding at Silverwood Park in Saint Anthony, Birding and Wildlife Tracks at Pig’s Eye Chôkan Tanka Park, and return trip to the Visitor Center for feeder watching at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Bloomington.
Stay positive. Stay connected.
Art: Kiki Sonnen
National Wildlife Refuge – Resounding Success
Kiki Sonnen – The Visitor Center event was a resounding success. We had a young mom with a young boy, Liam, who saw the movie Big Year and is embarking on his own Big Year in 2026. Liam – I think he was maybe about 8 – brought his sketchbook. He drew a fantastic side silhouette of a Wild Turkey. He and his mom learned the difference between Hairy & Downy WP. Sandy & Wally were there, and Carolyn was so happy to sit inside, comfortable, and watch all the birds at the feeder.
Another young man in his 20’s came from the St Cloud area. He’s following the Mississippi to Red Wing, looking for Eagles. Another man was there to see the turkeys. There were 2 Tom Turkeys at the feeders off and on. So he was glad to see them. We also saw staff bring out seeds to replenish the feeders. The two Tom Turkeys rushed to their side like puppies begging for treats.
The Visitor Center’s Head Naturalist, Tanner, gave us a brief overview of the Refuge. He said this National Wildlife Refuge is the most urban-centered in the country. Their primary goal is to protect key habitats and natural areas that are critical to wildlife. He provided us with binoculars and thanked us for coming. He agreed that SPBA was welcome to return on Friday, the 13th of February, for birding and sketching to celebrate the Great Backyard Bird Count. So mark your calendar for more fun ahead!
