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Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula December 18, 2003 Text © 2003 Nancy Auer. Photos © Michael J. Shupe, reprinted with permission

Copper Country Audubon to participate in National Christmas Bird Count Dec. 20

By Nancy Auer, Houghton County CBC compiler

HOUGHTON -- The local chapter of the Audubon Society calls upon members and volunteers in our area to join with birders across the western hemisphere to participate in Audubon's annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on Saturday, Dec. 20. In the local area, more than 20 volunteers will be assisting on the count.

Nancy Auer, author of this article, said several Audubon members reported seeing Cardinals, such as this one, in East and West Hancock on Dec. 13. Keep an eye out for them in your yard. (Photo © Michael J. Shupe. Reprinted with permission.)

This year the focus is on the health of boreal birds which appear to be in decline. At the end of the count Audubon will analyze the population status and trends of the birds of the boreal forests to see how these species are faring. These boreal species, often seen on CBCs, include the Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin and Rusty Blackbird.

This Chickadee, a winter Keweenaw resident, posed patiently for photographer Michael J. Shupe. (Photo © Michael J. Shupe. Reprinted with permission.)

This year marks the 104th National Audubon CBC. For the Copper Country Audubon group it marks the 27th consecutive Christmas count. Each count group in the country completes a census of the birds found during one 24-hour period in a designated circle 15 miles in diameter -- or about 177 square miles. These counts have become vital tools in monitoring the status of resident and migratory birds across the western hemisphere.* 

These red polls, photographed by Michael Shupe in 2001, were enjoying a snowy day up north. (Photo © Michael J. Shupe. Reprinted with permission.)

Our local count circle includes Houghton and Hancock, Chassell, Sturgeon River Sloughs, Atlantic Mine, Dollar Bay, the Airport and the Rabbit Bay/Gay area. If you feed birds, please stock your feeders and be patient with folks walking, snowshoeing or driving slowly with binoculars poised at feeders or roof tops this Saturday. If you have recently seen some unusual bird please contact 482-4391 so we can check it out on count day.

Can you guess which bird this is? (Photo © Michael J. Shupe. Reprinted with permission.)

Author's Note: * Results of the Christmas Bird Counts and more information on CBCs are available through the National Audubon Web site. Editor's Note: Photographer Michael J. Shupe contributed his photos of birds for this article. Shupe, who operates the Streetcar Station and Gallery in Ahmeek (now closed for the winter), recently opened The Studio Gallery in the former Wilcox Camera Store location on Shelden Avenue in Houghton. He plans to operate both the Ahmeek and the Houghton galleries during the summer season. In addition to his professional photography work, Michael J. Shupe has conducted photography seminars at Finlandia University (formerly Suomi College).

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