![JENNIFER SIMONSON • jsimonson@startribune.com Victoria, MN-Dec. 20, 2008 The National Audubon Society invites families to join in a Citizen Science program, the 109th bird census. The Christmas Bird Count - conducted nationwide between December 14 and January 5 - allows conservation researchers to track the long-term health of bird populations. Families can meet other local volunteers, hone birding skills, and take part in a seasonal tradition. IN THIS PHOTO:] Many of the groups participating in the Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count at Carver Park Reserve saw cardinals, such as these two photographed near feeders at the Lowry Nature Center.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/6WVJK72EBM53BIATLMMCFGOAZQ.jpg?&w=712)
(Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Get in on the Christmas Bird Count across Minnesota
Annual census is the longest-running bird count. It began in 1900.
December 14, 2017 at 8:22PM
The Christmas Bird Count is underway, that annual bird census that lures experienced birders and newcomers afield across the United States, Canada and parts of Latin America.
The count, which began on Christmas Day in 1900, is the longest-running bird count in the world. Minnesota's participation started in 1905, according to The Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. Minneapolis and Red Wing were the first locations. The count in Minnesota involves as many as 70 census circles. Two counts were scheduled for Thursday (Glacial Ridge and Lac qui Parle), and two more (Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge and Cottonwood) are scheduled Friday.
The Christmas Bird Count happens in earnest beginning Saturday across Minnesota (go to moumn.org/CBC for locations and past count data), and goes on in various locations until Jan. 5.
People interested in participating can choose a count to join by location, too, or by date. Each of the counts has a coordinator, whose contact information is listed.
None of the boat’s occupants, two adults and two juveniles, were wearing life jackets, officials said.
