The results are back from this year’s Lake Leelanau Christmas Bird Count, where a troupe of local birders take part in a century-plus-old community science project by tallying all birds within a 15-mile-wide circle in a single day.

On Dec. 15, 18 separate bird-watching parties scoured the peninsula’s countryside and waterways (just before the winter windstorm hit!) as part of the Audubon Society’s 122-year-old tradition. Nate Crane, longtime birder, owner of Rare Bird Brewpub, and coordinator of the Lake Leelanau Bird Count, shares with the Leelanau Ticker, “despite some really foggy weather, particularly on the lakeshores, we produced a record-setting 65 species on count day, which is amazing!”

To accomplish this, birders logged 10 miles on foot (in up to 4 inches of snow), 328 miles by car, and 10 miles by non-motorized boat, all from 6am to 7pm on Dec 15.

Two species that tied previous high counts were white winged crossbill (70 birds spotted) and golden crowned kinglets (36 total). A new species, found by Alison Vilag (pictured), was the red crossbill. “It was foraging along Victoria Creek on the west side of the bridge,” shares Crane.

The birders also picked up the gray catbird and found an elusive winter wren, as well as an evening grosbeak.  “Never an easy bird,” says Crane. “I'm also impressed how many raptors were seen despite the poor viewing conditions.”  

A personal highlight for Crane, who has been birding in Leelanau county since age 10: “Seeing a pair of trumpeter swans with this year’s cygnet at the mouth of Victoria Creek.” He notes that the waterway (which is also known as the Cedar River) is strikingly beautiful in the off-season.

Pictured: Birder Alison Vilag on Victoria Creek, Dec. 15, by Nate Crane.