A little bird seed and some patience at your home can go a long way to helping keep track of the area’s bird population. For over 120 years, the National Audubon Society has sponsored the early-winter bird census to track them as they travel across North America as a part of their natural migratory patterns.  Researchers have used this data since the turn of the century to determine the long-term health of bird populations. Birders in Door County can help out by counting birds on December 16th, specifically in circles surrounding Washington Island, Ephraim, Brussels, and Sturgeon Bay. Director of Research Tony Kiszonas says local birders are lucky to have such a unique area to survey.

Last year, 50 birders in Brussels, Sturgeon Bay, and Ephraim counted more than 150 species of birds during the Christmas Count. You can contact Kiszonas at The Ridges Sanctuary or visit the National Audubon Society’s website for more information.