A letter from our birding friends
We got a letter from some of our friends! Laura and Steve LaValley are avid birders in Superior, WI and help FOLSR coordinate the Superior circle of Audubon's Christmas Bird Count. Their message is below:
Many thanks to Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve for being a friend to the Superior Audubon Christmas Bird Count, in 2023 and 2024. Originated in 2012, the Superior CBC needed a stable online contact point, as well as publicity to round up more participants, and FOLSR has filled those needs well. Having the Estuarium to meet at and pick up maps is a bonus!
Enjoying the challenge of finding birds to count in the north on a cold winter day, Steve and I have been part of CBCs for over 40 years. We’ve participated in counts at Bessemer Michigan, Medford Wisconsin and many others, and helped get the Superior count organized. The first Superior compiler, Nancy Raffetto, noted in 2013 “I am learning to feel blessed by the few birds we get to keep here in the north in the winter. Each one is a gem that needs to be appreciated.“ Of the 16 participants in 2013, we and five others remain involved most years.
Bird numbers are negatively affected by lack of snow cover (2023 and 2024), as well as extreme cold (2017, when the temperatures recorded by our group ranged from -19 to -9). These and many other variables are considered by Audubon when using each local count’s year after year records to learn more about things such as shifted ranges of species, winter finch locations across the U.S., or the effect of changing habitat. An example of change in the Superior CBC is the steady increase in Bald Eagle numbers: from eight eagles in 2013, to 147 in 2024. Surprising to many, American Robins and Cedar Waxwings are found most years, sometimes in large numbers, such as the 59 robins and 18 cedar waxwings of 2016. Folks who count birds at their feeders on count day add interesting species like Rufus-sided Towhee.
We hope for a great 2025 CBC in Superior with more joining in the challenge!
Laura and Steve LaValley
Letter by Laura LaValley, intro by Callie Grones
Cover photo: Laura LaValley teaches novice birders during 2024 Christmas Bird Count (credit: Callie Grones)