Park bird count was second highest

With ideal conditions, the annual Christmas Bird Count in Glacier National Park  recorded 689 birds of 40 species, according to Park biologist Lisa Bate.

That’s the second highest highest number of birds ever counted. The highest number came in 2013.

Twenty-eight volunteers covered 10 routes on Dec. 14 to complete the count in the greater Lake McDonald and West Glacier area. This was the 41st year of the count.

The single most numerous species was the common redpoll, a finch, with 220. The second highest was the pine siskin, another finch species, with 93.

Perhaps the most interesting sighting was a pygmy owl eating a vole. Another group watched as a mink narrowly missed catching a goldeneye duck on upper McDonald Creek.

Despite the open water on lakes, the number of watefowl counted was comparatively low. A pied-billed grebe, however, was seen in an unsual sighting for Glacier Park.