Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

22nd annual Christmas Bird Count held on first day of winter

By JERRY EDDE

Special to the Globe

The tiny birds were perched on a limb hanging over Planter Creek Road and I could see the distinct dark "cheek patch" on the females. I wrote PUFI (purple finch) on my scratch pad, when suddenly, they all flew down on the road for some unknown "treat."

Sure enough I could then see the deep purplish-red on the breast of the males thus confirming my identification.

This was our 22nd Christmas Bird Count on Saturday and it was the first day of winter. It certainly looked like it, with the snow piled high all around us.

Purple finches usually migrate south o...