The preliminary results are in for the Sault Ste. Marie Christmas Bird Count. There were 58 species recorded on total on the count day of December 17th, which is right in line with the ten-year average. 8,465 individual birds were counted, which is slightly above the ten-year average. The five most abundant species were European Starling (1,603), Black-capped Chickadee (1,398), Mallard (1,041), Rock Pigeon (998), and Herring Gull (669). New high counts were set for Hooded Merganser (93), Red-bellied Woodpecker (21), Pileated Woodpecker (47), and White-breasted Nuthatch (91). Notable birds found included Harlequin Duck, Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser hybrid, Horned Grebe, Ring-billed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Northern Flicker, Boreal Chickadee, White-throated Sparrow, and White-crowned Sparrow. Notable misses were Tundra Swan and Snow Bunting. The full results will be emailed out to all participants within a few days. The number may change slightly if late feeder watcher data comes in. Thanks to everyone who helped out and made the count another success! Carter Dorscht Compiler