January 17, 2012 Changing its position on a perch high above the
lake this eagle spreads its wings to maintain its balance as it
moves around for a better position to watch the action below.
Stories this photo appears in: The count is in — the Payson
Christmas Bird Count, that is. Since 1900 the National Audubon
Society has conducted bird counts throughout North America.
Local birding enthusiasts conducted their eighth annual count on
Dec. 30. There was beautiful, calm weather when the 17
participants headed out to spend the day identifying and
counting all the birds they saw or heard in and around Payson.
The good weather contributed to a record 99 species being
observed as well as a record 4,376 birds. The count is a census
of the birds found during a 24-hour period in a designated
circle 15 miles in diameter. The Payson count circle is centered
a little northwest of town.