Christmas bird counts set for Detroit Lakes, Tamarac Every year since 1900, the National Audubon Society has mobilized thousands of volunteers in communities across the Western Hemisphere for its annual Christmas Bird Count — and since 1990, Detroit Lakes has been one of those communities. Both the Detroit Lakes community and nearby Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge are hosting counts this year, on Dec. 16 and 21, respectively. Written By: Vicki Gerdes | × Evening grosbeaks are normally not a common sight during the Detroit Lakes Christmas Bird Count, but organizer Nancy Henke says that a recent irruption of the species in the lakes area has birders hoping they will be spotted at both the local and Tamarac counts, set for Dec. 16 and 21, respectively. (Submitted photo)