The Christmas Bird Count is on.
Between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5, tens of thousands of volunteers across North America will spot, identify and record the number of every species of bird they come across. This year marks the count's 125th year since its inception in 1900.
The Christmas Bird Count is the world’s longest-running citizen-science project, growing in participation almost every year since the end of the Second World War.
The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District has five areas included in the count—Whistler, Squamish, Pemberton-Mount Currie, D’Arcy-Birken and Lillooet.
Whistler’s bird count took place this past Saturday under near white-out conditions. Still, the team managed to spot a rarity—a red-headed duck.
Shawn Mason has been leading the Whistler contingent for about five years now. She's in awe of the Whistler birding community's commitment to the job.
"We cover a 24-kilometre diameter from Village Gate [Blvd.], so it's quite a big territory," she said. "One guy skied! Him and his wife skied for five and a half hours. So these people are dedicated."
Shawn appreciates the different kind of challenge birding provides.
“You watch your brain change, because you get that hunting instinct,” she said. “When you first start, you don't see any birds, right? But then, your skills get better, your eyes get faster, your reflexes are faster, your discrimination in colour gets better, so it's really good for your brain as well.”
While amateur birders make up the bulk of Christmas Bird Count participants, the endeavour has key implications for conservation efforts.
The data collected by birders allows researchers from the National Audubon Society, biologists, wildlife agencies and others to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across the continent. It provides a picture of how bird populations have changed since the count started.
Ann Robertson and her husband Ian have led the D’Arcy-Birken count for 15 years. Today, they’re taking a small team out to spot as many birds as they can. Ann said they make a whole day of it.
"We meet at 8:30 at our house, and everyone goes off to their count," she said. "At 11:30, a very kind neighbour puts on a shore lunch by the lake and we have hot dogs and smokies and various goodies for lunch. And then we go out and record until three."
Ian noted the count is scheduled for winter so conservationists can get the clearest picture of native species.
“At this time of year all across Canada, most of the migratory birds have come and gone through,” said Ian. “So the birds that we can capture at this time of year is indicative of what your residency is, as far as bird numbers and species.”
After 15 years on the job, Ian says it’s the birds that bring them back. But every year, there's some new technology or birding approach that keeps them engaged.
“We’re just gobsmacked at the technology,” said Ian of birding apps like Merlin. “It’s broadening and expanding our horizons, [helping us get] a better idea of the birds that are here.”
He's also excited about a brand new feature of the D’Arcy bird count this year. With the help of Jolene Patrick, a conservationist with the Coast to Cascades Grizzly Bear Initiative, the D'Arcy-Birken birding signs will include traditional Indigenous names of birds.
“We’re super keen to have that,” said Ian. “And it’ll be good for the First Nations, it’ll be good for us, and it’ll be good for the birds.”
Whistler's bird count is done for the season, but other spots along the sea to sky corridor still need volunteers.
D’Arcy will be spotting species until Dec. 20. Email Ann Robertson at [email protected] to join in. Pemberton’s bird count will take place on Dec. 18. Contact Nigel Matthews at [email protected] to sign up. Lillooet’s count will take place on Dec. 26. Contact Ian Routley at [email protected] to contribute to the team.
