Local bird enthusiasts took part in an annual ritual that is considered the longest running North American citizen science project.
The Bradford West Gwillimbury Christmas Bird Count is part of an international census, established by The Audubon Society 120 years ago, to keep track of the health of birds and to guide conservation efforts.
People all across North America and other Western countries sign up with local groups to take part.
Since 2001,
The findings collected at the Bradford count, held Dec. 27, are reported to Birds Canada and entered into a database shared by the Audubon Society.
All Christmas Bird Counts are conducted between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5. Each count is based on the Audubon criteria of a 24-kilometre diameter circle.
Bruce Wilson, coordinator of the Bradford count, said, “This count is a total of five areas in a circle. Each area has at least one group in it. Some of them have a couple groups. There’s guys out at Cook’s Bay looking for ducks and swans. The bay’s open so they should get some good numbers. Some will go into the conservation areas to see what they can find. This section is a big area so we mostly drive around and stop to count.”
He added, “I have a notebook where I keep a tally of every bird and every species we see and hear. Every group does the same thing. If you get a flock of starlings or something you’re going to be guessing 35 to 40. It’s not exact science but it’s good enough to get the idea of what the numbers of the birds are.”
“Once I’m done today, we have a wrap-up meeting, I’ll get all the data from the other four groups, tally it up and enter it into the Birds Canada website.”
Wilson, who has been birding since he was 15, said, “Today is not the best day. It’s kind of damp and cold. At least the fog has gone out so we can see...it beats being at home.”
While the interview takes place next to the sighting scope set on a snowy owl, a red-tailed hawk makes an appearance, as does a mourning dove and some crows.
To see any bird pleases Wilson. Beyond snowy owls as a favourite, Wilson said, “Any hawk will do. Three hundred snow buntings flying over a field is pretty exciting, and the occasional northern shrike is always nice to see.”
Anyone is welcome to take part in the Christmas Bird Count, and it is possible to contribute from home by registering through Project FeederWatch, a joint program of Birds Canada and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Wilson said, “On the Birds Canada website you can find a group in your area. There’s a combination of people who have come out year after year since 2001 in Bradford West Gwillimbury, and new people come to find out what it’s all about. It doesn’t matter what your skill is. We’ll pair you up with someone who has some experience. You can come out, count birds, learn birds..and you may see a snowy owl as we are here.”
For more information on wild bird conservation, programs, and activities including the Christmas Bird Count, visit Birds Canada, Feeder Watch and Audubon.
— Contributed by Rosaleen Egan is a freelance journalist, playwright and storyteller. She blogs on her website rosiewrites.com