Cottagers can participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count

Northern saw-whet owl. Photo by Betsy Higgins, courtesy Ontario Nature

Did you know that there was once a popular annual hunt during which teams competed to see who could shoot the most birds and small mammals as a Christmas day activity? Fortunately, someone saw the light through the flying feathers, specifically American ornithologist Frank Chapman, whose suggestion that birds be counted instead of shot changed the course of ornithological history. It also set the stage for creating an enormously important conservation tool on behalf of birds and the environment.

The annual Christmas Bird Count is now the largest single volunteer conservation movement on behalf of wildlife, according to Ontario Nature, whose member groups are leading bird counts in communities as far north as Thunder Bay, to Point Pelee in the south, and Kingston and the Ottawa area in the east. This year’s count, which began last week and continues until January 5, 2010 is the 110th edition.

The data collected from the counts allow researchers and conservation organizations to study the long-term health, population numbers, and ranges of birds across North America.  Armed with this information, groups such as Ontario Nature can then identify threats to birds and their habitat, and determine appropriate conservation action.

“The birds of Ontario are a critical part of this province’s biodiversity,” says Caroline Schultz, Executive Director of Ontario Nature.  “The Christmas Bird Count is a key survey that reveals which populations are increasing and which are decreasing.  Anyone can get involved in a bird count and know that they are contributing to meaningful scientific research.”

Now, nearly 400 Christmas Bird Counts are held in Canada—more than 100 in Ontario alone—with some 12,000 volunteer participants.  Bird Studies Canada coordinates the count in Canada in a joint program with the National Audubon Society. Last year, more than 2,000 bird counts were conducted across the Americas—a record high. All bird counts are open to the public and birders of all skill levels. Victoria Foote, a cottager and the editor of On Nature magazine, says the count is an ideal activity for families spending the holidays at the cottage.

For a full list of the Ontario Nature member groups that are holding bird counts and when, please visit the Nature Network.

Boreal owl. Photo by Nate Kohler, courtesy Ontario Nature

Quick facts from Ontario Nature:

* Last year, Ontario Nature member group, Nature London, celebrated its 100th count with more than 100 participants.  London is still Cardinal Capital of the Year with almost 900 of the birds counted.

* Christmas Bird Counts show population declines and also success stories.  Both the Orillia Field Naturalists and Rouge Park documented record high numbers of Trumpeter swans—a species once close to extinction—which they attribute to the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre’s restoration efforts.  The same year, the South Peel Naturalists’ Club, based in Missassauga/Oakville, recorded unusually low counts of house sparrows.

* This year, the Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists are celebrating their 75th Christmas Bird Count.

* During last year’s Christmas Bird Count, almost 60,000 volunteers across North America and beyond tallied more than 65 million birds.  Approximately 11,000 volunteers in Canada participated in 361 counts and tallied nearly 3 million birds.

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