You are invited to take part!
This would be a fine family/cohort citizen science outing, where your observations contribute to an assessment of the health, trends and distribution of bird populations, which in turn can help guide conservation efforts.
This year’s counts will take place between Monday, Dec. 14th through Tuesday, Jan. 5th, 2021 and will follow guidelines as outlined by Alberta Health Services.
Each count takes place in a designated 24 km (15 mile) wide diameter circle.
If your home is within the boundaries of the CBC circle, you can stay at home and report the birds that you see, as long as you’ve made prior arrangements with the person that is the compiler for that count circle.
Since each circle covers a large area, drivers and observers are needed to do a thorough count of the birds seen that day.
The Buffalo Lake Nature Club will conduct three Christmas Bird Counts: Stettler Dec. 20th, Buffalo Lake Dec. 27th and Red Deer River Jan. 3rd.
Contact buffalolake nc@gmail.com for further information or visit the website at buffalolakenature.com to see maps and a bird list.
Red Deer River Naturalists have also designated count circles throughout Central Alberta that will be surveyed on Dec. 20th.
Check out the locations at rdrn.ca under Programs, Species Counts, and to download maps and a bird list. Contact Judy at (403) 358-1098 to register for a Central Alberta count.
To find other established CBC circles, view the map at birdscanada.org www.birdscanada.org/bird-science/christmas-bird-count/.
If you are just beginning to become interested in birds, this is the perfect activity for you and yours, as there are a limited number of kinds of birds around in the winter (making identification simpler), as compared to the 400 plus species that may be here in the summer.
The May Species Count is when we are challenged to identify and count the spring/summer birds, but for now, do join in the upcoming local Christmas Bird Counts. It is a fun learning citizen science opportunity in your own community.
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