Christmas Bird Count

The Christmas Bird Count is right around the corner!
From Dec 14–Jan 5, thousands of daylong, volunteer-run bird surveys will be held locally by naturalist groups. They are free and open to everyone – regardless of age or skill level. This year will mark the 116th year running in North America, making it the largest and longest running citizen science project in modern times.

Find the count nearest you here:

• NY: http://www.audubon.org/content/join-christmas-bird-count
• Ontario: http://www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/cbc

"The Christmas Bird Count is North America’s longest-running citizen science project and a crucial part of Canada’s biodiversity monitoring database. [...]
Last year 4,100 people participated in 114 bird counts across Ontario. They recorded an astonishing 178 species and 1,394,498 individual birds. Here are some highlights:

• Cape Crocker count participants recorded 1,417 individuals, nearly double the number recorded the previous year.
• A record number of mute swans (18) and golden eagles (3) were spotted in Owen Sound.
• Three new species were added to the St. Catharines count: cackling goose, trumpeter swan and Harris’s sparrow.
• Participants recorded 74 species at Prince Edward Point, a 15% increase over the previous year.
• 347 snowy owls were recorded across the province, with the highest number (48) occurring in Kingston.
• Rare sightings included a white-eyed vireo in Toronto, a western tanager in Kingston and a Eurasian tree sparrow in Niagara Falls.
• Long Point boasted the highest species total at 107.
• There were three new counts in Ontario last year: Gananoque, Kapuskasing, Moonbeam and Orono."

From: The Northumberland View