Christmas bird counts

One of the highlights of the winter season for me is taking in some of the Christmas Bird Counts. I’ve been participating in these events for four decades and they still get me excited about having an excuse to spend a day outside birding with friends.

The practice of counting birds at this time of year began in 1900 with 25 counts. Today, there are thousands of counts that take place across the globe. The counts are citizen science at its best. They paint a very accurate picture of the trends in bird populations, especially for migratory species.  

Winter birding is a different beast—we don’t have the colourful warblers that highlight our spring efforts. But there is no shortage of wonderful species that we rarely see at other times of the year.

I’ve written about birding trips to the Earnscliffe area, where we can pick up large flocks of snow buntings, horned larks, and Lapland longspurs.  It is also one of the best places in the province to watch rough-legged hawks, another regular winter visitor.

During winters where there is a lot of fruit on shrubs—such as there is this year—we have found huge flocks of American robins, bohemian and cedar waxwings, and pine grosbeaks around Georgetown.

Within the count areas, you can usually find many species of inland ducks, including blacks, mallards, and gadwalls. Offshore, there might be scoters, eiders, and long-tailed ducks, and, if you’re lucky, some colourful harlequins. While you’re looking at the ocean, keep an eye out for other seabirds such as gannets, black guillemots, razorbills, and even red-throated loons.

There is something incredibly special about being outside with friends on a cold, still day with hardly a bird around, and then to see hundreds of birds in mixed flocks come in to feed on whatever fruit and seeds have attracted them to the area.  

What else can people see in the count areas? There could easily be a leftover great blue heron if there are any open waterways. Will the cardinals that are becoming more and more common across the Island show up to be counted? Will the loud and lovely pileated woodpeckers come out and be counted? Or will a barred owl add its plaintive hooting to the winter sounds?

These counts are not without their challenges. I recall one memorable Montague count where we wouldn’t even get out of the car in some places, it was that nasty out. And while East Point is always beautiful, you want to be sure you’re dressed for the weather as it can best be described as uber-invigorating. 

Everyone is welcome to participate, whether you are a novice, an expert birder, or something in between. It is a great way to meet other people interested in birds and wildlife in general.

The four Island bird counts are coordinated through Nature PEI and take place at East Point on December 14; PEI National Park on December 20; Hillsborough on December 27; and Montague on January 4.  

If you are interested in participating in any of the counts, please contact the local coordinator: East Point (Dwaine Oakley, dwaine.oakley@gmail.com); PEI National Park and Hillsborough (Dan McAskill, jdmcaskill@pei.sympatico.ca); and Montague (Scott Sinclair, scottcscinclair@hotmail.com).

Another way to get involved is to report birds that might be visiting your feeders during the count period (which actually includes three days on either side of the actual count).  

Please get in touch with the coordinator for your area if you would like to be involved in any of the counts.