Counting Feathered Friends in Winter

Counting Feathered Friends in Winter - theHumm December 2016

This year, thousands will take part in Audubon Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs) across the Americas; the 117th annual count, to be exact. The first was held in 1900, when conservation-minded ornithologist Dr. Frank Chapman suggested an alternative to the usual holiday bird-shooting competition, proposing teams count the birds they saw instead. People at 25 locations, including Toronto, took part in a “Christmas Bird Census”, challenged to identify and record as many birds as possible for the day.

The CBC is the longest-running citizen science project in North America and take place all over the western hemisphere. The more than 76,000 volunteers taking part in the counts can track wintering bird populations on a much larger scale than scientists alone can hope to do. Data collected from the counts has been used for a multiplicity of research studies and to monitor climate change. As the Audubon report on the 116th count states: “The cumulative efforts of all CBC participants over the past five decades has enabled Audubon and other groups to document how species have shifted their early-winter ranges in the face of a changing climate”. Of the record 2505 counts taking place in the western hemisphere last year, 471 took place in Canada, tallying over 3.7 million birds! Will you participate this year?

You do not need to be an expert, but it helps to be familiar with local species. You can get involved in two ways: in the field or at home. Field counters are placed in a field team led by an experienced birder. Bring your binoculars. Residents with bird feeders within a count area can participate from home by recording visiting birds on count day. Feeders are a very important part of the survey, as birds frequently show up at these sheltered winter food sources that are not recorded elsewhere in the circle. Organizers of the Rideau Ferry CBC had very few reports from feeders in 2015, so they are particularly anxious to hear from potential feeder watchers this year. At the end of the day, field and feeder counters gather to socialize at the “count-in”, and share stories and refreshments.

The Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists mvfn.ca are sponsoring CBCs centring around Carleton Place, Watson’s Corners, and Rideau Ferry, and the Macnamara Field Naturalists mfnc.ca sponsor one in Pakenham-Arnprior.

Rideau Ferry

This count takes place on Saturday, December 17. The Rideau Ferry CBC area is a 24-km diameter circle centred on Rideau Ferry and covering the town of Perth, most of Smiths Falls, Murphy’s Point Provincial Park, several conservation areas, and a variety of habitats ranging from open fields and dense woodlands to wetlands and lakes. Register with Alison Bentley at alisonbentley@gmail.com or 273–4428. Feeder counters contact Judy Buehler at goodlife@myhighspeed.ca or 264–8856. The count-in potluck will be in Perth.

Pakenham-Arnprior

Taking place on Monday, December 26, this count is centred just west of Pakenham and is managed by Michael Runtz — this is his 51st consecutive count! Contact him at mruntz@start.ca to register as a counter.

Carleton Place

This count takes place on Tuesday, December 27, in a 24-km circle centred on the bridge over the Mississippi River in Carleton Place (including Almonte, Appleton and Ashton). Contact Iain Wilkes at iain.wilkes@hotmail.com or 250–0722. Feeder counters register with Georgina Doe at 257–2103.

Lanark Highlands

The area’s final count takes place on Wednesday, December 30. The count circle is centred on Watson’s Corners and includes Brightside to the north, Middleville to the east, most of Dalhousie Lake to the west, and south to within a km of Balderson. To register, contact Marilyn Barnett at mvabarn@superaje.com or 259–2269. Feeder counters register with Marj Montgomery before Christmas at mateetukm@sympatico.ca or 259–3078.

Happy Local Holidays! - theHumm December 2016

By Kris and Rob Riendeau

Here at theHumm we’re big on local economies. The retail and service businesses in the small towns that we cover play a huge role in the cultural life of those towns. Each store, restaurant, or sma......

Counting Feathered Friends in Winter - theHumm December 2016