Pre-registration has begun for the traditional Christmas Bird Count in Campbell River, which will officially be on Saturday, Dec. 27.
Participation is free or by donation.
Expert and novice birders interested in spending a full day on one of our twelve teams are welcomed to preregister by contacting the count organizers. The twelve teams of between two and six counters – each with at least one expert who can identify most bird species in the area – will count birds in their pre-assigned portion of the count area, most of which include both upland and oceanfront areas. The teams then compare notes at a wrap-up get-together, usually in a local pub or restaurant.
No pre-registration is needed for the backyard bird count on the same day, where participants can contribute to the bird count data by checking their bird feeders periodically during the day and recording the species and number of each species at different times. To report your feeder count, call the count organizers on Dec. 28 and provide your results, name, address and contact information.
Everyone should be “on-the-alert” during the count week which is from Dec. 24 to 30 for species missed on the count day.
All results go to the Audubon database and help shape conservation strategies.
For more info on the Christmas Bird Count check birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count
If you enjoy bird-watching and would you like to meet fellow bird-lovers, please contact count organizers Luisa Richardson at 250-923-9918 or by email at Lu_rich@shaw.ca or Colin Buss at 250-850-0884 or by email at busster@telus.net