Christmas Bird Count 2010-2011

The annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) – the longest-running Citizen Science survey in the world – will take place from December 14, 2010 to January 5, 2011. Tens of thousands of volunteers throughout North America will brave winter weather to add a new layer to over a century of data.

Counts are often family or community traditions that make for fascinating stories. Accuracy is assured by having new participants join an established group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher. Count volunteers follow specified routes through a designated 24-km diameter circle, or can arrange in advance to count the birds at home feeders inside the circle and submit the results to a designated compiler.

All individual Christmas Bird Counts are conducted between December 14 and January 5 (inclusive) each season, with each individual count occupying a single calendar day.

From feeder-watchers and field observers to count compilers and regional editors, everyone who takes part in the Christmas Bird Count does it for love of birds and the excitement of friendly competition – and with the knowledge that their efforts are making a difference for science and bird conservation.

Over 40 counts take place each year in Alberta. Compilers for each count would be happy to hear from anyone interested in taking part, and to answer any questions you may have. For the Calgary region, the dates of the counts,and contact information for the compilers, are as follows:

Sun Dec 19: Calgary: Compiler, Phil Cram, em crampj@telusplanet.net Phone (403)228-4142

Sat Jan 1: 18th Fish Creek Provincial Park Count (morning only). Compiler,Jim Washbrook, em Jim.washbrook@prairiesky.ab.ca Phone (403) 613-9216

New participants wishing to register for the feeder watch in Calgary on Dec 19/10 should phone Jean Moore at 403-282-4162.

For information on other CBC’s in southern Alberta, see our Free Nature Walks page.