Tag Archive | christmas bird count

Watch Birds in Your Yard for the Calgary Christmas Bird Count

Dec13

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

There has been a great deal of interest this year in the annual Calgary Christmas Bird Count. Matt Wallace, the Count Coordinator, and his leaders already have enough people registered to fill all the field teams. But if you’d like to participate by counting birds in your yard on Sunday December 19th, you are welcome to join us. You can count for as little as 30 minutes over the course of the day, or as long as you are able to – all at once, or intermittently.

White-throated Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco (Slate), two species you might see in your yard in December.

For your observations to be added to the official count, you must live within the Calgary Count Circle:

Calgary Christmas Bird Count Circle.
The Calgary Christmas Bird Count Circle.

If you are interested in taking part, just fill out the registration form below (it is a Google form, but you do not have to be signed into a Google account to fill it out). Matt Wallace or myself (the Feeder Watcher Coordinator) will verify that you are in the circle, and contact you with everything you need to know in order to participate in this long-running Citizen Science activity. We can also send you information on common winter backyard birds of Calgary, with photos.

Here is the link: Register as a Feeder Watcher in the 2021 Calgary CBC

We are particularly interested in trying to get more complete coverage of the city with our Feeder Watchers. There are a few neighbourhoods which are under-represented, as you can see in the map below, which shows the approximate locations of all of our participants.

We would especially like to fill out this map in northeast Calgary, and there are a few other areas without much coverage, a shown below.

So if you live in one of these areas, please consider registering for the count. But we will accept you wherever you are!

Calgary Christmas Bird Count, December 19 2021

Nov21

By Bob Lefebvre

House Finch
House Finch. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

Calgary’s 69th annual Christmas Bird Count will take place on Sunday, December 19, 2021. Matthew Wallace is now the coordinator for the count, taking over from long-time organizer Phil Cram. I will again be assisting with the Feeder Watchers.

As usual there will be opportunities for people who want to go out in the field to count birds, and for feeder watchers who will count birds in their yards.

If you are interested in taking part, or in getting more information about participating, please fill out the following form for the 2021 count:

Calgary Christmas Bird Count 2021 Registration

Join us in this fun and important citizen science project!

Citizen Science in 2021 – Get Involved!

Jan23

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

One of the great things about being a birder or nature enthusiast is the opportunity to get involved in citizen science projects. There are dozens of ongoing projects every year where you can contribute data to scientific studies, learn about local habitats and wildlife populations, and contribute to the public’s understanding of nature and of the importance of conservation.

Photographing a Black-capped Chickadee on a Christmas Bird Count in Calgary.

In addition to permanent year-round projects like eBird which records birds all over the world and iNaturalist which records any living thing, there are a number of annual events that you can participate in.

  • Winter Bug Count
  • Great Backyard Bird Count
  • City Nature Challenge
  • Global eBird Big Day
  • May Species Count
  • Christmas Bird Count
  • and many more

If you are interested in taking part in any of these local citizen science projects, or in getting more information about them, please fill out the form at this link:

Citizen Science Events 2021

Matthew Wallace, who created this form and organizes several local citizen science projects, will send you information or put you in touch with the organizers of whichever projects you are interested in. Whether you have participated before or are new to these projects, please fill out the form and get involved in 2021!

Results of Calgary Christmas Bird Count 2020

Dec29

We had a very successful Christmas Bird Count in Calgary on Sunday December 20th. The weather was mild with virtually no snow on the ground, although it was a little windy. Despite Covid precautions, the field routes were all covered, and we had a record number of Feeder Watchers counting birds in their yards (thanks largely to the efforts of Matthew Wallace).

Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl. This one was seen by a Feeder Watcher a few days before the count, but we did get another one on count day in another part of the city. Photo by Janet Gill.

Preliminary results, provided by compiler Phil Cram, show that there were 70 species counted, which is one of the higher totals we’ve had in the 69 years of the count. Most significantly, there were three new species never before seen on the CBC: Anna’s Hummingbird, Swainson’s Thrush and Mountain Bluebird, bringing our cumulative species count to 142.

Here are the results with the total number of each species seen:

Results-ALL-preliminary

Besides the three new species, there were other notable results:

Unusual Species: Green-winged Teal and Evening Grosbeak.

Record High Counts: Northern Flicker (328) and Black-billed Magpie (3063) – probably due to increased coverage.

Also High Count: White-throated Sparrow (10).

Low Counts: Gray Partridge, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Northern Goshawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Bohemian Waxwing, Common Redpoll, Red Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill and Pine Siskin (see sheet for numbers).

Noteworthy Missed Species: American Wigeon, Ruffed Grouse, Killdeer, Red-tailed Hawk, Prairie Falcon, Snow Bunting and American Tree Sparrow.

Count-week (not seen on count day, but in the period three days prior or three days after): Snow Goose and Hoary Redpoll.

It seems that during the pandemic there has been a really big increase in the number of people taking up birding, and many more people are watching birds in their yards. We had 154 observers in 128 households counting birds. Feeder Watchers counted 35 species, including the only Northern Saw-whet Owl, the only Anna’s Hummingbird, and the only Purple Finch seen.

Feeder-Watcher Results:

Canada Goose658
Mallard193
Rock Pigeon96
Sharp-shinned Hawk3
Downy Woodpecker81
Hairy Woodpecker6
Northern Flicker113
Merlin5
Blue Jay58
Black-billed Magpie471
Common Raven38
Black-capped Chickadee275
Red-breasted Nuthatch147
White-breasted Nuthatch18
European Starling2
American Robin4
Bohemian Waxwing6
House Sparrow1037
House Finch400
Dark-eyed Junco34
White-throated Sparrow7
White-winged Crossbill4
Pine Siskin21
American Crow20
Anna’s Hummingbird1
Mountain Chickadee2
Northern Saw-whet Owl1
Bald Eagle2
Purple Finch1
Common Merganser4
Great Horned Owl1
Gray Partridge10
Common Redpoll3
Ring-necked Pheasant7
  
Total Bird Species:35
Total Bird Count:3712
Total Observers:154

Next post: Sign up to get involved in next year’s Christmas Bird Count, and other Citizen Science Projects.

Calgary Christmas Bird Count 2020

Dec13

The 69th annual Calgary Christmas Bird Count will take place this year on Sunday December 20th. This is one of over 2,000 counts that will take place in the Western Hemisphere this year. Teams spread out within a predetermined count circle and count every bird they see or hear on count day.  The information gathered by thousands of volunteers over the years has been an invaluable source of information about population trends in the bird world.

Bald Eagle
A Bald Eagle seen on the count in 2014. Photo by Bob Lefebvre.

There are two ways to participate in the count: By joining a team in the field, or by watching and counting birds at the feeders in your yard. Covid restrictions will apply to the field counters.

Christmas Bird Count
Counting waterfowl on the river for CBC 2019. Photo by Kathleen Johnson.

The Calgary CBC was started in 1952 and the Feeder Watchers were added in 1984. The Feeder Watch is the component of the CBC that gets those involved that either don’t want to go out in the field, or are unable to. There is a wealth of bird life to be found regularly at feeders and these feeder counts are added to the counts from in the field. Birds may be counted at your residence within the count circle – a circle 24 kilometers in diameter centred on the Louise Bridge. In the 2019 CBC over 49,000 birds were counted in Calgary, of sixty-three different species. Feeder watchers recorded thirty-five species. The feeder watcher role is an important one.

We are no longer taking registrations for the 2020 count, but if you are interested in participating next year, or if you want more information, email me at birdscalgary[at]gmail.com. Next year’s Calgary Christmas Bird Count is on Sunday December 19, 2021.

Varied Thrush
A Varied Thrush that overwintered in my yard in 2011-12. It’s a possibility for Feeder Watchers on the Christmas Bird Count. Photo by Bob Lefebvre.
American Porcupine
Mammals are counted too. A porcupine found on the 2012 count. Photo by Troy Bourque.

Weaselhead Virtual AGM – Open to Everyone

Dec8

Free Zoom meeting this Wednesday December 9 includes a presentation about the upcoming Calgary Christmas Bird Count.

Common Redpoll
Common Redpoll, Weaselhead, January 8, 2017. Photo by Tony LePrieur.

The Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation Society is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and restoring the ecosystems of the Weaselhead Nature Area and surrounding parks, as well as providing educational programs for the public. (See their webpage here).

This Wednesday, December 9, will be the Annual General Meeting of the Society, from 6:50 to 8:30 pm. Everyone, whether a member or not, is welcome to attend this online Zoom meeting. It will feature a presentation about the Christmas Bird Count program by Yousif Attia, the Bird Canada national CBC Coordinator, and Phil Cram, who coordinates the Calgary CBC. The Calgary CBC will be held on Sunday December 20 this year, so if you are interested in this annual event, sign up for this presentation.

The event is free but you do have to register so you will be sent the sign-up code for the meeting. See this page to register.

After hearing about the great work that the Society does, you may want to become a member. It is only $25 for a lifetime membership! Join here.

Birds & Beers, September 13, 2018

Sep5

The September Birds & Beers meeting will be held next Thursday, September 13. We will meet in the big room at the Horton Road Legion, where Phil Cram will give a presentation.

American Redstart

American Redstart by Tony LePrieur.

We start at 6 pm as usual, and the presentation will be after 7 pm. Phil Cram has organized the Christmas Bird Count for many years, and his talk will include personal experiences about the counts, as well as a discussion of long-term trends in bird populations in Calgary.

Royal Canadian Legion, Centennial Calgary Branch #285

9202 Horton Road SW

Thursday September 13, 2018, 6:00-9:00 pm

Everyone is welcome to come to this free event. Arrive by 6 pm if you want to have food or drinks before the presentation, and chat with your fellow birders.

Here is an excerpt from a Calgary Herald article about Phil by Tyee Bridge (“Birdwatching Isn’t Just for the Experts,” Calgary Herald, December 12, 2014):

“Phil Cram worked in the oil industry and has been recording a life-list of birds since he retired 16 years ago. His path was confirmed when he went on a Carburn Park bird count with legendary Calgary naturalist Gus Yaki in 2000—and Yaki pointed out a saw-whet owl perched in the poplars at head-level.  “I’ve seen only probably half a dozen saw-whets in my life, and that was the first,” said Cram. ”It was a pivotal moment in a pivotal year. After that I started making birding a principal activity.” Now he travels in order to spot species: in 2012 Cram and three friends undertook what he calls “Fur and Feathers 500,” a trip criss-crossing Canada to see 500 species of animals. Pack ice in Nunavut’s Repulse Bay kept them from bagging a narwhal sighting, but they did see a polar bear. By year’s end they reached a total of 507 species, 431 of them birds, including a “very rare” rustic bunting in Haida Gwaii.  Among other things Cram is the compiler of the Christmas Bird Count, a holiday tradition among Calgarians since 1952.”

Bow Valley Birding

Nov28

Posted by Ethan Denton

Though it is not birded by many people, the Bow Valley – Banff, Canmore and area – can be an amazing place to bird. Whether it’s just for a few hours, or if you have a day or more, visiting the valley is an unforgettable experience. Recently, hotspots in Banff and especially Canmore have been heaving with birds, from late a Red-tailed Hawk and American Coots to a plethora of Rusty Blackbirds and Common Redpolls. Here are some of my photos – all taken within the last week. If you have time, visiting the area would be a great idea. Main hotspots are Policeman’s Creek (Canmore) and the Cave and Basin (Banff), but birds turn up anywhere, so check out some other locations on eBird or the local Facebook group, Bow Valley Birding.

Common Goldeneye, Policeman’s Creek, Canmore, November 5, 2017. Photo by Ethan Denton

Clark’s Nutcracker, South Canmore, November 8, 2017. Photo by Ethan Denton

Injured American Coot, Policeman’s Creek, Canmore, November 5, 2017. Photo by Ethan Denton

And they’re not all birds, either. This Long-tailed Weasel was seen on Policeman’s Creek, in addition to Muskrat, Voles, Mule Deer and Red Squirrels.

Long-tailed Weasel (winter coat), Policeman’s Creek, Canmore, November 5, 2017. Photo by Ethan Denton

Finally, if you are looking for a way to spend a Saturday helping birds and bird research, the Banff/Canmore Christmas Bird Count is coming up, on Saturday December 16th. It’s always a great time, and usually you see some interesting birds. Afterwards, there’s a big potluck in the senior’s centre in Banff, where we talk about the day, tally up the results and enjoy fabulous food! Anybody interested can contact me at birdboy.ca@gmail.com, or head over to birdboy.ca for more information.

Black-capped Chickadee, South Canmore, November 10, 2017. Photo by Ethan Denton

Christmas Bird Count For Kids, 2017

Nov18

The second annual CBC For Kids event in Calgary will be held on Saturday December 9th at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. This is a great educational opportunity for kids, so if you have a child, grandchild, niece or nephew that you’d like to introduce to birding, register for this free event.

There will be experts on hand to teach the kids how to find and identify birds, but they could always use some more experienced birders to lead the participants on guided walks. If you’d like to help out, contact Zoe MacDougall, Nature Kids Program Coordinator, at naturekids[at]naturealberta.ca.

Wee Little Nuthatch Nest Camera

May1

Posted by Bob Lefebvre. Photos copyright by themorningsideoflife.ca.

An avid birdlover in Calgary has set up a nest box camera in her yard, affording great views of a pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches that are trying to nest there. I say “trying” because after they brought in loads of nesting material, a pair of Black-capped Chickadees, working together very quickly,  moved in and cleaned it all out again. Then the nuthatches recaptured the box and are bringing in more grass and wood shavings to line their nest. (The chickadees settled into a different nest box in the yard.)

2016-03-15 16-33-49

One of the Nuthatches in the nest box, no doubt keeping a watch for Chickadees.

The nest box can be watched live on Ustream at this link. There are also many saved video clips that you can play to see what has happened up to now. The live camera is not always online, but it usually is during the daytime, and when it’s on you can comment on what you see using your Facebook or Twitter account. The nuthatches are most active at the nest from 6 to 10 am.

2016-04-05 08-45-32

The female nuthatch, named Lucy, at the nest box.

It will be extremely interesting to watch if they they do successfully have young. The vocalizations and behaviors recorded up to now are fascinating to see and hear. It’s a view of Red-breasted Nuthatches that we don’t usually get!

2016-04-12 09-28-21

The male nuthatch, named Ricky (of course), ready to drive off chickadees.

The camera link will be on on our right-hand sidebar throughout the nesting season, along with the Osprey and Peregrine Falcon camera links. The camera link can also be found at the camera owner’s blog, The Morning Side Of Life. Check it out for great bird photos. You can also find a link to her blog on our sidebar with the other blog links.

You might want to also check out a new Facebook group called Alberta Backyard Birds (& Feeder Watch) for more photos and discussion of yard birds.