Tag Archive | Prairie Birding

Brooks/Writing-On-Stone May Species Counts

Mar27

Register now for Brooks (May 17-19) and Writing-On-Stone (May 24-26) Bird Counts 2024

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

Registration is now open for these two southern Alberta counts. Calgary birders will need to arrange camping or hotel accommodations ahead of time, so register soon. Note that our local Calgary May Species Count is on the same dates as Writing-On-Stone one, but some of you may want to try helping out with that one down in the very south part of the province for a change of pace (I will have information on the Calgary count closer to that weekend).

Ferruginous Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk, photographed in southern Alberta in 2018. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

From Debra Hornsby, who organizes the count along with Donna Wieckowski:

2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the Brooks count –- come celebrate this milestone with us! To register, click here: Brooks and Writing-on-Stone 2024 registration form. Registration will close on April 30, 2024.

We will hold pre-count meetings on the Fridays before each weekend. At these meetings we will assign count areas, distribute maps and checklists, go over count protocols, introduce your fellow birders, and answer questions. Please plan to be there. We will also host informal gatherings on the Saturday evenings – a great opportunity to get together to swap birding stories and win some fun prizes! A full schedule for both weekends can be found in the brochure below.

Because weather is sometimes inclement on the Brooks weekend, we have reserved a meeting space at the Heritage inn (note new location). We are asking each participant in the Brooks count to contribute $12.00 to cover meeting room costs. If you plan to join the Brooks count, please e-transfer $12.00 per person to Donna Wieckowski astolat@shaw.ca no later than May 15. Cheques and cash also accepted. Thanks!

If you have any registration questions, or if you have trouble with the form, please email me. Happy to help! Thanks for your support and happy birding!

2024-Brooks-WOS-Bird-Count-brochure

(Toggle between the Brooks and WOS brochures using the arrows at lower left.)

Southeast Alberta May Species Counts 2022

Feb21

The May Species Counts, held each year over a weekend in the second half of May, are a highlight on the birding calendar. There are several counts in Alberta (including one in Calgary on the last weekend in May). For each count, birders go out to sections of the 80-km diameter count circle and record all the species (and the numbers of each) that they can find. It’s an attempt to have a long-term record of birding populations during spring migration.

Lark Sparrow
Lark Sparrow, Southern Alberta, May 2020. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

Many Calgary birders participate each year in two SE Alberta counts, at Brooks-Lake Newell and at Writing-On-Stone. These give local birders an opportunity to experience some different and beautiful prairie habitats and find some bird species that are not common near the city.

The organizers of these two counts, Debra Hornsby and Donna Wieckowski, are hoping to get some new people to take part this year. In particular they would like to have more birders out for the Writing-On-Stone count, but can accommodate more for Brooks/Lake Newell as well.

Below are the details.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Hello Alberta Bird Counters! We are pleased to announce that the Brooks-Lake Newell and Writing-on-Stone Bird Counts will take place this year on the following dates:

· Brooks-Lake Newell Bird Count: Sat. May 21 and Sun. May 22

· Writing-on-Stone Bird Count: Sat. May 28 and Sun. May 29

If you plan on camping we highly recommend booking early!

Tillebrook: general reservations for May 20-22 opened at 9 am on Saturday February 19.

www.reserve.albertaparks.ca or 1-877-537-2757

Writing-on-Stone: general reservations for May 27-29 will open at 9 am on Saturday February 26. www.reserve.albertaparks.ca or 1-877-537-2757

All participants must pre-register. Please indicate interest in participating to Debra Hornsby and registration details will be sent out by March 31, 2022.

Because many count areas are accessed via rough country roads, high-clearance or 4×4 vehicles are recommended.

We are hopeful that we will be able to resume in-person Friday night meetings to review count protocols and hand out area assignments – be sure to be there! (We’ll have a Plan B ready in case Covid doesn’t cooperate!) Note: a small fee of $12 per person will be charged to all Brooks participants to cover the rental of the Brooks Legion meeting room. The attached brochure provides further information, and a draft count schedule. Registration forms will be emailed by March 31.

To indicate interest contact: debra.hornsby.banff*@*gmail.com

More information: Donna Wieckowski astolat*@*shaw.ca

2022-Brooks-WOS-Bird-Count-Brochure-BCBDownload