Words & Photos Ann Nightingale, Rocky Point Bird Observatory
Every year, in the middle of December, dozens of birders, experienced and novice, hit the streets, trails and waters of Sidney and South Salt Spring Island to count every bird that they can identify by sight or sound.
From the lowly house sparrow to the rare summer tanager, every bird counts! This year, the Sidney/South Salt Spring Christmas Bird Count day, rain or shine, is Sunday, December 14.
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the longest-running community science project in North America, and is now organized by Birds Canada and the National Audubon Society south of the border. The first count was held in 1900 as an alternative to the Christmas “side hunt” – a tradition where hunters competed to shoot the most birds and other animals they could in a day. Ornithologist Frank Chapman turned it into a conservation-oriented event where simply listing the birds the participants saw formed the basis of the competition. Canada was part of the first 27-city count which has grown to more than 20,500 count circles in North America. With the broadening interest in birds and conservation, the event is now looking to expand globally. While there is still a hint of competition, the counts are now seen as more of a collaborative effort.
The results help monitor winter bird populations and track changes in species distribution and abundance. But from the perspective of the counters, it’s a great excuse to spend a day out birding with friends, old and new.
The Sidney/South Salt Spring count began with a small group of birders “borrowed” from the Victoria count in 2005. The 15-mile-diameter circle covers much of the Saanich Peninsula and Salt Spring Island, but also takes in the very tip of Saanichton Spit and a small section of Mill Bay. Much of the circle is very wet – from Saanich Inlet to the waters off the Gulf Islands – so assistance from mariners is always appreciated. The circle is divided into zones, each one headed by an experienced birder who will assign specific territories for individuals or groups to cover.
During the Christmas Bird Count, birders typically record over 110 species in this circle, including waterfowl, raptors, songbirds and seabirds. Notable sightings include Brant geese, western meadowlarks and barn owls and even the occasional rare visitor such as the yellow-billed loon or summer tanager. The biggest miss for the count ever was the snowy owl that graced Sidney for several weeks in 2021, but couldn’t be found on the count day!
The data collected during the CBC has helped us understand long-term trends in bird populations such as the declining numbers of many of the seabirds in our area.
Participation in the Christmas Bird Count is open to everyone, regardless of age or birding experience. New volunteers are welcomed and often paired with experienced birders for count day. While pre-registration is preferred, anyone who has not been added to a team may come to the Panorama Recreation Centre parking lot at 8 a.m. to be added to a group. If you prefer to count from your own yard, feederwatch reports are greatly appreciated!
There are several Christmas Bird Counts held on southern Vancouver Island each year. Rocky Point Bird Observatory also hosts a Christmas Bird Count for Kids at Beckwith Park, which will be held on December 20 in conjunction with the Victoria circle’s count.
For more information visit www.christmasbirdcount.ca or contact the BCSS coordinator, Daniel Dönnecke, via email at sidneycbc@naturevictoria.ca.
