Bird and winter enthusiasts across the continent are gearing up for the 118th Christmas Bird Count (CBC) season. This winter birding tradition took root in 1900, making it North America’s longest-running Citizen Science project.
The Christmas Bird Count for Kids (CBC4Kids) is a winter birdwatching event that shares the fun of the traditional CBC with new generations of young birders across North America.
Bird Studies Canada is now accepting applications to the James L. Baillie Memorial Fund for the 2018 grant cycle. A portion of the money raised through our annual Great Canadian Birdathon is allocated to the Fund to provide grants for bird research and conservation projects by individuals or groups.
’Tis the season to embrace the spooky things in life! That includes the thrilling, weird, and wonderful things about some of our favourite birds. We hope you’ve had the chance to encounter some of these species while out on birding adventures, volunteering for a Bird Studies Canada Citizen Science program, or just going about your daily routine.
The Ipswich Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis princeps) is a subspecies of Savannah Sparrow that breeds almost exclusively on Sable Island, Nova Scotia. In the fall, Ipswich Sparrows migrate to the NS mainland, then to their wintering grounds in the eastern U.S.
Participants in Project FeederWatch make a difference by collecting simple information about birds visiting feeders in winter. Over the past three decades, FeederWatchers have been helping scientists measure important changes in North America’s winter bird populations.
At the end of September, Bird Studies Canada staff from across the country came together for our annual Learning Week. Representatives of all departments reported on progress toward major organizational goals for bird research and conservation, and exchanged ideas for overcoming key challenges.
When you’re ready to come in from the crisp autumn air, we suggest curling up with a hot drink to enjoy the latest research and conservation updates. The Fall 2017 edition of BirdWatch Canada (No. 81) highlights the inspiring efforts of people across the country – scientists and Citizen Scientists – united by the common goals of understanding and conserving biodiversity.
Congratulations to our 2017 Great Canadian Birdathon prize winners! Sheldon McGregor of Ancaster, ON is the lucky winner of this year’s Grand Prize.
Project FeederWatch celebrated its 30th anniversary last winter, thanks to dedicated participants who observe birds at their feeders. The information collected through this project over three decades allows scientists to measure important changes in North America’s winter bird populations over time.
