Photo: Todd Hagedorn
22 November 2019 (Port Rowan, ON) – The 120th Christmas Bird Count gives us all an opportunity to help birds. Whether you like exploring forests, fields, and waters in search of lingering migrants, or prefer counting feeder birds from your window with a warm mug in hand, the Christmas Bird Count needs you. All Christmas Bird Count observations help us understand the health of winter bird populations over time and guide conservation strategies.
Not sure if you know your birds? We’ll make sure you have someone with experience to help you. Novice or experienced, the Christmas Bird Count is for everyone. The Christmas Bird Count for Kids, now celebrating its 10th anniversary, ensures all ages can get involved, enjoy nature and contribute to this Citizen Science program operated by Birds Canada and the National Audubon Society.
Tens of thousands of bird and nature enthusiasts throughout the Western Hemisphere will choose a date between 14 December 2019 and 5 January 2020 to rally together to count millions of birds as part of this wildlife survey. The Christmas Bird Count volunteers within each pre-determined 24 km diameter circle will count the number of birds of each species seen or heard during the Count. Results of the Christmas Bird Count will be shared with the participants and become part of a vital long-term dataset.
“Every Christmas Bird Count participant is an important part of this valuable project for birds,” says Yousif Attia, Birds Canada’s Christmas Bird Count Coordinator. “Whether you participate for bird conservation, for some friendly birding competition, or for an excuse to get outside in the winter, your efforts are meaningful for birds.” The skills and dedication of thousands of volunteer Citizen Scientists harnessed during the Christmas Bird Count and Christmas Bird Count for Kids achieve incredible results that professional scientists and wildlife biologists could never accomplish alone.
For information about the Christmas Bird Count, Christmas Bird Count for Kids, or to find the location of counts in your area, visit birdscanada.org/volunteer/cbc or email cbc@birdscanada.org.
About Birds Canada
Bird Studies Canada recently changed its operating name to Birds Canada to better reflect the extent of our work beyond the study of birds, encompassing public engagement, habitat stewardship, education and training, involvement in guiding conservation decisions, and more. Birds Canada (birdscanada.org) is Canada’s leading national charitable organization dedicated to bird science and conservation. Birds Canada operates scientific programs in all 13 Canadian provinces and territories as well as international research programs. The work of 79 Birds Canada staff is supported by nearly 60,000 Citizen Science volunteers.
About the Christmas Bird Count
The Christmas Bird Count took root over a century ago when 27 birders in 25 localities from Toronto, Ontario to Pacific Grove, California, led by ornithologist Frank Chapman, proposed a conservation-oriented alternative to the traditional ‘side hunt,’ a Christmas Day competition to hunt the most birds and small mammals. This alternative initiative to identify, count, and record all the birds found on Christmas Day 1900 has turned into one of North America’s longest-running wildlife monitoring programs.
Media Contact
Yousif Attia
Christmas Bird Count Coordinator
Birds Canada
