Breaking records or finding the unusual aren’t new endeavours for Greater Victoria birders – and the annual Christmas Bird Count frequently hits both lofty goals.
Last winter the region boasted the highest number of counters in the field of the more than 2,500 worldwide Christmas Bird Counts, according to co-coordinator Ann Nightingale.
“We had 351 counters out in the neighbourhoods, parks and fields of Victoria in 2023. That’s a new record for us and the highest for field counts last year. We were second overall in participation, though, because Edmonton has a massive FeederWatch contingent,” Nightingale said. “This year’s Victoria count is on Dec. 14 and we’re hoping to gain some ground for the overall title.”
The Rocky Point Bird Observatory hosts the Christmas Bird Count for Kids at Beckwith Park in Saanich, on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. The family-friendly bird counting event complements the larger regional count, with the goal of engaging the next generation and results will be included in the official Victoria Christmas Bird Count.
“There’s no doubt Victoria has a lot of birds to keep everyone interested, but I think the camaraderie and social aspect of the count is also a big part of the draw.” New birders are teamed up with more experienced counters to go out in small groups and spend a few hours getting to know each other as well as finding and counting the birds,” said co-coordinator, Jennifer Armstrong. “This often leads to people from a team birding together throughout the year.”
The Christmas Bird Count in Greater Victoria includes the main midnight-to-midnight count, a free kids event in the afternoon and the backyard FeederWatch. Participants can count for part or all of the day, with some teams seeking out owls as well as waterfowl, songbirds and hummingbirds.
Beyond the overall tallies or the joy of spotting elusive winter rarities, the count is a commitment to conservation. The Christmas Bird Count is vital in monitoring the status of resident and migratory birds across the Western Hemisphere, and the volunteer-generated data is a crucial part of Canada’s biodiversity monitoring database.
“This much-anticipated free event fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility for protecting birds and their habitats,” Armstrong said.
Novice birdwatchers are welcome and encouraged. Skilled birders are on hand to provide identification, and to share their knowledge and tips.
“One of the great things about birding in general, and the Christmas Bird Count in particular, is that it is accessible,” Nightingale said. “If people want to share their sightings at a backyard feeder, participate for only a couple of hours, or restrict their participation to wheelchair-accessible locations, we have a spot for them. Everyone is welcome.”
Visit christmasbirdcount.ca or contact victoriacbc@naturevictoria.ca for information on all the south Island Christmas Bird Counts.
The Sidney/South Salt Spring area, which includes Central Saanich and North Saanich, does its count Sunday, Dec. 15. Participants can email Daniel Donnecke at sidneycbc@naturevictoria.ca. Counters will meet at Panorama Rec Centre entrance at 8 a.m. for assignments unless otherwise arranged.
Sooke counts on Dec. 27, organized by Robyn Byrne at sookecbc@rpbo.org.
