Do you enjoy bird-watching in the Campbell River area?
Well, the Campbell River Christmas Bird Count is a great way to meet fellow birders and to learn about the birds that make their home here.
This year’s count will be held on Monday, Jan. 2 from sunup to sundown (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
Expert and novice birders are welcome to pre-register by contacting Luisa Richardson (see contact info below). Participation is free or by a small donation ($5).
The teams head out at sunrise to their arranged meeting place and spend the day covering the upland, urban and ocean-front habitats in their assigned area. Travel alternates between car and short to medium length walks, so birders will not be outdoors for the entire time. Team leaders choose the lunch spots and bathroom breaks are interspersed throughout the day.
Participants then meet at Mudslingers at the Royal Coachman Pub, starting at sunset. They compare notes and highlights of the day after ordering food and drinks.
If you prefer to bird from the warmth of your living room or kitchen, you don’t need to pre-register. You can simply check your bird feeders periodically during the count date and record the species and number of each species at different times. You only report the greatest number of each species at one time.
Call or email the count organizer to provide your results, name, address and contact info. If possible, photograph any rare or unusual species reported.
Everyone should be “on-the-alert” during the count week which is from Dec. 29 to Jan. 5 for species missed on the count day.
You will be participating in the 117th global Christmas Bird Count, held from Dec. 14 to Jan. 5, throughout North and South America, the Caribbean and Hawaii.
For more information on the Christmas Bird Count visit, birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count. To pre-register or for more information, contact: Luisa Richardson at 250-923-9918 or Lu_rich@shaw.ca.
