Christmas Bird Counts
It's that time of year again! We will be celebrating our 57th annual count in Saskatoon on Boxing Day. Plan to be part of the best recreational event our winter season has to offer!
Jump directly to:
Anyone interested in birds is invited to join in - no expertise is required. Beginners will be assigned to an experienced leader. Just dress warmly and be prepared to spend a few hours counting birds in your neighborhood or an assigned sector. It is a great way to enjoy a fine winter day and learn to recognize some of our winter resident birds, and there is always a possibility that you may have the thrill of finding a rare winter visitor.
If you maintain a back yard feeder and are not able to go outdoors, you may sign up as a "feeder watcher" for the day and count the birds from the comfort of your home. The Christmas Bird Count "count period" lasts from December 14 to January 5 inclusive. If you see an unusual bird during this period please report it to the count coordinator.
The Saskatoon Nature Society organizes three local counts. The main Saskatoon count, which covers most of the city and some surrounding area, is traditionally held on Boxing Day, December 26. The Clark's Crossing count (Saturday, December 17) and the Pike Lake count (Monday, January 2) cover adjacent areas north and south of the city.
I. CLARK'S CROSSING - Saturday, 17. December 2011
This count circle includes the north end of Saskatoon (Silverwood Heights), Martensville, Warman, Osler, and part of the Strawberry Hills. Residents of these areas are particularly encouraged to participate.
Contact: Michael Williams (242-5383) as soon as possible.
II. SASKATOON - Boxing Day - Monday, 26. December 2011
Plan now to take part in the 57th annual Saskatoon Boxing Day Bird Count. All you have to do is sign up by calling the count coordinator before December 22 and set aside a few hours in the morning or afternoon or all day if you wish on December 26. Count hours are between dawn and dusk which at this time of year makes for a short day. Teams working in rural areas usually go out for the whole day while city counters may make more flexible arrangements.
A come-and-go social with warming snacks and drinks takes place at the end of the day when team leaders report results and participants share stories. May Haga has once again graciously offered to host the social at her home in Lakeview.
Contact: Michael Williams (242-5383)
III. PIKE LAKE - Monday, 2. January 2012
Want an outdoor break after the holiday festivities? Join the Pike Lake count. Participants in this rural count generally go out for the whole day. Teams get together for a noon lunch break. You will be asked to contribute a toonie towards the use of the church facility.
There is no participation fee for those who have already done a local Christmas count this season, or are members of Bird Studies Canada, or those who are age 18 or younger. Otherwise, there is a $5.00 participation fee. The money goes to Bird Studies Canada to help process and publish data. There is no fee for feeder watchers.
Contact: Hilda Noton (374-0674) before 30. December if possible.
Participants in the Saskatoon count (except for feeder watchers) have always been required to pay a standard $5.00 participation fee. The money goes to Bird Studies Canada and the National Audubon Society to help process and publish the data from this and other counts across North America. In the past, data from the Clark's Crossing and Pike Lake counts were not submitted to the national data base. In order to include these and yet not discourage participation, our Society now subsidizes the three local counts.
Members of the Saskatoon Nature Society who participate in any or all of the three local counts will be required to pay the $5.00 fee one time only. Many of our members participate in more than one of these counts, and the additional fees required for data submission will be paid by the Society.
Note that existing exemptions from this fee remain in effect: individual members of Bird Studies Canada, feeder watchers, and youth 18 years or under do not have to pay any fee.
For those who like to travel farther afield (or even overnight) there are other counts that might interest you.
Harris: between December 14th and 16th
Gardiner Dam: Monday, December 19th
Biggar: Tuesday, December 27th
Contact Guy Wapple (249-3280) to confirm dates and volunteer.
Qu'Appelle Valley Dam: Sunday, December 18th
An all day trip to Elbow and the Douglas Park area, leaving Saskatoon at 7:00 a.m.
Contact: Michael Williams (242-5383)