The 106 Christmas Bird Count in Canada The 106 Christmas Bird

Christmas Bird Count
th
The 106
Christmas Bird Count
in Canada
14 December 2005 to 5 January 2006
Report by Dick Cannings
Photo: Dick Cannings
T
he number of Canadian Christmas
Bird Counts escalated again this
year, with 363 counts, up from last
year's record 355. Volunteer participation
also grew by 300 people to 12,130. The
number of individual birds reported
bounced back by about 5 percent to 3.2
million, while the species total dropped to
289 from last year's record high of 300.
Table 1 summarizes provincial and
territorial counts.
Halifax set the standard for results this
year with 135 species, an all-time high for
any count east of the Pacific coast, and
coming close to this year's Canada-high
count of 140 species at Ladner, BC. In
Alberta, Calgary dropped to 65 species and
rival Edmonton reported only 52 species
this year. Blenheim reported 111 species for
the best in Ontario and second best for an
inland count. Oliver-Osoyoos, BC tied
their own previous high with a respectable
112 species.
The largest increase in species
numbers came from Nunavut, where for the
last five years only one or two species had
been reported. This year their three counts
combined for an amazing five species:
Common Eider, Willow and Rock
ptarmigan, Common Raven, and House
Sparrow.
As indicated in Table 2, there were
significant changes in the reported numbers
of several of Canada's most common winter
bird species. Junco and Bohemian
Waxwing totals were about twice the
highest totals in the last three years, while
starlings, crows, Mallards, House
10
BIRDWATCH CANADA
House Sparrow/Moineau domestique Photo: Ralph Hocken
Ruby-crowned Kinglet/Roitelet à couronne rubis
Photo: Ralph Hocken
Black-capped Chickadee/Mésange à tête noire
Photo: Harold Stiver
Blue Jay/Geai bleu Photo: Ron Ridout
Sparrows, and the two large gulls also
increased, reversing short-term declines.
Reported numbers of Dunlin were way
down, but almost all Dunlin seen in Canada
come from two adjacent BC counts (Ladner
and White Rock), so local conditions (e.g.,
tides, weather) could play a role in any
changes. American Crow and Blue Jay
numbers were the highest in years, seeming
to dispel any worries that West Nile Virus
(WNV) would have lasting population
effects on these two species. Reported totals
of Black-capped Chickadee, another
Common Redpoll/Sizerin flammé Photo: Christian Artuso
Bald Eagle/Pygargue à tête blanche
Photo: Harold Stiver
the local volunteer compilers who
work tirelessly to organize all the
Christmas Bird Counts, then gather, edit,
and enter the numbers into a database.
We rely heavily on their collective
wisdom to make this project the success
that it has become. With that in mind, it is
with sadness that I report the passing of
three count compilers: Phil Gehlen of
Vernon, BC, Chris Sanders of Sault Ste.
Marie, ON, and Charlie Whitelaw of
Sudbury, ON. Their dedication over the
years contributed immensely to our
knowledge of local bird populations.
They will be missed.
REPORT
count of 52. Snowy Owls moved south
in large numbers, with 225 seen on 74
counts, almost twice last year's good
numbers. The biggest concentration was on
the Fraser River delta at Ladner, BC, where
24 were seen. Great Gray and Northern
Hawk Owls were also widely reported, but
numbers were well down from last year's
extraordinary invasion.
Rarities always play an exciting role in
Christmas Bird Count tallies. Three species
were seen for the first time on Canadian
Christmas Bird Counts this year – Buller's
Shearwater in Hecate Strait, BC, LeConte's
Sparrow in Kingston, ON, and a Blue
Grosbeak at Fredericton, NB. The all-time
Canada species list for Christmas Bird
Counts now stands at an impressive 404
species!
In addition to all the wonderful
participants, I would like to heartily thank
NATIONAL
species reportedly highly susceptible to
WNV, also increased this year.
Black-capped Chickadee, Hairy and
Downy Woodpecker, and Common Raven
shared top billing once again for the most
widely distributed birds on Canadian counts
(Table 3). Common Redpoll dropped off
the top-15 lists this year, typical of its
biannual movements into southern Canada,
moving down to 18th place in terms of
number of counts and 34th place in terms of
abundance. Bald Eagles were seen on 258
counts, continuing their winter population
expansion.
One of my favourite Christmas
moments this year happened at Vaseux Lake
in southern BC, where my son, Russell, and
I decided to do a diligent search for Northern
Saw-whet Owls. We were aiming to beat the
Canadian record of 26 held by Edmonton,
but far exceeded our expectations with a
Northern Saw-whet Owl/Petite Nyctale Photo: Ethan Meleg
Table 1/Tableau 1
106th Christmas Bird Count Summary/Résume du 106e Recensement des oiseaux de Noël
Counts/
Nbre de décomptes
AB
BC
MB
NB
NL
NS
NWT
NU
ON
PE
QC
SK
SPM
YT
TOTAL
44
84
19
12
11
22
3
3
106
3
25
22
2
7
363
Field Observers/
Feeder-watchers/
Nbre de participants Nbre d'observateurs
sur le terrain
d'oiseaux de mangeoires
1040
773
2173
492
318
126
228
88
139
40
490
474
42
3
5
2
2707
1768
46
8
524
123
302
83
21
0
79
36
8114
4016
Species/
Nbre d'espèces
111
228
74
114
113
171
22
5
175
74
132
90
61
35
289
Highest Species Total
Number of Individuals/
Nbre d' oiseaux and Count/Plus grand nombre
d'espèces et décompte
65, Calgary
68,145
140, Ladner
1,112,522
45, Winnipeg
52,296
68, Grand Manan
60,073
70, St. John's
45,364
135, Halifax-Dartmouth
216,667
15, Fort Simpson
2616
3, Arviat & Rankin Inlet
115
111, Blenheim
1,367,023
52, Hillsborough
20,828
68, Montreal
201,057
40, Gardiner Dam & Saskatoon
72,116
45, St-Pierre et Miquelon Isl.
9331
23, Whitehorse
3541
3,231,694
SUMMER 2006, NUMBER 36
11
Table 2/Tableau 2 Top 15 Bird Species/Les 15 espèces les plus nombreuses au pays
Total 106th Count/
Total (106e RON)
European Starling/Étourneau sansonnet
371,437
American Crow/Corneille d'Amérique
250,642
Mallard/Canard colvert
227,869
Canada Goose/Bernache du Canada
204,373
Dark-eyed Junco/Junco ardoisé
147,384
Bohemian Waxwing/Jaseur boréal
146,750
Black-capped Chickadee/Mésange à tête noire
140,971
House Sparrow/Moineau domestique
137,371
Rock Pigeon/Pigeon biset
127,302
Glaucous-winged Gull/Goéland à ailes grises
119,326
American Wigeon/Canard d'Amérique
92,111
Herring Gull/Goéland argenté
81,281
Snow Bunting/Bruant des neiges
73,447
Mourning Dove/Tourterelle triste
59,632
Dunlin/Bécasseau variable
56,576
Species/Espèces
Total 104rd Count/
Total (104e RON)
334,702
213,781
205,199
233,240
76,671
65,946
129,437
147,013
115,158
73,825
91,064
81,439
41,253
49,499
107,972
Total 105th Count/
Total (105e RON)
283,449
201,882
170,692
224,129
74,841
55,465
121,104
129,680
106,892
81,996
58,820
75,395
85,572
44,843
92,531
Total 103rd Count/
Total (103e RON)
445,741
249,382
222,468
267,320
67,045
38,344
112,361
134,638
138,770
120,582
75,970
98,361
41,655
56,127
99,885
A Short History of the
Christmas Bird Count
Downy Woodpecker/Pic mineur Photo: Ron Ridout
The first-ever Christmas Bird Count
(CBC) was held on Christmas Day in 1900.
It began as an alternative to the “side hunt,”
an event wherein a series of teams went out
and shot as many birds as possible. The
team that shot the most birds won the event.
As an option to the “side hunt,” and
recognizing that bird populations could not
be sustained forever, Frank Chapman, a
famed ornithologist at the American
Museum of Nature, organized the CBC
with fellow ornithologists and friends.
Now, 106 years and 60,000 volunteers
later, the renowned CBC tradition is one of
the largest annual collective bird counts in
North America.
Bohemian Waxwing/Jaseur boréal Photo: Christian Artuso
Table 3/Tableau 3
Most widespread species on Canadian Christmas Counts/Liste des 15 espèces les plus répandues au pays
Species/Espèces
Black-capped Chickadee/Mésange à tête noire
Downy Woodpecker/Pic mineur
Hairy Woodpecker/Pic chevelu
Common Raven/Grand Corbeau
European Starling/Étourneau sansonnet
Red-breasted Nuthatch/Sittelle à poitrine rousse
Rock Pigeon/Pigeon biset
House Sparrow/Moineau domestique
Bald Eagle/Pygargue à tête blanche
American Crow/Corneille d'Amérique
Blue Jay/Geai bleu
Dark-eyed Junco/Junco ardoisé
Mallard/Canard colvert
White-breasted Nuthatch/Sittelle à poitrine blanche
American Goldfinch/Chardonneret jaune
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BIRDWATCH CANADA
No. of counts/
Nbre de décomptes
323
323
321
316
296
292
284
283
258
250
249
241
235
231
227
Rank 106 /
Rang (106e)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Rank 105/
Rang (105e)
2
1
3
4
8
7
10
9
13
12
11
6
15
20
21
Rank 104/
Rang (104e)
2
3
1
4
6
5
10
8
14
12
11
9
16
13
20
Rank 103/
Rang (103e)
1
2
3
4
5
8
7
6
14
11
9
10
11
20
17