Christmas Bird Count

Carolyn and Michael Bonta | Jan 05, 2022

The Saturday prior brought a windstorm and the Saturday after brought freezing rain, but Saturday, December 18 was a more typical early winter day with heavy flurries and a bit of a breeze, yet relatively mild temperatures.

Although Frontenac Count Day only had 35 field surveyors and 13 feeder-watchers this year, we tallied our second-highest numbers with 3,730 birds from 50 species.

The Frontenac circle is a very rural area with many backroads, protected areas, and trails.

As a result, surveyors in this count walk a lot and those traveling in vehicles can safely stop frequently to “pish” and listen for birds that otherwise wouldn’t be detected. From startling a Ruffed Grouse in the woods to flushing a Winter Wren from under a boardwalk to noticing the creeper at the base of a large oak tree –these are the treasures one finds when we step away from a vehicle.

It was unfortunate that, once again, we were unable to build teams and round up afterward to fully appreciate the educational and social aspects of a Christmas Bird Count.

However, we are incredibly grateful for the participation and enthusiasm of everyone who participated in the 7thAnnual Frontenac CBC.

Ongoing since 1900, Christmas Bird Counts are the longest-running Citizen Science project in North America. Learn more at www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/cbc/, encourage your family, friends, and neighbours to participate as field surveyors or feeder-watchers, and join us again next year on Saturday, December 17, 2022.

Results from the 2022 Frontenac CBC have been submitted to the National Audubon Society.

We always love hearing from participants. Let us know what you enjoy most about the Frontenac CBC and what we might do differently to make sure this always remains a count that everyone can enjoy.

Email Carolyn and Michael: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Surveyors round up in Sydenham to plan their routes and strategise about how to find as many birds as possible. Photo S. Smith

This barred owl was seen by Team 11 during the Christmas Bird Count on December 18, 2021.