You may be wondering, “why count the birds?” Well, our feathered friends are good indicators of ecological health – an urban forest’s canary in the coal mine. Furthermore, over 100 years’ worth of data have given researchers great insight into population fluxes and even shifts in habitat due to climate change. Counts take place throughout the Americas between December 14 and January 5, in circles measuring 24 kilometres in diameter (the locations of these circles remain constant from year to year). Inexperienced participants are paired with veterans as groups split up to cover as much ground as possible on their carefully assigned routes – counting the birds they see as they travel in one direction.
If you want to get involved in the Christmas Bird Count this year, there are many ways you can do so. In Downsview Park there is a count for the kids on December 15th, and the good people at Bird Studies Canada have this great list of other counts you can take part in, as well as a map showing the circles across the country. Want to take part without leaving home? If you live within one of these circles, you can participate by keeping track of the birds you see coming to snack at your feeder in your backyard. But if you’re unsure of your identification skills, you may want to study a bit before participating!
There are many food options available for the different species of overwintering birds here in Ontario. Avoid being like the bird woman in Mary Poppins, letting the birds use you as a roost to eat – get a feeder! When you’re deciding on one, you’ll have to figure out which species you want to attract – there are ground-feeding birds, some that like platform feeders, those that prefer suet, and so on! You also have to decide if you want to work with, or battle against, the adorable (but eternally hungry!) squirrels.
With the temperature dropping faster than Christmas displays rise, birds need to keep up their BMI (body mass index) with high-fat, high-protein foods. Some might even say these birds are living the dream – free to bulk up by indulging in whatever they like! As we get closer to the holiday season (and the big meal that comes with it), we humans may struggle to avoid the extra treats, but birds are the exact opposite – they’re eating constantly to pack on the pounds (well, maybe just ounces)! So by giving them a snack, you’ll be increasing more than just the numbers on your tracking sheet!
Mix up your offerings with some native bird-friendly shrubs and your foul-weather friends will have access to “fresh produce” throughout the winter. Every native shrub species LEAF offers through our Backyard Tree Planting Program has something for the birds – they provide berries, seeds, nuts or habitat. Grey dogwoods alone feed more than 90 different species of birds! Some shrubs, like the black chokeberry and common snowberry, tend to keep their berries well into the winter and feed those birds that keep us company after the snow has fallen.
So whether you want to start feeding your neighbourhood birds or you’ve been doing it for years, consider throwing on your long johns and warmest mittens, filling your thermos with hot chocolate and gathering with some loved ones to join the count. The sacrifice of one cozy afternoon by the fire helps researchers keep track of important bird populations and could lead to the rescue of a declining species like the black-capped chickadee (whose numbers seem to be falling due to West Nile virus). Start a new tradition this holiday season – join in the Christmas Bird Count!