If you are looking for a family-friendly Christmas activity that won’t break the bank and that will get you away from the maddening crowds of shoppers, why not sign up for the annual Christmas Bird Count?
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is a long-standing tradition in ornithology and citizen science, providing valuable data on local bird populations for over a century.
And with 80 Christmas Bird Counts happening in Alberta, you can easily find a count to sign up for near you. You don’t have to travel far to participate; you can count birds in your yard, at your bird feeder, or head to a local natural area to participate.
Origin and Purpose
The Christmas Bird Count originated in 1900 in the US. It was proposed as an alternative to the traditional Christmas “Side Hunt,” where people competed to hunt the most birds and small animals.
This new, no-kill tradition, initiated by ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, aimed to count birds rather than hunt them, marking a significant shift towards conservation.
Killing contests might seem like an archaic thing of the past, but in Alberta today, we still have such contests, for example, the Top Wolf Contest, in which hunters and trappers in Alberta can claim a $5000 prize for the biggest wolf killed in the province. Hard to believe, but true!
The primary purpose of the bird count is to monitor the status and distribution of bird populations across North America and worldwide. By conducting these counts annually, scientists can:
- Track long-term trends in bird populations
- Assess the health of bird species and their habitats
- Inform conservation strategies and policies
And you get to be part of this effort and enjoy time in nature watching birds!
How to Get Involved
Participation in these counts is open to everyone, from experienced birders to novice enthusiasts.
Christmas Bird Counts are conducted on a chosen day between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5 within a 24 km diameter circle. To join a local count circle, go here.
If you don’t want to be a field counter and head out to a counting circle, you can join as a feeder watcher, counting birds from the comfort of your home.
Some popular count circles in Alberta include:
- Calgary – Dec. 15, 2024
- Edmonton – Dec. 15, 2024
- Grande Prairie – Dec. 16, 2024
- Elk Island National Park – Dec. 26
- Red Deer – Dec. 22, 2024
- Banff/Canmore – Dec. 14, 2024
- Waterton Park – Dec. 21, 2024
- Cochrane – Dec. 21, 2024
- Jasper – Dec. 15, 2024
Last year, Edmonton had the most participation, with 187 field counters and 239 feeder counters. Calgary recorded the highest species diversity, with 65 species.
Last Year’s CBC Results
The Red Deer count recorded the highest count of Ruffed Grouse in Canada, with a total of 40 reported! Other notable sightings in Alberta included two Common Loons in Hinton and a Great Blue Heron in Medicine Hat – very rare in winter!
An Osprey was also observed in Medicine Hat—an exceptional sighting for winter and the only one reported in Canada.
Bald Eagles were the most abundant raptors, with an impressive 190 counted across the province.
Additionally, six Northern Hawk Owls were recorded at Opal, and six Great Gray Owls were reported at Cochrane Wildlife Reserve—both representing the highest counts for these species in North America.
The only shorebird sighting was from Banff/Canmore Count, which recorded a Wilson’s Snipe. Edmonton had the highest number of single-species woodpecker sightings in North America, with 355 Downy Woodpeckers.
One White-winged Dove in Calgary was the rarest report for the province and the only record in the country this season.
House sparrows were the most abundant bird recorded in Alberta.
We are looking forward to this year’s results. Maybe you will be one of the lucky ones to spot a rare bird like the Eurasian eagle owl spotted at someone’s bird feeder in the Central Alberta count circle, which is particularly unusual as this bird typically only travels between Siberia and Ethiopia.
