Lethbridge Christmas Bird Count goes Saturday

Another Christmas Bird Count season has almost arrived. Between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5, tens of thousands of bird and winter enthusiasts will rally to count millions of birds across the continent as part of the 120th year of this long-running wildlife survey.

On Saturday, participants in Lethbridge will take part in this fun winter tradition, many rising before dawn and counting birds until sunset!

For information about the Lethbridge Bird Count, contact Ken Orich at 403-381-2351.

Each year, Birds Canada and the National Audubon Society help co-ordinate and support the efforts of more than 2,500 counts throughout the Western Hemisphere. Christmas Bird Counts are run across Canada and the United States, as well as in Latin America, the Caribbean, and some Pacific Islands.

Data collected during the Lethbridge count include details on the number of birds of each species seen or heard within a local 24-kilometre diameter circle. Surveying this circle year after year contributes valuable long-term information on how winter birds are faring, both in your locale and across the country.

Novice or experienced, the Christmas Bird Count is for everyone. Whether you like exploring forests, fields, and waters in search of lingering migrants, or prefer counting feeder birds from your window with a warm mug in hand, the Christmas Bird Count offers diverse opportunities for participation.

“Every Christmas Bird Count participant is an important part of this valuable project for birds,” says Yousif Attia, Birds Canada’s Christmas Bird Count Co-ordinator. “Whether you participate for bird conservation, for some friendly birding competition, or for an excuse to get outside in the winter, your efforts are meaningful for birds.”

For more about the Christmas Bird Count, or to find the location of additional counts, visit Birds Canada’s website at birdscanada.org/volunteer/cbc.