BOW VALLEY – Birders will soon be flocking to locations across the Bow Valley for the annual Christmas bird count.
The 2020 edition of the event will take place across the Bow Valley on Saturday (Dec. 19), and Ethan Denton coordinator of the Canmore area is excited for the upcoming count because of the increase in volunteers.
“Contrary to what many people would think – we have actually had quite a large increase in people wanting to participate in the count this year,” said Denton. “I think the lockdown and pandemic has turned a lot more people into birders. Across Alberta, we have seen a spike in the numbers of people picking up the hobby.”
With the increase in the number of eyes on the skies and recent warmer than average weather, Denton is confident this will be a successful year. He is hoping to see more water-based birds and a few owls.
With more participants in the count, there is greater coverage within the regional count’s 24-km diameter, which encompasses both the Banff and Canmore townsites, the western end of Lake Minnewanka, Vermilion Lakes and the Spray Valley.
Within the Canmore area, there will be 13 to 14 groups of birders recording each bird they see over a 24-hour window. This year is the 45th annual count hosted by the Bow Valley Naturalists.
Last year’s count saw a record number of 99 individuals who participated in the citizen science project, counting a total of 2,446 individual birds from 42 different species.
While the increase in participation is welcomed by Denton, he said it does not come without concern, with regards to operating safely in a pandemic.
“The count will look different this year, there’s no doubt about it. We will be putting COVID-safety protocols into action to keep all of our participants safe,” Denton said.
Participants will be required to wear a mask and will have to self-organize within their established cohorts and follow physical distancing guidelines at all times.
Unlike previous years, count coordinators will not be able to match novice birders with other participants this year. The traditional potluck and group results tabulation following the count will not take place.
“Luckily, the count takes place outside where the risk is lower than an indoor space, but we are still taking precautions because we want everyone to be safe at the end of the day.”
Now 17, Denton has been birding since he was five years old and has participated in the annual bird count for nine years. He is encouraging anyone interested in volunteering to give it a try.
“The birding community is so welcoming and inviting," he said. "It’s a great way to feel a part of a community, engage with other birders and meet new people.”
Denton recommends dressing warm and anticipating the weather to be a little colder than expected, as well as binoculars and a camera to capture some memories.
For 121 years the Christmas bird count has been taking place across the Americas from Yellowknife to the Caribbean and everywhere in between.
The data collected over the day will be analyzed by the Bow Valley Naturalists and submitted to the National Audubon Society and Bird Studies Canada.
To sign up, send an email to Dempsey at [email protected] or Denton at [email protected]. Visit the Bow Valley Naturalists website bowvalleynaturalists.org for more information.
