History
In 1900, American ornithologist Frank Chapman asked birders across North America to head out on Christmas Day to count the birds in their home towns and submit the results as the first "Christmas Bird Census." His suggestion has evolved into one of the largest organized birding events in the world, and a holiday tradition during the Christmas season for over 50,000 birders each year.
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC), as it is now called, is conducted in over 2000 localities across Canada, the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. These bird observations, collected during one-day field counts within defined circular areas, have been amassed into a huge database that measures the population trends and distribution of wintering birds.
The Pender Island Count, which also includes Mayne and Saturna Islands, has been conducted since 1964. Over its forty-three year history, a total of 161 bird species have been recorded. Last year, forty-three volunteers recorded ninety-six bird species.
This Year's Count
The Pender Island Bird count will take place on Saturday, December 15. Volunteers are needed -- organisers try their best to match up inexperienced counters with those who are familiar with the process. A potluck supper at the Anglican Parish Hall follows the day's activities, where everyone gets together to compile their results.
If you are interested in helping with this year's count on Pender Island, please contact me, and I will put you in touch with event organisers.
Make a Difference
"Each Christmas Bird Count (CBC) volunteer observer is an important contributor, helping to shape the overall direction of bird conservation," says Dick Cannings, Bird Studies Canada's CBC Coordinator. "Bird Studies Canada and our partners at the National Audubon Society in the United States rely on data from the CBC database to monitor bird populations across North America."
For more about Pender Island real estate, visit Howard Sanders online @ www.HomesOnPender.com
Contact info:
- Email: Howard@HomesOnPender.com
- Cell: (250) 222-HOME (4663)
Best Regards,
Howard on Pender
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