Blowing winds, blizzards and minus 30 degree temperatures are par for the course when you take part in the annual Christmas bird count.
No matter what Mother Nature has in store this year, members of the Lac La Biche Birding Society are gearing up for the December 18 Christmas Bird Count (CBC), which monitors the local bird population in Lac La Biche County.
“The count shows the changes in the number of species in the area during winter,” said Jennifer Okrainec, the President of the local society.
The Lac La Biche CBC is part of one of the biggest Citizen Science surveys in the world, with local events taking place across North America and more than 12,000 volunteers with 400 different events participating from December 14 to January 5. Birds Studies Canada partners with the American-based Audubon Bird Society for the event, which uses the data collected to monitor bird species and their ecosystems at the federal level.
The number of species the Lac La Biche group finds differs from year to year, with 30 species being the highest amount they found during the mild winter of 2007. The group finds 22-25 bird species on average.
“We have seen uncommon species stick around if it’s a warmer winter,” said Okrainec, adding that Bald Eagles are just one example of a bird species that isn’t native to the area but have been spotted if there is a lot of roadkill and if the water doesn’t freeze over immediately.
The Lac La Biche area, which is home to 200 bird species year round, is scoured by the society’s 25 members during the count. A 50-kilometre radius of Lac La Biche is the general area, taking in areas from Owl River to Plamondon.
Not all watchers have to brave the elements for the count, as some volunteer their data collected from watching back-yard feeders.
Although the local birding group has participated in the event for the past 18 years, the North American CBC will mark its 111th year of the event when it officially starts on December 14.
“We wouldn’t be able to have this event without volunteers, who are usually very experienced birdwatchers with a lot of knowledge that is necessary for the count,” said Dick Cannings the Bird Studies Canada’s Christmas Bird Count Coordinator.