Columbia Valley Pioneer staff
If you love birds and science, you are invited to participate in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count in the Columbia Valley on Saturday, Dec. 14.
The longest-running community science survey will be lots of fun for birders and nature enthusiasts in Invermere, Wilmer, Windermere, and Radium.
“It’s really cool to be part of a tradition that has been going on for a jaw-dropping 125 years,” said Gareth Thomson, who is once again organizing this year’s count.
Thomson said they always have a potluck dinner on the day of the count, and everyone also enjoys the “big reveal,” where they share some of the more interesting findings about rare bird species or unusual bird numbers of the day.
This year the Audubon Christmas Bird Count will mobilize nearly 80,000 volunteer bird counters in more than 2,600 locations across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. These volunteers track the health of bird populations at a scale that scientists could never accomplish alone.
Birders in the greater Invermere area will record every individual bird and bird species seen in a specified area.
“Adding your observations helps scientists and conservationists discover trends that make our work more impactful,” said Yousif Attia, Canadian lead in the Christmas Bird Count.
The count provides a picture of how the continent’s bird populations have changed in time and space over the past hundred years. The long-term perspective is vital for conservationists; it informs strategies to protect birds and their habitat, and helps identify environmental issues with implications for people as well.
Birders of all ages and abilities are welcome to contribute to this project on December 14. Birders can follow a route to count birds, or report the birds they see at their birdfeeder.
People need to register in advance. To sign up, contact Gareth Thomson at [email protected].
