Annual Bird Count results in few surprises for Sault Naturalists

Saturday, December 19th marked the 59th year for the Sault Naturalists’ Christmas Bird Count.  Last year’s count was done during a trying day when it came to the weather — being cool and windy — but there were plenty of birds around in the 14 routes that more than 70 volunteers covered this year.  Don Hall is the count’s Data Analyst — he says there weren’t very many surprises for 2015…

One species of bird that may be appearing more in this area in the last few years is the redpoll.  It’s similar to a sparrow, but has a red or rust colour on the top of its head and is a member of the finch family.  Hall says the weather did play a factor in determining on the final bird numbers…

The weather for the 2014 bird count was cool and windy.  According to Hall, a lot of bird feeders that were stocked with good food had no birds there because they were trying to stay under cover.  Allowing researchers to study long-term ranges and the populations of winter birds.  That’s the purpose of the annual Christmas Bird Count, an event that has been going on for more than a century for the National Audubon Society.  Hall talks about where his group’s data goes after the December 19th count…

Hall adds similar bird counts are being done in South America, as well as the ones across North America.  The information is compiled and kept track on computer and is available to anyone online.