How many feathered friends can you see?
The annual Christmas Bird Count begins Thursday, December 14, and runs until January 5th.
Andrew Holland with the Nature Conservancy of Canada says it’s a fun activity that has been done since the 1900s.
“It’s known as North America’s longest-running citizen science project. Basically, people connect with the leader in a certain geographical area, and sign up.”
By watching for birds, you can observe the different species in your area, take photos, and submit them online.
“It helps gather information on the health of different species, how many birds are in certain areas, and helps determine trends. It looks at how the birds are doing in winter months, and if are there any surprise birds we are not accustomed to seeing in certain areas,” Holland adds.
For more information on the specific groups in your region, you can visit the website naturecounts.ca
“It’s a family-friendly activity. People can get involved over the holidays to just get some fresh air and walk off some of the Christmas turkey or ham or mashed potatoes and contribute to something big. It’s the 124th annual Christmas bird count,” Holland says.
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