Christmas Bird Counts
Southern Vancouver Island
2022 Christmas Bird Counts
Victoria - Saturday, December 17 (Ann Nightingale - victoriacbc@naturevictoria.ca; 250-514-6450)
Pender Island(includes Mayne and Saturna) - Saturday, December 17. (Contact John Peetsma-jfpeetsma@shaw.ca)
Sidney/South Salt Spring- Sunday, December 18 (includes Central Saanich, North Saanich, Sidney) Daniel Donnecke - sidneycbc@naturevictoria.ca) (Saanich Peninsula participants are to meet at the Panorama Rec Centre entrance at 8:00 for assignments, unless otherwise arranged.)
North Salt Spring/Galiano Count is held the same day as the South Salt Spring/Sidney count - December 18. Please contact Tim Marchant at tim@timmarchant.com if you wish to count on Salt Spring Island or Mike Hoebel mhoebel@telus.net if you wish to count on Galiano)
Sooke - Tuesday, December 27 (Robyn Byrne - sookecbc@rpbo.org)
Duncan - Saturday, December 31 (duncancbc@naturevictoria.ca)
Christmas Bird Count for Kids: Saturday, Dec 17, Drop in between 1-3 pm Beckwith Park in Saanich. Meet near the restrooms adjacent to the parking lot for a guided walk in the park! Last walk will start by 2:30. Questions? Contact cbc4kids@rpbo.org
See all the Count Circles in Canada and contact information here: https://naturecounts.ca/apps/cbc/mapviewer.jsp
Everyone is welcome!
You don’t have to be an expert birder to participate. Novices will be teamed up with more experienced counters. I’d also be interested in recruiting some groups—walking groups, school groups, scout groups, or any other group that would like to support the activity. Anyone can help out by acting as a tally person or as a spotter. Most teams spend all of the daylight hours out in the field, but there is room for people who can only spend part of the day too. Come out for as long as you can! There are a few “keeners” who go out looking and listening for owls in the pre-dawn hours. There may be boats on the water again this year, so if that is your particular specialty, please let the coordinator know.
If you are curious, interested, would like to see lists and pictures of the region’s winter birds, or just need more information, please check the Christmas Bird Count site. If you have a preference to count in a specific area for the Victoria count, you may contact the team leader for the area directly.
Feederwatchers don’t have to register—just report your birds on the appropriate count day!