The Clive Birding Club participated in the 118th Annual Alberta Christmas Bird Count and over a 24-km wide circle they counted a record of 47 species. But the number of birds counted was down, only 6,389 birds in 2017 compared with 9,643 in 2016.
“This is the first time a Mountain Bluebird has been recorded at the Christmas Bird Count.”
This year the group also had three count week birds, birds seen three days before or after the count but not seen on the count day, said Judy Boyd. They were a Northern Hawk Owl, Northern Goshawk and Northern Sawwhet Owl.
In 2017 the group counted 96 Canada Geese, compared with only one in 2016. Other bird numbers that saw an increase in 2017 compared with 2016 respectively were: Mallard (297, 166), Blue Jay (159, 147), Common Redpoll (1,038, 125).
Some species saw a decline in numbers in 2017 compared with 2016 respectively including: Rock Pigeon (680, 960), Black-billed magpie (465, 537), Common Raven (298, 404), Black-capped Chickadee (703, 821), Snow Bunting (294, 3,910), House Finch (49, 248), House Sparrow (641, 784).
Boyd said the Clive group walked 20 hours and 50 minutes and feeder watching time was 147.5 hours.
The bird count started in 1900 and is the longest-running Citizen Science project. Counts are done in more than 2,000 localities across the Western Hemisphere. According to Bird Studies Canada website, the results are used daily by conservation biologists and naturalists to assess population trends and distribution of birds.
Lisa Joy
ECA Review
