The Feeder Birds of Christmas 

As we head into the holiday season, bird watchers will be marking their calendars with an additional yuletide activity – the 127th annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Interestingly, the CBC—now the longest-running and most important bird census in the world—didn’t start out as a wildlife-friendly activity. Prior to the turn of the 20th century, hunters engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas "Side Hunt." They would choose sides and go afield with their guns, killing everything in sight. The group that slaughtered the most wildlife (all animals were fair game) was declared the winner.

In 1900, ornithologist and Audubon Society officer, Frank M. Chapman, proposed an alternative to this barbaric holiday tradition—a "Christmas Bird Census" that would count, not kill, birds. The inaugural count, held on Christmas Day, had 27 participants recording 90 species across North America. Today, tens of thousands of volunteers around the globe take part in this annual event. Counts will take place between December 14, 2022 and January 5, 2023. Check out Birds Canada for a complete list of counts and count dates across the province. We encourage all backyard bird feeding enthusiasts to participate. Remember, feeder watching is a great way to connect children and grandchildren to nature!

Myrna Pearman