Victoria has long topped the pecking order in the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count, which takes place across North America and extends to South America.
An area with a 24-kilometre radius around Saanich’s Marigold neighbourhood has consistently stood out in what is described as the Western Hemisphere’s longest-running citizen-science project.
The area has attracted the highest numbers of bird counters in the field for seven consecutive years, topping the more than 2,500 counting circles in every province, all 50 U.S. states, the Caribbean and parts of Central and South America.
Last year — the 124th event — 351 counters in Victoria fanned out in neighbourhoods, parks and fields, spotting and recording 143 species among the thousands of birds documented.
Organizers of this year’s count — which runs over a 24-hour period on Saturday — are hoping to break their own record of 154 species, set in 2004.
“It’s a combination of really good climate for wintering birds and just a lot of enthusiastic people out looking for them,” said Ann Nightingale, co-ordinator of this year’s Christmas Bird Count.
Although Edmonton had the most participant watchers of any circle at 535, nearly half of those were watching bird feeders, not out looking in the field. The Victoria circle is hoping to grow its feeder-watch program this year to top its Alberta neighbours for most counters overall.
Several other circle groups are hosting Christmas Bird Counts on the Island, including Peninsula and Salt Spring Island circles on Sunday, a Sooke count on Dec. 27 and Duncan on Dec. 29.
The international effort runs from Saturday until Jan. 5 with all the numbers entered into a central database by each circle’s organizers.
The Audubon Christmas Bird Count is considered a vital tool in monitoring the status of resident and migratory birds across the Western Hemisphere.
Nightingale, a bird expert who heads the Rocky Point Bird Observatory, said the volunteer-generated data has also become a crucial part of Canada’s overall biodiversity monitoring system.
Victoria birders have documented an amazing diversity within a small circle that fans from Ogden Point and Albert Head to Island View on the Peninsula. In that area, bird watchers recorded the largest number of high counts of individual species, at 43, of any circle in the hemisphere.
Among the counts were Anna’s hummingbird, 1,448; hooded merganser, 541; pied-billed grebe, 59; horned grebe, 633; killdeer, 326; marbled murrelet, 28; ancient murrelet, 4,974; belted kingfisher, 56; northern flicker (red-shafted), 578; peregrine falcon, 6; and Steller’s jay, 336.
“There’s no doubt Victoria has a lot of birds to keep everyone interested,” said Jennifer Armstrong, who is also a Victoria co-ordinator. “I think the camaraderie and social aspect of the count is also a big part of the draw.”
New birders are teamed up with more experienced counters to go out in small groups and spend a few hours getting to know each other, as well as finding and counting birds. Armstrong said it often leads to people birding together throughout the year.
Participants can count for part or all of the day, with some teams seeking out owls as well as waterfowl, songbirds and hummingbirds.
“One of the great things about birding in general, and the Christmas Bird Count in particular, is that it is accessible,” said Nightingale. “If people want to share their sightings at a backyard feeder, participate for only a couple of hours, or restrict their participation to wheelchair-accessible locations, we have a spot for them.”
Rocky Point Bird Observatory is also hosting a special Christmas Bird Count for kids at Beckwith Park in Saanich on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.
Nightingale said beyond the overall tallies or the joy of spotting winter rarities — last year, a rare summer tanager was spotted in Sidney — the Christmas Bird Count is an opportunity for residents of all ages and backgrounds to connect with nature, contribute to valuable citizen science and embrace the winter season.
“This fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility for protecting birds and their habitats.”
Novice birdwatchers are encouraged to take part, with skilled birders on hand to provide identification, and share knowledge and tips.
For information on all the south Island Christmas Bird Counts and how to contribute your data, go to christmasbirdcount.ca or contact victoriacbc@ naturevictoria.ca.
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