Sunday, Dec. 30 was a really beautiful day and perfect for bird counting. The sun was shining, there was no wind and it was mild (-7C). Over 47 people were out in the field with another six watching feeders. In addition, a small group of Nature Kids joined one of the parties for a couple of hours so children could learn how to count birds
A total of 45 species were seen and heard which is not as many as in some recent years, but the total number of individual birds was high (5062) mainly due to irruptive species such as Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls and Evening Grosbeaks.
The most unusual species (in bold) was a Cooper’s Hawk. The unmistakable call of a Canada Goose was also heard by two people in different parties, but it was not seen. Perhaps someone in the Driftwood/Malkow area knows something about this mysterious goose.
The total count results are as follows:
Canada Goose 1
Mallard 1
Common Merganser 3
Bald Eagle adults 20
Imm. 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Merlin 1
unidentified raptor 1
Ruffed Grouse 6
Rock Dove 2
Collared Dove 59
N. Pygmy Owl 5
Owl sp. 1
Northern Flicker 19
Hairy Woodpecker 38
Downy Woodpecker 34
Three-toed Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Woodpecker sp. 1
Gray Jay 27
Steller’s Jay 18
Clark’s Nutcracker 5
Black-billed Magpie 14
American Crow 379
Common Raven 346
Black-capped Chickadee 920
Mountain Chickadee 32
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 28
Brown Creeper 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
Varied Thrush 2
American Robin 10
Northern Shrike 1
Bohemian Waxwing 585
European Starling 148
Song Sparrow 3
Dark-eyed Junco 72
Brewer’s Blackbird 212
House Sparrow 254
White-winged Crossbill 4
Pine Grosbeak 19
Common Redpoll 968
Purple Finch 12
Evening Grosbeak 255
Pine Siskin 1076
Total number birds
5602
Total species
45
Count Week Species
Common Goldeneye
Short-eared Owl
If anyone saw any bird not listed above between Dec. 27 and Jan. 2, please call 250-847-9429. The Bulkley Valley Naturalists would like to thank all the bird counters for continuing this wonderful tradition.
–Submitted story