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Victoria Christmas Bird Count 2009 and Feederwatch   Final Results for the Victoria Count Circle       Submit your Feederwatch results by clicking this link.     Upcoming Christmas Bird Counts Victoria - Saturday, December 19, 2009 (motmot@shaw.ca; 250-652-6450) Saltspring Island (includes Central Saanich, North Saanich, Sidney) Monday, December 28, 2009 (Jean Brouard at 250 653-2335 or by email at johnbro@saltpring.com for Saltspring/ motmot@shaw.ca; 250-652-6450) (Saanich Peninsula participants are to meet at the Panorama Rec Centre entrance at 8:00 for assignments, unless otherwise arranged.) Sooke -Sunday, December 27, 2009 (Daniel Bryant, 250-361-9049) Duncan - Friday, January 1, 2010 (marven@shaw.ca; 250-748-8504)       We're asking all who would like to attend to bring a salad, a dessert, a Crock-Pot entrée (soup or stew) or contribute $7 towards other items (such as beverages and buns) that we will purchase.  If there is something that you’d really like to bring that isn’t on this list, give me a call.  Everyone who plans to attend will need to register their item or by phoning or emailing me (Ann Nightingale, 652-6450, Motmot@shaw.ca). The post-count gathering will be at the Gordon Head United Church Hall, 4201 Tyndall Ave.  Since this will take a bit more organization than our usual gatherings, I am looking for some assistance.  If you would like to help with the dinner, please contact me.

Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank Chapman, an early officer in the then budding Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition-a "Christmas Bird Census"-that would count birds in the holidays rather than hunt them. So began the Christmas Bird Count. These efforts have allowed hobbyists and scientists to monitor population trends and to get just a little closer to nature during the Christmas season.

More than 1800 communities in North America are assigned standardized 15-mile diameter circles in which to count all the birds they can in a single day. In our area, this covers almost all of the greater Victoria region, so we need plenty of help. Counters under 18 years of age, Bird Studies Canada members and feederwatchers are invited to participate at no charge. Other counters are asked for a $5 tax-deductible contribution to offset the costs of the count and follow-up publications.

You don't have to be an expert birder to participate. Novices will be teamed up with more experienced counters. You can help out by acting as a tally person or as a spotter. If you are more experienced, and are wondering about leading a team, we have areas in need of coordinators.

Most teams start out at first light, and although counting goes on throughout the day, much is completed by noon. There are a few "keeners" who go out looking and listening for owls in the pre-dawn hours, and a few teams of boating birders who check out the offshore waters, weather permitting and suitable boats available. Feeder counts can be reported via the VNHS website.

For those who are unsure about participating, or who want to tune-up their bird-counting skills, a number of field trips in November and early December will serve as a good practice.

If you have a preference to count in a specific area, you may contact the team leader for the area directly.

For Everyone

Registration form

Online Feederwatch Form

Printable Feederwatch Form (with pictures)

Rare Bird Report Form

Maps, team leaders, checklists, and history of
the Victoria CBC zones

Cooper's Hawk Reporting instructions

List and photos of all birds ever seen on the Victoria Christmas Bird Count

Flock Counting Game (It's in Finnish, but just click "New Game" to begin.)

Other BC Christmas Bird Counts

For Zone Leaders

Count summary sheet (Excel) (pdf)

Instructions and Coordinator contact info

For Media