The 122nd CBC in Canada

Common Raven. Photo: Ed Oakes/探花精选 Photography Awards

A total of 473 Christmas Bird Count (CBC) circles in Canada submitted results for the 122nd count, an increase of 13 compared to last year. Twelve new circles were registered in 2021-22: Jaffray-Wardner (BC); East Braintree (MB), Bathurst, Cambridge-Narrows, Lepreau, Restigouche, St. Martins (NB); Parrsboro (NS); Flamborough, Kemptville (ON); and Watrous-Manitou Beach, Rosetown (SK).

 

A total of 10,618 field counters and 4357 feeder counters reported 3,460,743 individual birds of 294 species in Canada (Table 1). Edmonton, AB, had the highest number of total participants on count day (497), followed by Calgary, AB (313), and Victoria, BC (285). The top five counts reporting highest species diversity were Victoria, BC (136), Ladner, BC (130), Blenheim, ON (124), Vancouver, BC (124), and Sidney-South Saltspring (121).

 

Weather leading up to and during the CBC across most of Canada was typical in general. Fall in the Atlantic region was characterized by winds conducive to blowing in migrants from further south and west, followed by snow and colder weather in early December. Qu茅bec enjoyed a very mild start to winter, with many counts reporting favorable conditions on Count Day. Ontario experienced a similarly mild Count Period, but a cold spell in late November caused some waterbodies to freeze over and may have pushed some waterfowl elsewhere. In Manitoba, a seemingly moderate start to winter took a turn after Boxing Day, when heavy snowfall and cold temperatures set in. Saskatchewan and Alberta reported a cold Count Period, with punishing wind-chill, and deep snow on some counts, likely contributing to lower numbers and diversity. In November of 2021, southwestern British Columbia experienced unprecedented levels of rainfall followed by flooding and landslides, which may have reduced access to some areas during the CBC. Heavy rains on Count Day for some of the coastal counts in British Columbia contributed to lower totals than usual. The coldest Circle for the 122nd was Watson Lake, YT, where it was -45 degrees Celsius for the duration of the count.

 

Species Highlights by Region

All provincial and territorial counts are summarized in Table 1.

 

The top 10 most abundant species in terms of individuals reported on Canadian counts during the 122nd CBC season, listed from highest to lowest, were: Canada Goose, European Starling, American Crow, Mallard, Black-capped Chickadee, House Sparrow, Rock Pigeon (Feral), Snow Goose, Bohemian Waxwing, and Herring Gull. Common Raven remains the most widespread species, detected on more counts (463) than any other species. No new species were added to the all-time Canadian list during the 122nd CBC, which remains at 439 species.

 

A long-staying Pink-footed Goose at St. John鈥檚, NL, made a showing for the fifth straight year. Shorebird highlights from Nova Scotia included a lingering Semipalmated Plover at Cape Sable Island and a Lesser Yellowlegs at Broad Cove. The Atlantic region reported a nice assortment of warblers including Ovenbird, Northern Parula, and Yellow-throated Warbler. Other standout records were a Sabine鈥檚 Gull at Cape Sable Island, a Townsend鈥檚 Solitaire at Restigouche, NB, and a Summer Tanager at Pictou Harbour, NS. Finches were reported in more expected numbers following the irruption of previous season.

 

Mentionable records from Qu茅bec include a Great Shearwater from Forillon, a Swainson鈥檚 Thrush at Qu茅bec, and a Lark Sparrow at Perc茅. Evening Grosbeaks at Chicoutimi-Jonquiere, QC was the highest recorded on a count in North America. A Common Teal (Eurasian Green-winged Teal) was new for Ontario, while Razorbill at Niagara Falls, Nelsons鈥檚 Sparrow at Blenheim, and a Rufous Hummingbird at Peel-Halton Counties topped the list of rarities. Five Red-bellied Woodpeckers in Winnipeg, MB, and a Chipping Sparrow at Pinawa, MB were also worth noting.

 

Saskatchewan reported an influx of Common Redpolls, on the heels of last year鈥檚 eastern irruption. Close to half of all the Hoary Redpolls reported in Saskatchewan were at Eastend. Gray Partridges at Regina represented a North American high count. A single American White Pelican braved the winter in High River, AB.

 

British Columbia hosted not one, but two Bramblings this season: one at Narcosli and one at Revelstoke, BC. Other goodies in BC included the long-staying Red-shouldered Hawk at Harrison River, a Short-billed Dowitcher and a Tennessee Warbler in Victoria, a Wilson鈥檚 Warbler at Ladysmith, and a Northern Waterthrush at Ladner.

 

While the species diversity for all of Canada in total during the 122nd increased, most provinces reported fewer or no change in species diversity compared to the previous season, with the exception of Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Ontario, and Yukon Territory. British Columbia had the highest diversity, reporting 223 species, followed by Ontario (183), Nova Scotia (177), Qu茅bec (141), and New Brunswick (139). Detailed regional summaries for the 122nd CBC will be available on the 探花精选 website. Historical or current year results by count or species can be found on the 探花精选 website . 

 

Click here to view the 122nd Christmas Bird Count: Canada High Counts article.

 

A special thanks goes out to compilers, who spend hours recruiting and organizing participants on the ground and rounding up and entering data. Thank you also to the regional editors who carefully ensure all CBC data are reviewed and write regional summaries every year.

 

 

 

Table 1. 122nd Christmas Bird Count in Canada Summary

 

Count Circles

Species1

Individuals

Field Counters

Feeder Counters

Highest Count Day Species Total during 122nd

Highest Count Day Species Total during 121st

AB

57

111

275,514

1155

867

Calgary (73)

Calgary (69)

BC

87

223

862,131

2669

671

Victoria (136)

Victoria (143)

MB

20

78

63,258

353

289

Winnipeg (48)

Winnipeg (49)

NB

49

139

153,360

663

411

Saint John (75)

Cape Tormentine (74)

NL

9

107

28,020

123

48

St. John鈥檚 (77)

St. John鈥檚 (72)

NS

34

177

271,844

730

332

Halifax-Dartmouth (115)

Halifax-Dartmouth (127)

NT

4

28

4419

41

18

Hay River (18)

Fort Smith (17)

NU

2

3

422

4

0

Arctic Bay, Rankin Inlet (2)

Arctic Bay (4)

ON

126

183

1,316,679

3408

1232

Blenheim (124)

Long Point (115)

PE

3

78

34,276

28

15

Prince Edward Isl. N.P. (56)

Prince Edward Isl. N.P. (64)

QC

35

141

345,451

935

215

Quebec (77)

Quebec (84)

SK

37

91

98,917

398

178

Gardiner Dam (39)

Saskatoon (44)

YT

10

39

6454

111

81

Whitehorse (24)

Whitehorse (28)

Total

473

294

3,460,743

10,618

4357

 

 

  1. Includes species detected during Count Week

 

Yousif Attia is the Christmas Bird Count coordinator for Birds Canada.

Birds Canada coordinates the Christmas Bird Count in Canada in partnership with 探花精选.