Rainbird Excurssions is sponsoring the 23rd Annual Christmas Bird Count in Port Alberni set for Monday, 2 of January 2012. So far we have 11 participants in the field and a bunch more doing feeder counts. We have a couple of hot shot guest birders coming over the Hump from the east side and they need assistance from local people to show them where to go. We also need to know where there are owls. After counting all day we will be having a get-together at the Golden Dragon for dinner and to compare notes So if you live out in Cherry Creek, Beaver Creek, Hector Road, the Airport, Sproat Lake or anywhere else in the valley and have heard an owl at night, please let us know. We'd love to have you participate. It's a good way to learn a bit about the birds if you spend some time in the field with someone who knows them. Give Sandy a call at 250-723-7102 if you are interested.
The Christmas Bird Count has been in existence for over 110 years and has expanded across the western hemisphere with counts taking place in well over 30 countries from Canada to Chile. The information compiled from it has expanded to become the largest citizen science data base in the world. And so it is extremely valuable to scientists who monitor the population fluctuations of birds in North America.