birding

NB Naturalist Feature: The 2024 Christmas Bird Count in New Brunswick 

About 1000 people participated in 48 Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs) all over New Brunswick in December 2023 and early 2024. 

We spent 1750 hours (equivalent to more than two-hundred 8-hour days) covering 1100 km on foot  and 13,000 km by car in search of wintertime birds. Count Day temperatures averaged -2ºC at the  start and +1 ºC at the end so most count areas had at least some open water.  

By the end of it, we had found 126,000 birds from 139 species plus another two species during each of Count Week and Count Period for a total of 141 species. This is the lowest number of individuals since 2015, but only one less than last year’s recent high of 140 species.

NB Naturalist Feature: The 2024 Christmas Bird Count in New Brunswick  Read More »

Counting all the Snowbirds: Waterbird Surveying and Arctic Migrants

Since I have started to be more serious in learning about birds, waterfowl have always intimidated me a bit. So many ducks to learn, so little time, I thought! Until I realized I have the rest of my life to learn about them. So I travelled to Saint John to learn more about waterbird surveys, by tagging along with my colleague Lauren.

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NatureKids – December 2024 

December was Christmas Bird Count month, so naturally, our theme of the month was birds! The Christmas Bird Count is North America’s longest-running citizen science project, dating back to 1900. Each year, groups head outdoors to observe and record the birds they see, contributing valuable data to help scientists track bird populations over time.

NatureKids – December 2024  Read More »

NB Naturalist Feature: The 2023 Christmas Bird Count in New Brunswick 

About 1000 people participated in 48 Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs) all over New Brunswick in December 2023 and early 2024. 

We spent 1750 hours (equivalent to more than two-hundred 8-hour days) covering 1100 km on foot  and 13,000 km by car in search of wintertime birds. Count Day temperatures averaged -2ºC at the  start and +1 ºC at the end so most count areas had at least some open water.  

By the end of it, we had found 126,000 birds from 139 species plus another two species during each of Count Week and Count Period for a total of 141 species. This is the lowest number of individuals since 2015, but only one less than last year’s recent high of 140 species.

NB Naturalist Feature: The 2023 Christmas Bird Count in New Brunswick  Read More »

A Summer with Aerial Insectivores

This summer, as I was taking a break from this blog and keeping up with the busy season, I had the chance to meet some very interesting insect-eaters. Thanks to Birds Canada’s survey programs, I was able to contribute meaningfully to the conservation efforts for those species, even though the survey I did myself ended up with a total of zero sightings. Read on to learn more about my adventures (sorted by survey) and what you can do to help!

A Summer with Aerial Insectivores Read More »

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