- /
December 26, 2020
Our Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on December 20 was a success thanks to 24 volunteers. By all accounts, everyone seemed to have an enjoyable day. An exceptionally high tide created a challenge for a couple of areas, including a boot-full of water. In exposed areas, wind and rain in the morning seemed to drive the birds into hiding. But we still found them!
Totals and Bird of the Day
- Total number of species: 74. Perhaps a bit on the high end of average.
- Total individual birds counted: 6,931
- Bird of the day: Western Scrub Jay. Only the second one ever seen in Squamish.
Surprises and Good Sightings
- 1 Greater White- fronted Goose
- 3 Snow Goose
- 1 Trumpeter Swan
- 1 Pied-billed Grebe
- 1 American Kestrel
- 1 Virginia Rail
- 2 Northern Shrike
- 1 Pygmy Owl
- 1 Rufous Hummingbird 1
- 5 Grey Jay
- 1 Pine Grosbeak
Other Raptors
- 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk
- 2 Cooper’s Hawk
- 4 Red-Tailed Hawk
- 1 Merlin
- 1 Peregrine Falcon
- 534 Bald Eagle
Trends
32 Anna’s Hummingbird. We continue to see these birds on our CBC over the last few years.
27 Common Goldeneye
9 Barrow’s Goldeneye. Both goldeneye species continue to show very low numbers compared to a decade ago.
19 Eurasian Collared Dove. This species seems to be here to stay.
Count Week Sightings
(bird species spotted in the three days before and after the CBC, but not on count day)
- Great Horned Owl
- Northern Goshawk
- American Goldfinch
- Horned Grebe
Missing
- Northern Harrier
So, that’s the highlights of this year’s count. Thanks to everyone who participated. The full count will be available soon on the Audubon website: type BCSQ in the ‘count code’ field.
Till next year.
Marcia
Banner photo: Pied-billed Grebe by Ed Dubois