The long-running Ladner Christmas Bird Count will be held this Saturday.
Open to all experienced birders as well as those just looking for an enjoyable outdoor activity during the holiday season, the count also includes areas of Tsawwassen, south Richmond and Point Roberts.
It's part of the regional Christmas Bird Count, which is a component of a much larger count across the continent. Counts happen in over 2,000 spots throughout the Western Hemisphere. It's the 118th year for the counts, an ongoing project of the National Audubon Society in the United States and coordinated in Canada by Bird Studies Canada.
Each Christmas Bird Count is conducted on a single day between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5. Counts are carried out within a 24-kilometre diameter circle that stays the same from year to year.
The Ladner count, which dates back to the 1950s, has a few ways people can participate. One is by joining a small team of birders as it drives or walks around its area, counting all birds team members spot. Drivers, recorders and spotters are all needed.
Another way to participate is to stay home and count the birds that come to your feeders or in your yard.
The Ladner count usually comes out tops in Canada for the number of species spotted, but lousy weather here last year played a role in Victoria finishing first.
Coordinator Jude Grass said they’re looking forward to good weather and lots of volunteers.
The Dec. 23 count starts at 8 a.m. at various locations. The area leader will call volunteers with the information once they are assigned a team.
Anyone interested in signing up should contact Grass at 604- 219-2043 or [email protected].
