The 45th Sunshine Coast and the 33rd Pender Harbour Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) were held on Dec. 16 and 20. The Sunshine Coast count covers the area from Port Mellon to West Sechelt and the Pender count from Egmont to Middlepoint. The CBC began in 1900 and today as many as 70,000 participants are involved in the project which enumerates the mid-winter population and distribution of birds across the Americas. The Sunshine Coast count was conducted by 32 participants in 10 separate parties, and the Pender count by 28 participants in five main parties, two of which were boat-based. Each party was led by an expert birder, who would know all the bird species encountered. Unlike some years, the weather was favourable for both counts, with warm, bright, dry and calm conditions that encourage bird activity and makes counting easier for participants.
After a combined 78 counts (45+33) an enormous amount of data has been accumulated which allows analysis of our local bird population, and we can identify both winners and losers in our changing world, (and I refer not only to climate change, but also to local land use/habitat changes). The CBCs can also detect annual perturbations in bird populations such as those caused this year by the strong El Nino which has produced record warm temperatures across Canada. The warm temperatures, extending far to the north into the boreal forest have encouraged some species to stay north rather than making migratory flights south. Reflecting this, purple finches which normally winter on the Sunshine Coast, are totally absent to date. Another finch, pine siskin, is also present in very low numbers.
The Sunshine Coast count normally records between 90-100 species and this year found 95 species plus three more in count-week (three days before and after count-day). Highlight species were a white-tailed ptarmigan and mountain chickadees at Dakota Ridge by Sue Duxbury, a golden eagle which was present at the Sechelt landfill for the whole of December, and four wood ducks in Gibsons. On the day after count-day Mari Petznek photographed a lesser black-backed gull at the landfill, a B.C. rarity and a first Sunshine Coast record. Golden-crowned sparrows are doing well on the Sunshine Coast with 63 birds counted. This species was barely represented on counts in the 1980s and has been increasing steadily as a winter visitor, particularly around feeders in urban/suburban settings.
Pender Harbour reported 72 species plus an additional seven in count week. High numbers of waterbirds were recorded in Malaspina Strait, with 3,300 surf scoters within the count area. John Field, the Pender compiler of the CBC, reports that black-capped chickadees continue their expansion into the area. This species first arrived on the Sunshine Coast in the 1980s and is now fairly common in Gibsons-Sechelt.
To report your sightings or questions contact [email protected] or 885-5539. Good Birding!
