Hooded Merganser birds. (Supplied by David Maher)

By David Opinko

Bird counts begin December 14th across southern Alberta

Dec 3, 2019 | 11:30 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The bird is not only the word, but also what tens of thousands of bird and winter enthusiasts will rally together to count across North America.

Birds Canada and the National Audobon Society are helping to coordinate more than 2,500 counts throughout the Western Hemisphere.

By doing these counts every year, researchers hope to learn how local winter birds are faring in southern Alberta and elsewhere.

“Novice or experienced, the Christmas Bird Count is for everyone. Whether you like exploring forests, fields, and waters in search of lingering migrants, or prefer counting feeder birds from your window with a warm mug in hand, the Christmas Bird Count offers diverse opportunities for participation,” reads a media release from Birds Canada.

“No matter how you contribute, all Christmas Bird Count observations are used to study the health of winter bird populations over time and guide conservation strategies to help birds and their habitats.”

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Prior to the counts taking place locally, Ken Orich will deliver a Winter Birds presentation on Saturday, December 7th at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre. He will get you up to speed on identifying birds in the area and which ones you can expect to see in the winter season.

The first count in the region takes place in Lethbridge on December 14. If you would like to volunteer, you can contact Ken Orich at 403-381-2351.

The next one is in Waterton on December 15. Dianne Pachal can be reached at 403-859-5133.

Milk River’s count takes place January 1, 2020. Ken Orich is the person to contact.

The final one for the region is in the Crowsnest Pass on January 2. Volunteers can phone Merilyn Liddell at 403-563-7545.