Pre-register if you reside within 24 kms of Balmoral and want to be a bird feeder watcher
On Dec. 21, birdwatching enthusiasts will spend the day counting birds in the Balmoral area for the Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC). The CBC is an international holiday birding tradition in which birders track and count the number of birds they see within a 24-kilometre radius of a geographical area.
Bird count statistics are collected annually from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5 and are used as population data for scientific reports.
This is Audubon’s 125th CBC, and since its inaugural year, millions of birds have been counted worldwide.
Jim Duncan will spearhead Balmoral’s CBC for the 31st year. He and fellow birdwatchers will walk, ski, and drive around the community trying to count every bird in the area. Their count is centralized in Balmoral and extends 24 kilometres in each direction, covering a wide area to track birds.
Tribune Photos Submitted
In Balmoral’s previous CBCs, they have tracked upwards of 30 different species of birds, and each year typically brings some surprises.
“Last year we spotted a golden eagle,” said Duncan. He later explained that this was a rare spotting, so it was very neat to be able to experience it.
If you are looking for an easy activity to do from home, you can become a feeder watcher at the Balmoral CBC.
As a feeder watcher, you will track the number and species of birds visiting your feeder. Once the day is complete, you will send your data to Duncan, who is the Lead Compiler for Balmoral’s count.
You must inform him in advance if you would like to be a feeder watcher on Dec. 21. You can email owlfamily@mymts.net to express your interest in joining Balmoral’s CBC.
For your bird count numbers to be official, you must reside within the 24-kilometre radius, so please confirm with Duncan that you are in the right zone before tracking the birds you spot.
Also, keep an eye out for any unique bird species you spot three days before (Dec 18-20) and three days after (Dec 22-24), as any species of bird not tracked on Dec. 21 can be added to the official report.
Stepping into the role of lead compiler for Balmoral was an easy choice for the Balmoral resident. When buying his property from the previous lead compilers, one of the conditions of the sale was that he must continue on the tradition of the Balmoral CBC.
“It was an easy fit. They wanted to sell to people who love nature. It was a no-brainer as it lined up perfectly with my interests and hobbies.”
Duncan is a retired biologist who has always enjoyed working with birds. He and his wife started Discover Owls, an organization that aims to educate, protect, and research owls.
He primarily works with Great Gray Owls, Hawk Owls, and Barred Owls, but he will never turn down an opportunity to work with other Manitoban owls.
“Instead of pausing to smell the roses, we stop and take in the beauty of birds.”
Discover Owls conducts research by catching and banding owls and tracking their age, size, and gender. “Once we enter the data, you get a really nice long-term longitudinal study, which ultimately helps inform conservation decisions.”
Conservation is important as it shows how we can protect and maintain owl habitats, helping to preserve the lives of owls in Manitoba.
Duncan also works towards conservation by leading owl talks to classes or other organizations.
“These presentations allow you to get up close and personal with the owls, and I can share the more technical aspects of research.”
He has always wanted the public to have a voice in owl research. With this being said, he is always looking for owl sightings. If you spot a Great Gray Owl, a Hawk Owl, or a Barred Owl, please email Duncan at owlfamily@mymts.net with the date and location you saw the owl. He will try to band the owl and collect its data.
“I don’t mind wild owl chases! If people see an owl, we rely on the public a lot for finding these birds. We would never have achieved the success we have without the public,” he exclaimed.
If you want to learn more about Discover Owls or schedule a presentation for your classroom or organization, visit www.discoverowls.ca or the Discover Owls Facebook page.
