125th Christmas Bird Count in Canada

This year marked the 125th season of the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) in Canada, a milestone in our long-running volunteer-science tradition. As in past years, thousands of people of all ages braved the Canadian weather, working together to seek out and appreciate winter birdlife.  

Thank you to all who contributed to this long-term dataset, which continues to be an increasingly important source of documentation for conservation. Want to know how your contribution on the CBC helps birds – look no further than the recently released State of Canada’s Birds Report.

BREAKDOWN

A total of 481 CBC circles submitted results for the 125th in Canada. Ten new or revived counts were registered for the 2024-25 season: High Level, AB; Crawford Bay, Quesnel, Takla Landing, Tofino, Ucluelet, BC; Comber, Thorndale, ON; Chute-St-Philippe, St-Anne-du-Lac, QC. The most Counts took place in Ontario (136), followed by British Columbia (99), and Alberta (59).  

Overall participation increased by 1.69% during the 125th in Canada. A total of 519 people (275 Field + 244 Feeder) participated on the Edmonton, AB, count, which is the highest for any CBC! In descending order, Victoria, Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa-Gatineau, London, Quebec, Pitt Meadows, Kingston, Galiano-North Saltspring, Toronto, Halifax-Dartmouth, Ladner, White Rock-Surrey-Langley, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Sidney-South Saltspring, Kitchener, Montreal, and Nanaimo all reported 100 or more participants. 

Weather during the 125th after an El Niño previous season was considerably mild. However, a decrease in species diversity may be an indication that weather during the previous summer was more typical. The Atlantic region experienced a mixed bag of variable weather including high snowfall leading up to Christmas. Most of the country suffered a few cold snaps leading up to December, followed by a sustained mild start to winter. Coastal regions of British Columbia reported some blustery weather during the Count Period. 

Count circles in Canada recorded 284 species this season, a decrease of nine species compared to the previous year. The top ten most abundant species in terms of individuals reported on Canadian counts during the 125^th CBC season, listed from highest to lowest, were: Canada Goose, American Crow, European Starling, Mallard, Pine Siskin, Black-capped Chickadee, Dunlin, Rock Pigeon, Snow Goose, and American Wigeon.Three species:  Ruby‑throated Hummingbird, Steller’s Sea‑Eagle and Sage Thrasher, were newly added to the all-time Canadian list, bringing it to 446 species.  Four additional species: Blue‑winged Teal, White‑tailed Ptarmigan, American Bittern and American Redstart, were only recorded during Count Week (the three days prior and three days after the official count day).

BIRD HIGHLIGHTS

An impressive 73,846 Snow Goose were at St-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu, QC, while a single Ross’s Goose (St. Clair N.W.A., ON) and two Pink-footed Goose (Wolfville, NS) were notable. The only Blue-winged Teal in Canada was a Count Week bird for St. Thomas, ON. The Eurasian Wigeon and Tufted Duck capital of North America was St. John’s, NL, during the 125th. Point Pelee, ON, reported a North American high count for both Greater Scaup (14,364) and Red-breasted Merganser on Lake Erie, while Peach Tree, ON, did the same on Lake Ontario. On the west Coast, Lower Howe Sound harboured the North American high count of 1384 Barrow’s Goldeneye. 

Gray Partridges were at a high of 1651 in Regina, SK while Yellowknife, NT, reported a high of 263 Willow Ptarmigan, which tracks with other reports of this species increasing. Even the most urban circles are habitat for high densities in some species, as demonstrated by Toronto, ON, with the North American High Count of 5601 Rock Pigeon. Long Point is steadily becoming an overwinting hub for Sandhill Cranes with over ten thousand reported. 

An impressive 23 species of shorebirds were recorded during the 125th. The White Rock-Surrey-Langley count reported one Long-billed Curlew, four Marbled Godwits, one Ruff and one Willet. Nearby Ladner, BC, hosted one American Avocet, two Hudsonian Whimbrel, and one Lesser Yellowlegs, which is exceptionally unusual during winter on the West Coast. Skidegate Inlet, BC had a North American high count for Black Turnstone (447) and also notable were 313 Purple Sandpipers at Tadoussac, QC. The only jaeger during the 125th was a single Parasitic at Tlell, BC. Also on Haida Gwaii, the Rose Spit count witnessed North American high counts of Common Murre (7400) and Ancient Murrelet (4500). Meanwhile, alcids on the East Coast included four Dovekie (St. John’s, NL), 37 Razorbill (Perce, QC), 17 Thick-billed Murre, 125 Black Guillemot, and two Atlantic Puffin (Cape Race, NL). 

Fourteen gull species included one Little Gull at Niagara Falls, ON, five Western Gulls at Tofino, BC, and North American high count for Iceland Gulls in St. John’s, NL (1621). The Little River-Powell River Ferry, BC, count reported the North American High count for Pacific Loon (4492), while single reports of Yellow-billed Loon came from six circles in British Columbia. A Northern Fulmar and eight Northern Gannet from Halifax-Dartmouth, NS, were notable. The only American Bittern was a count week bird at Ladner, BC, while there were single Great Egrets at Chilliwack, BC, and Cape Sable Island, NS, and one Green Heron at Orillia, ON. 

Without a doubt, the raptor highlight of the 125th was the long-staying Steller’s Sea-Eagle, recorded in the Terra Nova N.P. (north), NL, circle. There were twelve Golden Eagles a-soaring from Oliver-Osoyoos, BC and 39 Rough-legged Hawk from Sackville, NB. Some owls experienced bumper years during the 125th with Great Gray being the most impressive. 40 individuals were reported from a circle in central Alberta, while the North American high for Snowy Owl came from Kingston, ON. 

The woodpecker family is typically well represented during CBCs in Canada and the 125th was no exception. A Lewis’s Woodpecker at Squamish, BC, and North American high counts for both American Three-toed Woodpecker (12 at Sheep River, AB) and Northern Flicker (468 at Victoria, BC).

One Black Phoebe in Vancouver, BC, supports a northward creep for this species. The only reported migratory vireo was a single Blue-headed Vireo on Cape Sable Island, NS. Three ubiquitous corvids, Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, and Common Raven all had high counts in Canada from Calgary, AB (3129), St. Clair N.W.A., ON (122,000), and Yellowknife, NT (1703), respectively. An impressive 2651 Black-capped Chickadee from Ottawa-Gatineau, ON, and 2646 Chestnut-backed Chickadee in Victoria, BC, were both high counts for the Western Hemisphere. 

A few Northern House Wren braved the Canadian winter during the 125th with singles from Lower Howe Sound, BC, and Blenheim, Goderich, and Stratford, ON. One Swainson’s Thrush at Revelstoke, BC, bears mentioning, and of course the Sage Thrasher from Regina, SK, was a new species for the All-time CBC list in Canada. 

Some finches were reported in healthy numbers during the 125th including North American hIghs for Evening Grosbeak (1506 at Chicoutimi-Jonquiere, QC), Redpoll (1460 at Prince George, BC), White-winged Crossbill (949 at Edmonton, AB), and Pine Siskin (8765 at Sooke, BC). 

A North American high count of Snow Bunting came from Comber, ON. Single Harris’s Sparrows were reported at Harrison River and Oliver-Osoyoos, BC; Riverside-Albert, Sackville, NB; and Love, SK. A Bullock’s Oriole was at Cape Sable Island, NS, while an impressive 15 Baltimore Orioles were on the Halifax-Darmouth, NS count. Warblers that made appearances during the 125th included Ovenbird (Cape Sable Island, NS; Owen Sound, ON), Black-and White Warbler (Peel-Halton Counties, ON), Cape May Warbler (Ferryland, NL), Northern Parula (Cape Sable Island, Halifax-Dartmouth, NS), Northern Yellow Warbler (Pickering, ON), Yellow-throated Warbler (St. John's, NL), and Prairie Warbler  (Brier Island, NS). Other neotropic treats reported include the Summer Tanager at Ladner, BC, a Western Tanager at White Rock-Surrey-Langley, BC, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak at Pakenham-Arnprior, ON, and Dickcissel at Pictou Harbour, The Sydneys, NS; and Pakenham-Arnprior, ON).

REFLECTIONS

Over the past season, I’ve thought about what it is that makes the CBC an important tradition for me, on a personal level. During my time as CBC Coordinator for the past five years, I've had the absolute privilege to work with so many incredibly dedicated volunteers who step up year after year to lead or follow their community in a century and a quarter year old tradition.

Despite the sometimes challenging weather, participating on a CBC was always a way to get outside. And whether knowingly or not, getting time outside, even during winter contributes positively to our wellbeing. I also really enjoy winter birding, so an excuse to play treasure hunt in your designated route or slice of a circle for the day with some friends, or at least like-minded individuals, is always a good time. 

For me, this year was extra special and I was fortunate to participate on seven different counts during the 125th season. Things kicked off on the first day of the period , December 14 on a gale force winds type of day on the Sunshine Coast, BC Count. By contrast, the following day on the Ladner Count was much calmer, at least inland, and participants enjoyed clear skies and sunshine. Next it was off to Haida Gwaii where my offer to assist with three counts, Port Clements, Rose Spit, and Tlell, was taken up (read more about that adventure). I then made it home just in time for Christmas, followed by a short family trip to Baja California Sur. A friendly local Compiler for the San José del Cabo CBC included my results collected from our hotel. Upon returning back to the Metro Vancouver area, there was one more count I could join in on, so I spent a lovely day on the Pitt Meadows Count. It was a season for the highlights reel!

Whether from out in remote places, residential back alleys, or from your backyard, every contribution is valuable and plays a role in conservation. Thank you and good birding!