The 63rd Long Point CBC was held on Saturday December 16. The Long Point CBC for kids was held simultaneously this year with 50 participants from the surrounding community. Families participating in activities at the Birds Canada Headquarters and explored local hotspots in the Port Rowan area. The count covers a ~24-kilometre circle centred on the lighthouse south of St. Williams. Conditions on count day were relatively mild ranging from 5 to 8°C, overcast with a low ceiling. Light to moderate easterly winds (5-20 km/h) kept exposed areas cool, but sheltered areas bordered on sweltering. The Inner Bay and Lake remained calm for the majority of the day allowing for decent viewing of abundant waterfowl.
Fifty four participants surveyed sixteen territories in the count circle for a total of 154 hours covering 370 km by car and 140 km on foot. Observations also trickled in from a few feeder-watchers and casual observers throughout the day. Forty-seven participants engaged in the Long Point CBC for Kids held at the Birds Canada headquarters the same day. Inspired by the well-loved, traditional CBC, the CBC4Kids engages new generations of young birders which is vital to our efforts to ensure vibrant habitats and bird populations for future generations. The event began with a short presentation about the history of CBCs in North America and a quick “how to go birding” tutorial including an important segment on how to use binoculars. The older kids (6+) went birding around the property and found 34 species including large rafts of Redhead and Canvasbacks on the Inner Bay and many Sandhill Cranes! The younger group went on a birding scavenger hunt for small bird cut-outs placed along the trails.
Together we counted an astounding 50,154 birds of 113 species. This is the third highest species count ever. Counts were higher than the most recent 10-year average of 38,998 birds of 104 species, and well above the long-term average of 29,347 of 102 species. Highlights are summarized on the Long Point Bird Observatory Sightings Board which include a number of near record counts, and a few interesting species. A complete list of the counts results is available here, and a trip report comprised of many of the counts eBird checklists is also available.
Extremely mild and wet conditions in the days and weeks leading up to the count allowed for many passerines to survive or linger, and waterfowl numbers remained high having not been pushed on by any significant freezing events. However the conditions also did not allow for any significant concentrations of birds. Landbirds took some effort, waterfowl and waterbirds were generally cooperative, with the exception of shorebirds which evaded us on count day. There was an abundance of low-lying wet and muddy areas for them to hide, but we couldn't wrangle them up despite being present the day before and after the count.
Since the count started in 1960, volunteers have contributed more than 8,500 hours counting more than 1.5 million birds of 194 species. A very special thank you to all the landowners that allowed volunteers to survey their property.
A very special thanks to our dedicated volunteers that helped us to cover the area, and to Valley Heights Secondary School Cafe, Laura Mackenzie, Ruth Frost, and Anne Marie Ridout for their help with wrap-up meal preparations and cleanup.
The Long Point CBC for Kids was made possible thanks to TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. Special thanks to the Long Point Biosphere Region for their assistance and sponsoring lunch provided by Old Tyme Deli, Vortex Optics Canada for donating prizes, Armstrong Bird Food and Doerksen's Country Store for keeping our feeders stocked and providing seeds for participants.
Good Birding,
Stu
