Largest census in North America: will you go bird watching this holiday season?

It’s Saturday that the big bird census begins for which citizens are called to list and document their observations of species affected by climate change, including the magnificent snowy owl, which arrived earlier this year.

With his family and friends, ornithologist Jean-Sébastien Guénette has participated for several years in the Quebec version of the Christmas Bird Count, described as one of the largest citizen science projects in the world. Born in 1900 in the United States, the annual census lists the observations of citizens from all corners of the continent.

“It is thanks to this activity that we can follow variations in bird populations over time and better understand the cycles of growth and decline,” explains the man who is also general director of Oiseaux Québec.

Also in my yard

No need to go snowshoeing during the blizzard to participate; the cozy ones can simply note the blue jays, house sparrows and red cardinals they see in their yards.

“The idea is not to travel great distances, but to carefully record the species on the sites where your observation will take place,” notes Alexandre Terrigeol, director of operations at the Tadoussac Bird Observatory.

In Tadoussac, around ten courageous people will participate in the census. Last year, the activity made it possible to note the presence of a species that was thought to be absent from this region during the winter: the saw-whet owl, the smallest nocturnal bird of prey on the continent.

Bird watching during the cold season is considered by many to be a very enjoyable outdoor activity. Birds are more visible through the leafless trees and no one is bothered by mosquitoes.

Quebec Birds has also given the great Christmas census an “initiation” section for children. “A good opportunity to let go of the screens and go play outside,” comments Mr. Guénette.

The owl ahead

While a single white owl, emblematic of Quebec, was observed in the Haut-Richelieu sector last year, several dozen sightings were reported as of November 30, 2024, from Montreal to Rivière-au-Renard in Gaspésie, in passing through Senneterre in Abitibi and Saint-Félicien in Lac-Saint-Jean.

“For the snowy owl, the St. Lawrence Valley is the sunny destination where it settles for the winter. The fact that it comes earlier could demonstrate its adaptation to climate change,” explains Mr. Guénette.

Will you be lucky enough to see one this year?

The census in brief

• Two thousand localities in North America participate.
• It begins on December 14 and ends on January 5.
• Last year, more than 3.2 million birds of 279 species were reported in Canada. British Columbia had the greatest diversity of species (218), followed by Ontario (183), Nova Scotia (168), New Brunswick (142) and Quebec (129). ).
• With 77 species identified, Quebec City is the fifth place in Canada where the most species have been counted after Victoria, in British Columbia (137), Blenheim, in Ontario (113), Halifax-Dartmouth, in Nova Scotia (115) and Saint John, New Brunswick (69).

• Participants, alone or as part of an activity organized by a birding club, plan their maximum observation site of 24 km².
• Participants must register here.