Once again it is time for the Great Backyard Bird Count, which goes ahead this year this coming weekend, running from February 13th to the 16th. This citizen science project runs across North America and is another tool in gauging bird populations in winter.
In general the North, and Nunavut in particular, is under represented in this survey. Part of the reason for that is our small population, part in the low number of species present here this time of year. Realistically in the High Arctic only one or two species of birds could be expected to be found within easy access to where people are found. But that doesn't make the data gleaned from northern observers any less important.
Last year, if memory serves me, there were checklists submitted from three individuals. Two here in Arctic Bay and one in Iglulik. Lets see if we can't do better than that this year. Participating is easy. All you have to do is spend at least fifteen minutes observing and counting birds on any or all of the four days. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species you see at anyone time and submit the data online.
Lets see if we can't get more people involved this year. With our growing daylight it is a pleasure spending more time outside. To sweeten the pot a little, at least for observers in Arctic Bay I have an offer. We had a recent probable sighting of a Gyrfalcon here in town. It isn't an unusual species for here, but it is a species that is thought to winter farther south. If an Arctic Bay observer has a credible sighting of a Gyrfalcon for the GBBC I'll give them about a pound of FairTrade, Organic Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee Beans as reward. It is a wonderful coffee and my usual day to day one.
And just to get you warmed up, here are some Ravens in the sky from our drive yesterday.
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3 responses
I’m definitely in! I actually got the little email reminder about it earlier today. I picked up a wildlife book last year specifically for this event and now that I can steal/borrow my room mate’s binoculars I may even look like I know what I’m doing this year!
We’ll be doing our count here in southern Québec this weekend… too far south for your falcon prize, but I’ll put a mug out just in case one flies by.
That’s great Darcy. Hope you have fun, see you out there somewhere.
There’s a mug of coffee waiting here for you Michael, anytime. Perhaps you’d consider the Fiords and Cliffs of Arctic Bay and environs instead of the Foxe Basin in 2010?