NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA NATURALISTS’ CLUB
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Embrace the festive cheer and join the Orillia Naturalists’ Club as they host the annual Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, Dec. 16.
This cherished tradition is organized through Birds Canada and the National Audubon Society, and brings together bird enthusiasts of all ages to participate in a day of community, camaraderie, and conservation.
The Christmas Bird Count is the longest-running citizen science survey in the world. The Orillia Naturalists’ Club creates teams of birders (experienced and less experienced together), who are given an area to observe birds. Don’t be surprised if you see people with binoculars peering up at trees as they walk or roll down their car windows for passengers to count birds on Dec. 16. Anyone can join in to count numbers and species of birds.
In addition to the thrill of spotting and identifying various bird species, participants will have the chance to contribute to citizen science by collecting valuable data on bird populations. This information is crucial for understanding trends in bird distribution, migration patterns, and the overall health of our avian friends.
There is a potluck (Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. start) at the Orillia Museum of Art and History, where many of the team members get together (all are welcome) and someone from each of the teams reports findings. There will be a tally on the following Tuesday on Zoom to review all of the results. The information is then collated and sent to the international website to be combined with North America’s information.
It is a great family activity. You can drive your area as part of a team or contribute to a team’s efforts by reporting to the team leader what you see at your home feeders. If you are interested in participating, please email [email protected] to be connected with the Christmas Bird Count co-ordinator.
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