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Banff-Canmore Christmas bird count results: 1975-1989 or 1990-2008
Bow Summit Christmas bird count results: 1975-1989 or 1990-2007
Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs) are done throughout North America and in some tropical areas in Central America, northern South America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands. The activity began over a century ago in the U.S. as a protest of the existing Christmas tradition in which teams competed to see who could shoot the most birds and other animals in one day. In 2008, more than 57,000 volunteers were involved in over 2000 locations. Results from these counts may be used to help track bird populations as they respond to global climate change.
Standard procedure for CBCs requires that counting be done during one 24 hour period within a designated circle of 24 km. diameter. The Banff-Canmore count circle has its centre on the Bow River below Mt. Rundle so as to include the Town of Banff west to Vermilion Lakes, and the Town of Canmore east to the Trans Canada – 1A Highway interchange.
In 2008, 44 participants found a total of 36 species, well below the long-term average. The cold weather may have been responsible for both the low number of participants and the low number of species. The total of 1834 individual birds was fewer than half the individual birds identified in 2007 and the second fewest individual birds in more than 20 years.
The Banff-Canmore count is followed by a potluck supper at the Banff Seniors Centre where results are compiled and stories exchanged about the day’s activities.
