“Prior to the turn of the 20th century, people engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas “Side Hunt”. They would choose sides and go afield with their guns; whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won. Conservation was in its beginning stages around that era and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations. Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer in the Audubon Society proposed a new holiday tradition – a “Christmas Bird Census” – that would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them. So began the Christmas Bird Count.”

Source:  www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count 

This year is the 125th annual Christmas Bird Count in North America. Records show that volunteers and bird enthusiasts have participated in the count since 2010. Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs) are conducted between December 14th and January 5th each year. Each count takes place in the same established 24 km. (15 mile) wide diameter circle every year. The center of the circle for the Milk River count is the Junction of Hwy. 4 and Hwy. 501. CBCs are a very important part of Citizen Science. Milk River’s CBC is on Saturday, January 4, 2025. New participants are always welcome. If you are interested you can contact the coordinator Ken Orich at korich@telusplanet.net .

Ken must know if you are interested no later than Friday, December 27, 2024.