Fredericton Christmas Bird Count

Fredericton Christmas Bird Count - Douglas Sector

Bald Eagle

For many years we have participated in the Fredericton Christmas Bird Count, covering the Clements Drive/ Douglas area.  Our sector covers the area from the Claudie Road to Grand Pass and all the side roads and areas in between.  It is our job to assess the bird population in that area.

Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs) have been done in North America for over 100 years.  Prior to 1900 there was a tradition called "Side Hunt" in which hunters conducted a Christmas Day hunting 'free for all'.  It was a contest to see who could come in at the end of the day with the most dead birds.  Fortunately the conservation movement was beginning then and Frank M. Chapman, an early officer of the Audubon Society,  proposed a day in which people would go out and conduct a Christmas bird census rather than kill so many birds.  That year 25 Christmas Bird Counts were conducted.  The first one done in New Brunswick was part of that first count and was conducted at Scotch Lake by William H. Moore.  Here is what he recorded counting for one hour from 9:00 to 10:00 am at Scotch Lake, Dec. 25, 1900:  Goshawk 1, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Downy Woodpecker 1, Blue Jay 2, Pine Grosbeak 1, Brown Creeper 2, White-breasted Nuthatch 20, Chickadee 6.  Total 9 species, 36 individuals.  (There are only 8 species mentioned so an error was created somewhere along the line).

Black Duck

Today thousands of counts are done throughout North America (about 50 in New Brunswick) on any day from Dec. 14 to Jan 5.   In Canada about 60,000 volunteers conduct CBCs including people on the road and those watching feeders.  A circle 24 km in diameter is laid out and then divided into sectors.  Groups of people are assigned to a sector or partial sector.  The assigned group is in the sector from dawn to dusk observing birds, looking for good habitat and checking around houses and barns.  They count both numbers and species.  These people are generally well trained and watch the skies, trees, low vegetation and house and barn yards.  Each group usually has a driver and a person who records the birds. 

The general public can help by keeping their feeders free of ice and snow and filled with good bird food.  They can welcome the birders as they drive in their driveways or park along the road.  A friendly wave is always helpful.  

Following are the results for the Clements Drive/Douglas Sector.  

Canada Goose	85
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) B	2
Mallard	32
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)	9
Hooded Merganser	1
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) B	5
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) B	5
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) B	2
Rock Pigeon	9
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) B	43
Great Horned Owl	1
Downy Woodpecker	3
Hairy Woodpecker	3
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) B	13
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) B	42
Common Raven (Corvus corax) B	3
Black-capped Chickadee	88
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) B	1
White-breasted Nuthatch B	8
American Robin   (Turdus migratorius) B	1
Bohemian Waxwing	4
Dark-eyed Junco   (Junco hyemalis) B	29
American Goldfinch   (Carduelis tristis) B	9
Chipping Sparrow	1
Wild Turkey	3
Total No. Species	25
Total No. Birds	402
Mammals
White-tailed Deer	13