The 46th annual Chilliwack Christmas Bird Count saw record-breaking numbers for individual birds, like gold-crowned kinglets, according to the 2024 report from Nature Chilliwack's Denis Knopp.
On count day, which was on Dec. 14, 2024, a total of 42 route counters and eight feeder watchers reported a total of 93 species of birds.
A total of 49,006 individual birds were counted with several standouts.
"Cackling geese have been steadily increasing with 6,694 cackling geese observed on the day."
Six species broke high-record numbers for individual birds.
The record-breaking individual counts included: green winged teal 217, Western scrub jay 2, red-breasted nuthatch 26, brown creeper 43, gold-crowned kinglet 425, and Merlin tied the 2014 high of 8.
Counters recorded 24 Anna’s hummingbirds this year and 41 last year, 78 below the 2018 high of 102 Anna’s.
European collared doves were down again this year with 146 seen, 216 lower than the 2019 high count of 362 doves.
"Counters found three owl species on count day this year, including three great horned owls, one barn owl plus a barred owl.
"Pine siskins appeared in great numbers this year with 1,574 found in all but two of the count areas."
Last year only 35 pine siskins were counted.
"We had one rare species on the count day, a great egret."
For count week, which is three days before and after the count day, there was another new species spotted: a Wilson’s warbler.
No new bird species, with "new" birds defined as birds never before seen on the Chilliwack CBC day or week.
"Rare" birds include birds that are unusual species.
"We had one rare species on the count day a great egret and a Wilson’s warbler for count week."
Audubon also collects and prints birds observed in the Chilliwack CBC count week (cw). This year, count week was Dec. 11-17 and one species was observed that was not seen on count day a male Wilson’s Warbler.
Count week sightings help to shows birds that occur in the count area but elude counters on the count day.
"So next year, be sure to report birds that you saw three days before or after the count date that were not located by anyone on the count day. You can report a count-week bird anywhere in the 24.07 km diameter count circle."
For clarity that means new/rare birds are birds that have not been seen on the local count for six years or more.
"Over the 46 years since the Chilliwack count started, we have only had 25 species in the total number of species commonly occur on our count every year, with 8 more additional species recorded on 41 counts.
Since the Chilliwack count started 46 years ago in the winter of 1978-79, our participants have found a total of 170 confirmed species in the Chilliwack CBC area. The confirmed number of course depends on the final tally accepted by Bird Studies Canada.
"Nature Chilliwack would like to thank all of the dedicated volunteer birders and feeder counters that took the time out of the busy holiday season to document bird life in our area."
