Every December, while many of us are turning inward for the season, hundreds of volunteers across the Sunshine Coast and around the world head outside with binoculars, notebooks, and a shared sense of purpose.
They’re taking part in the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) — and it’s one of our favourite days of the year!
The Christmas Bird Count is one of the longest-running citizen science projects in the world, dating back to 1900. For more than a century, volunteers have collected consistent, standardized data during the same two-week period each winter. That continuity makes the CBC an incredibly powerful tool for understanding long-term changes in bird populations and ecosystem health.
From a conservation perspective, the value is enormous. The data helps scientists track population trends, shifts in species ranges, and changes linked to habitat loss and climate change. Birds are sensitive indicators of ecosystem health — when bird populations change, it often signals deeper shifts in forests, wetlands, shorelines, and marine environments.
But what we love most about the Christmas Bird Count is that it brings together science, stewardship, and community.
This week, our team — George, Hannah, Marianne, and Suzanne — joined the Pender Harbour Christmas Bird Count, and it was a great reminder of just how special this event is.
It really does feel like a treasure hunt for birds: moving through shorelines, forests, and neighbourhoods, spotting familiar species and the occasional surprise along the way.
It’s a wonderful way to slow down, be present in nature, and connect more deeply with the landscapes we work to protect. Best of all, the Christmas Bird Count is fun and accessible for all ages and experience levels — you don’t need to be an expert birder, just curious, observant, and willing to look closely.
We encourage everyone to sign up and join a group for the Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December 20. Whether you head out for a full route or spend part of the day counting in your neighbourhood, every observation contributes to over a century of citizen-science data used to track ecosystem health and the impacts of climate change.
How to Join the Christmas Bird Count
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate. Expertise in bird identification is not required — all you need is an interest in birds and a desire to learn more about which species are around at this time of year.
The Sunshine Coast Christmas Bird Count (Gibsons to Sechelt) takes place on Saturday, December 20.
To take part, please contact Tony Greenfield for route information and coordination: gfieldtony@gmail.com
If you have binoculars or a spotting scope, bring them along. Lunch and warm clothing are recommended, as participants will be outdoors — in other words, dress for the weather.
The Christmas Bird Count is coordinated nationally by Birds Canada, and you can learn more about the program and its impact at:
https://www.birdscanada.org
At the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association, we rely on solid data to inform our work on land-use planning, watershed protection, and ecosystem conservation. The Christmas Bird Count is a beautiful example of how community-powered science strengthens conservation.
Rain or shine, cold fingers or foggy mornings, the CBC reminds us that conservation can be rigorous and joyful at the same time.
We hope you’ll join the fun!