Be counted

In 1900, the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was started in the U.S. and Canada as a counter measure to the sport of the day of seeing how many birds could be killed. The more civilized sport of seeing how many birds could be counted has now spread across many countries and thousands of volunteers. Many communities around the Lake have already had their CBC, Nelson had its count yesterday.

As usual, I tagged along with one of the teams in the hope of shooting birds—albeit with a camera. Some irreverent results below.

This Hooded Merganser is clearly willing to stand up and be counted.

The problem of counting is not always so simple. Consider this shot into the middle third of one of a number of populations on the Lake. There are many species, and they are constantly shifting position. By the time a couple of birds of one species have been counted, the pattern has rearranged itself.

This Ring-necked Duck seems to cast a gloomy eye towards the census taker. Maybe it thinks it is covered by Canada’s privacy legislation.

Some birds seemed oblivious to the presence of counters. Such was the case with a Song Sparrow,

a wigeon,

and another Hooded Merganser.

A rather large flock of goldfinches seemed skittish about human visitors, with the possible exception of this phlegmatic bird. It permitted my best shot of the day.

Not the best shot, but perhaps the funniest, is this one. Do you suppose that the dock owner would consider these birds merit prestige parking? I certainly do.