The 16th St. Albert Christmas Bird Count was held on Boxing Day - December 26th. This count is sponsored by the Big Lake Environmental Support Society (BLESS), who are the Stewards of the newly named Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park on Big Lake. There were 112 participants, consisting of 49 bushbeaters and 63 feeder watchers.
We found 34 species on this count which included two new species, a Mourning Dove and 11 House Finches. This brings our 16-year cumulative total list for the Saint Albert count up to 73 species. Some of the other highlights included:
- 1 Bald Eagle,
- 6 No. Goshawks,
- 3 Merlins,
- 120 Gray Partridge,
- 6 Ruffed Grouse,
- 1 Sharp-tailed Grouse,
- 1 Mourning Dove,
- 11 Snowy Owls,
- 1 Great-horned Owl,
- 1 Black-backed Woodpecker,
- 4 Northern Flickers,
- 7 Pileated Woodpeckers,
- 15 Am. Crows,
- 85 Ravens,
- 3 Brown Creepers,
- 5 Am. Robins,
- 791 Bohemian Waxwings (down from last year's total of 9010 birds),
- 4 Starlings,
- 32 Dark-eyed Juncos,
- 46 Pine Grosbeaks,
- 320 Common Redpolls
- 6 Hoary Redpolls
- 11 House Finches
- 2 American Goldfinch
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All participants had a great time. The weather was mainly sunny with a high temp. of approx. -1 C. and a minimum temp. of -10 C. Not bad weather for a Christmas bird count in the Edmonton area. |
Best wishes for the Holiday Season.
Dave Nadeau,
St. Albert Count Coordinator