Skip to main content
CWF logo
Sign In
Username

Password
Forgot?
Not a Member?   Register Today
Français
Donate
Shop
Subscribe
  • Donate
    • Ways to Give
    • Single
    • Monthly
    • Shop CWF
    • Adopt-an-animal
    • Fundraise
    • In Tribute
      • In Honour
      • In Memory
    • Gift of Securities
    • Symbolic Gifts
    • Legacy Giving
    • Corporate
      • Major Gifts
      • Sponsorship
  • About Us
    • Why Canada's Wildlife Needs Us
    • Contact Us
    • Supporter Centre
    • FAQs
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Jobs
    • Funding
    • Board Of Directors
    • Foundation
    • Senior Staff
    • Reports
    • Privacy & Policies
      • Accesssibility
      • Policies
  • What We Do
    • What We Do
    • Coasts & Oceans
    • Forests & Fields
    • Lakes & Rivers
    • Endangered Species & Biodiversity
    • Education & Leadership
    • Connecting With Nature
  • Resources
    • Check out our resources
    • DIY
    • Downloads
    • Encyclopedias
    • Events
    • For Educators
    • Games
    • Printed Materials
    • Reports & Papers
  • News & Media
    • Blogs
    • Brand Guidelines & Logos
    • In the News
    • Magazines
    • Newsletters
    • Press Releases
  • Blog
  • Magazine
  • Shop
  • Site Search
  • Sign In
  • Français
  • Donate
  • What We Do
  • Resources
  • News & Media
  • About Us
  • Français
  • Site Search
  • Sign In
  • Français
  • Ways to Give
    • Single
    • Monthly
    • In Honour
    • In Memory
    • Adopt an Animal
    • Shop CWF
    • Symbolic Gifts
    • Fundraising
    • Legacy Giving
    • Gift of Securities
    • Corporate
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Supporter Centre
    • FAQs
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Jobs
    • Funding
    • Board Of Directors
    • Foundation
    • Senior Staff
    • Reports
      • └ Annual
      • └ Financial
    • Privacy & Policies
      • └ Accesssibility
      • └ Policies
  • What We Do
    • Coasts & Oceans
    • Forests & Fields
    • Lakes & Rivers
    • Endangered Species & Biodiversity
    • Education & Leadership
    • Connecting With Nature


    • Agriculture & Habitat
    • American Eels
    • Aquaculture
    • Backyard Birds
    • Bats
    • Bioblitz
    • Camping and Nature
    • Chinook Salmon
    • Conservation Awards
    • Educator Training
    • Expecting Parents
    • Family Nature Club
    • Fish Passage
    • Freshwater Turtles
    • Gardening For Wildlife
    • Gardening in Schools
    • Monarchs
    • National Wildlife Week
    • Photo Club
    • Pollinators
    • Right Whale
    • River Barriers
    • Rivers to Oceans Week
    • Teens in Nature
    • Wildlife in Winter
    • Young Adults in Nature
  • Resources
    • DIY
    • Downloads
      • └ Booklets & Handouts
      • └ Colouring Pages
      • └ E-cards
      • └ Podcasts
      • └ Reports & Papers
      • └ Wallpapers
      • └ Webinars
    • Events
    • Encyclopedias
      • └ Native Plants
      • └ Invasive Aquatic Species
      • └ Common Animal Fact Sheets
      • └ Common Plant Fact Sheets
    • For Educators
      • └ Curriculum Fit
      • └ Educational Units
      • └ Lesson Plans
      • └ Resource Sheets
    • Games
      • └ Interactive
      • └ Quizzes
      • └ Crafts & Activities
    • Printed Materials
      • └ Calendar
      • └ Magazines
      • └ Manuals
      • └ Posters
  • News & Media
    • Blogs
    • Brand Guidelines & Logos
    • In The News
    • Magazines
    • Newsletters
    • Press Releases
  • Why Support Wildlife
  • |
  • What We Do
  • |
  • Get Involved
Donate
Adopt
Facebook Twitter Wordpress Youtube Instagram Pintrest

What are Winter Bird Counts?

cwf-fcf.org > English > About CWF > FAQ > FAQs
  • About CWF
  • FAQ
  • Birds
  • Mammals
  • Fish
  • Reptiles & Amphibians
  • Plants
  • Insects
  • Habitat Protection

There are two main annual bird counts that Canadians participate in during the winter months – the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) and the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC).

The CBC started in 1900 by Frank Chapman, an ornithologist with the American Museum of Natural History. Concerned with declining bird populations, he organized the “Christmas Bird Census”. The hope was to help shift the tide from a hunting competition called “Side Hunt” where people competed to kill the most birds and other animals, to a conservation-oriented activity instead. The event in each location being surveyed was called a ‘count’ and the challenge was to note as many birds as they could find on Christmas day.

What started with 25 counts by 27 people, from Ontario to California has grown to more than 2,200 counts with over 63,000 counters all the way from the Arctic in North America down to the tip of South America!

Counts are performed on one day at Christmas time and are typically organized by local groups such as field naturalist clubs where the area in question (a 24 km diameter circle) is divided up, although individual efforts are also welcome. At the end of the day, the many lists are given to organizers to submit for analysis.

The GBBC, on the other hand, takes place for one to four days in February. Participants can count for 15 minutes for a single day, or for longer amounts of time for as many of the four days they wish. You can work as an individual or with family and friends and lists made are given directly to GBBC. And you don’t have to stick to backyards. You can create a separate list for a local park or school, too!

The benefits of both bird counts are far reaching. Not only do participants enjoy getting out into nature and seeing our winter birds with like-minded people but the information gathered is used in many important ways.

The data on its own, and when merged with other surveys such as the summer Breeding Bird Survey, helps researchers monitor the status of bird populations and patterns. This in turn leads to understanding how weather, diseases and other factors are influencing our feathered friends.

But it goes further. The information is used in many high level reports and has helped identify threats to both birds and their habitat. This has led to adding birds to the Species at Risk Act lists, such as the western screech owl and Newfoundland red crossbill. Conservation efforts for many bird species are thanks to these Citizen Scientist activities.

So no matter your age, expertise or abilities, all are welcome. Visit these links for details on a count near you.

O’ Christmas Tree

Christmas crunch time. You’ve got five holiday parties to attend in the next three days, Fido has ripped apart the gifts you just finished wrapping, and you’ve eaten half your stash of shortbread cookies from...

Read More

All About Birds

Birds are undoubtedly the form of Canadian wildlife that people most often enjoy watching. The variety of bird species and their ability to live within close proximity of human habitation makes them accessible...

Read More
arrow

Learn more

Facebook Twitter Wordpress Youtube Instagram Pinterest
CWF

About Us

  • Ways to Give
  • Contact Us
  • Supporter Centre
  • Corporate Sponsorship
  • Careers
  • Funding
  • Board of Directors
  • Foundation
  • Reports
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy & Policies

What We Do

  • Endangered Species & Biodiversity
  • Lakes & Rivers
  • Coasts & Oceans
  • Forests & Fields
  • Education & Leadership
  • Connecting With Nature

Explore

  • Agriculture & Habitat
  • American Eels
  • Aquaculture
  • Bats
  • Below Zero
  • Bioblitz
  • Canadian Conservation Awards
  • Canadian Conservation Corps
  • #DoMoreForWildlife
  • Fish Passage
  • Freshwater Turtles
  • Gardening For Wildlife
  • Great Canadian Campout
  • Monarchs
  • Mother Goose
  • Photo Club
  • Pollinators
  • Reconnecting Canadians
  • Right Whale
  • River Barriers
  • Salmon
  • Rivers to Oceans Week
  • Wild About Birds
  • WILD Education
  • WILD Family Nature Club
  • WILD Outside
  • WILD Spaces

News & Media

  • Blogs
  • Newsletters
  • Press Releases
  • Magazines
  • In the News
  • Branding Guidelines & Logos

Resources

  • DIY
  • Downloads
  • Encyclopedias
  • Events
  • For Educators
  • Games
  • Reports & Papers
  • Manuals

Partner Websites

  • AquaticHabitat.ca
  • BanWithAPlan.org
  • Canadian Marine Animal Response
  • Foundation
  • Hinterland Who's Who
  • iNaturalist.ca
  • Love Your Lake
  • Quest for Canada's Great Whales
Français - Accueil

© 2021 Canadian Wildlife Federation. All Rights Reserved.

Charitable registration # 10686 8755 RR0001