[NatureNS] Winter Birding and Christmas Counts in Nova Scotia

Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:21:24 -0400
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca, NS-RBA@yahoogroups.com
From: Blake Maybank <maybank@ns.sympatico.ca>
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Hi All;

December 1 is tomorrow, and with it the start of the Winter Birding 
Season.   The web page is up and ready to receive sightings.  The URL is:

http://tinyurl.com/nswinter

I'll be watching for sightings posted to NatureNS, the NS-RBA (Rare 
Bird Alert), eBird, and the NSBS Facebook page.  Or you can send 
sightings to me directly, to my email at the bottom of this message.

This madness is pursued country-wide, and if you are unfamiliar with 
the concept, it is nicely (and enthusiatically) summarised by Ryan 
Dudragne of Saskatchewan, a province whose residents know winter well.
"It's time to don your caps and boots, fill a thermos with hot cider, 
grab your birding gear, and seek out some species for the winter 
list!  And although the true winter season technically does not 
arrive until the 21st of the month, once December arrives many people 
(birders included) automatically associate it with winter.  December 
1st is the start of our official winter birding season, and of 
course, the Winter Bird List.
For those who may be unfamiliar with the concept, it basically 
involves a frenzied search during the first couple of weeks to 
squeeze in as many late migrants as possible before the onslaught of 
usually more severe weather conditions.  Christmas Bird Counts often 
jack up our total, as do normal winter activities.  Plus, it gives us 
birders something to do for the three slowest birding months of the 
year other than sitting idle on our hands until March.
To me, at least, a winter list is great for maintaining birding 
enthusiasm, and gets a person active and out of the house to ward off 
the winter doldrums that tend to creep up mid season.   Anyone and 
everyone is encouraged to report their sightings, as well as those 
reliable records that you may hear about (but be prepared to back 
these up).    So, keep those feeders stocked, your binos ready, your 
calendars set, and stay tuned to go!!"
Last year our Nova Scotia total was 198, slightly above 
average.   But it would be nice to reach 200 this time around.

Of course, Christmas Bird Counts are a very important component of 
winter birding, and as in previous years I've placed information 
regarding Nova Scotia's Christmas Bird Counts on a web page for handy 
reference.   The URL is:

http://tinyurl.com/ns-cbcs

As in previous seasons the first weekend (Dec. 17-18) promises to be 
a busy one, but there are many counts from which to choose throughout 
the three weeks of the CBC season.   If you know the dates of some of 
the counts that have yet to report, please let me know.

Cheers, and good (winter) birding,

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blake Maybank
maybank@ns.sympatico.ca

author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia"
http://maybank.tripod.com/BSNS.htm

White's Lake, Nova Scotia, Canada

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<font size=4>Hi All;<br><br>
December 1 is tomorrow, and with it the start of the
</font><font size=4 color="#0000FF"><b>Winter Birding
Season</b></font><font size=4>.&nbsp;&nbsp; The web page is up and ready
to receive sightings.&nbsp; The URL is:<br><br>
</font><font size=4 color="#0000FF"><b>
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/nswinter" eudora="autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/nswinter<br><br>
</a></b></font><font size=4>I'll be watching for sightings posted to
</font><font size=4 color="#0000FF"><b>NatureNS</b></font><font size=4>,
the </font><font size=4 color="#0000FF"><b>NS-RBA</b></font><font size=4>
(Rare Bird Alert),
</font><font size=4 color="#0000FF"><b>eBird</b></font><font size=4>, and
the </font><font size=4 color="#0000FF"><b>NSBS
Facebook</b></font><font size=4> page.&nbsp; Or you can send sightings to
me directly, to my email at the bottom of this message.<br><br>
This madness is pursued country-wide, and if you are unfamiliar with the
concept, it is nicely (and enthusiatically) summarised by Ryan Dudragne
of Saskatchewan, a province whose residents know winter well. 
<dl>
<dd>“It's time to don your caps and boots, fill a thermos with hot cider,
grab your birding gear, and seek out some species for the winter
list!&nbsp; And although the true winter season technically does not
arrive until the 21st of the month, once December arrives many people
(birders included) automatically associate it with winter.&nbsp; December
1st is the start of our official winter birding season, and of course,
the Winter Bird List. <br>

<dd>For those who may be unfamiliar with the concept, it basically
involves a frenzied search during the first couple of weeks to squeeze in
as many late migrants as possible before the onslaught of usually more
severe weather conditions.&nbsp; Christmas Bird Counts often jack up our
total, as do normal winter activities.&nbsp; Plus, it gives us birders
something to do for the three slowest birding months of the year other
than sitting idle on our hands until March.<br>

<dd>To me, at least, a winter list is great for maintaining birding
enthusiasm, and gets a person active and out of the house to ward off the
winter doldrums that tend to creep up mid season.&nbsp;&nbsp; Anyone and
everyone is encouraged to report their sightings, as well as those
reliable records that you may hear about (but be prepared to back these
up).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So, keep those feeders stocked, your binos ready,
your calendars set, and stay tuned to go!!”
</dl>Last year our Nova Scotia total was 198, slightly above
average.&nbsp;&nbsp; But it would be nice to reach 200 this time
around.<br><br>
Of course, Christmas Bird Counts are a very important component of winter
birding, and as in previous years I've placed information regarding Nova
Scotia's Christmas Bird Counts on a web page for handy
reference.&nbsp;&nbsp; The URL is:<br><br>
</font><font size=4 color="#0000FF"><b><u>
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/ns-cbcs" eudora="autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/ns-cbcs<br><br>
</a></u></b></font><font size=4>As in previous seasons the first weekend
(Dec. 17-18) promises to be a busy one, but there are many counts from
which to choose throughout the three weeks of the CBC season.&nbsp;&nbsp;
If you know the dates of some of the counts that have yet to report,
please let me know.<br><br>
Cheers, and good (winter) birding,<br><br>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
Blake Maybank<br&