VANCOUVER — B.C.’s budding birders took up their binoculars on Saturday to count the birds at Stanley Park.
As part of the eighth annual Christmas Bird Count for Kids, families attended a training session before breaking into groups led by experienced birders to identify and count birds. All bird sightings were submitted to the eBird database to help inform conservation research.
“We’re counting our way to conservation,” said Dannie Piezas, environmental educator with the Stanley Park Ecology Society.
“When people encounter wild things in their habitat and are given the tools to measure wildlife health — even a pencil and a simple pair of binoculars — they can develop a great care for their local ecosystems.”
Stanley Park is a haven for birds and birdwatchers at all times of the year, but especially during the colder months when mild temperatures and rich coastal habitats act as a magnet to seabirds and songbirds escaping the worst of the Canadian winter, he added.
“For families that are new to birdwatching and exploring nature, participating in the Christmas Bird Count for Kids event is such a rewarding experience,” said Louise Pedersen, executive director of NatureKids B.C.
