Take part in North America’s longest-running citizen science project by joining one of six Christmas Bird Counts at various locations on Vancouver Island Saturday and Sunday.
Bird Studies Canada is hosting the events, which began in 1900. Counts take place in more than 2,000 locations in the Western Hemisphere.
The information collected forms one of the world’s largest sets of wildlife survey data. The results are compiled by Bird Studies Canada and the Audubon Society, and shared with scientists and hobbyists to assess population trends and distribution of birds.
Volunteers work in teams, counting all the birds they can find on a single day within a 24-kilometre-diametre region that stays the same from year to year.
This weekend, there are counts in six such areas on Vancouver Island: Victoria, Sidney-South Salt Spring, Pender Island, Galiano-North Salt Spring, Nanoose Bay and Comox. Other counts take place until Jan. 5.
Victoria has one of the largest Christmas Bird Count teams in North America.
They are organized, usually as group efforts, at the local level, often by a birding club or naturalist organization.
The bird count is free to join. The Victoria bird count takes place on Saturday in an area centred around the Marigold neighbourhood. To join, contact Ann Nightingale at [email protected].
For more information on the times and locations of other bird counts, go to christmasbirdcount.ca.
• Get your children involved at the Christmas Bird Count for Kids, a family-friendly contribution to the Christmas Bird Count, at Beckwith Park on Saturday.
At the event, hosted by the Rocky Point Bird Observatory, children can learn about local bird species and contribute to citizen science under the guidance of experienced birdwatchers — no birding experience necessary.
Make sure your young ones wear sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate clothing, as the activity takes place outdoors.
The event is free to join. It runs 1 to 3 p.m. at Beckwith Park, 857 Beckwith Ave. For more information, go to rpbo.org or Facebook.
Get a taste of Christmas past at historic houses
Two historic houses are decked out in their seasonal finery to give visitors a peek at Christmas past in Victoria.
• For two magical weeks, visitors can step through the doors of one of the oldest houses in British Columbia and experience what Christmas would have been like in Victoria more than a century ago, at the Royal B.C. Museum.
On Monday, Helmcken House will welcome visitors to its annual Old-Fashioned Christmas re-enactment, with period decorations, music and stories that will take you back to Christmas past.
Admission to the house, built in 1852, is free for the season.
Doors are open noon to 4 p.m. daily (closed on Dec. 25) until Dec. 31.
The house, still on its original site, is adjacent to the Royal B.C. Museum at 675 Belleville St.
For more information, go to royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
• View winter and Christmas-themed displays, lights and holly at an open house at Point Ellice House on Sunday.
The historic house, which overlooks the Gorge waterway, is one of the oldest homes in Victoria. Built in 1862, it features an Italianate Villa-style popular during the 19th century.
It was occupied by several generations of the same family for 108 years before being sold to the province in 1975.
Apart from a few personal possessions, the family left everything behind, leaving the house with one of North America’s largest collections of late Victorian and early Edwardian objects in their original setting.
A special admission rate of $5 for adults and free for children 16 and under is in effect.
The open house runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday (it repeats Dec. 23) at 2616 Pleasant St.
For more information, go to pointellicehouse.com.
Sing with lieutenant-governor at open house
Accompany the lieutenant-governor of British Columbia in song at the annual Holiday Open House and Caroling event at Government House on Friday.
Join the Hon. Janet Austin and Louise Rose for an evening singing seasonal favourites and Christmas classics in the Government House ballroom.
There will be refreshments and a chance to check out the house in all its festive splendour.
The event is typically well attended, so arrive early to avoid disappointment.
Free admission. Donations for The Mustard Seed will be gratefully accepted. The event runs 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Government House, 1401 Rockland Ave. There is ample free parking onsite, and the facility is wheelchair accessible.
For more information, go to ltgov.bc.ca.
Usher in solstice on the Gorge
Celebrate light in a season of darkness at Lights on the Gorge, a community event sponsored by Gorge Tillicum Community Association on Sunday at the Victoria Canoe and Kayak Club.
The annual gathering ushers in the upcoming Winter Solstice with tree decorating, music, seasonal readings and carol singing.
Enjoy a Mummer’s Play and Morris dancing by Quicksbottom Morris.
A tree light-up and lantern-and-drum procession takes place as dusk falls.
The event is free to attend and is suitable for all ages. It runs 1:30 to 5:15 p.m. Sunday at the Victoria Canoe and Kayak Club, 355 Gorge Rd. West. For more information and a complete schedule, go to gorgetillicum.ca.
Make crafts at Beaver Lake nature house
Join CRD Regional Parks naturalists in the spirit of the season at Forest Festivities, an all-ages drop-in program Saturday and Sunday at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park.
Young ones will have an opportunity to make recycled cards, crafts and even a small green swag with Scotch broom.
All materials and instructions are included — you just supply the creativity and take home your creations.
The event is free to attend and is suitable for all ages.
Drop in anytime between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Nature Centre at Beaver Lake. The activity is wheelchair friendly.
Ample parking is available. The park is on B.C. Transit routes #70, #72 or #75. Please leave pets at home. For more information, go to crd.bc.ca/parks.
Find light and calm in in longest-night service
If you have experienced loss or other changes in your life — or simply find it difficult to enter into the Christmas spirit at this time of year — you might find comfort at the Longest Night Service on Sunday at St. Luke’s Anglican Church.
The service, billed as Light in the Midst of Darkness — is a joint ministry of St. Luke’s and the Lutheran Church of the Cross.
Attendees are invited to enter into a quiet holy time and share in remembrance and hope.
All are welcome.
The service starts at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, 3821 Cedar Hill Cross Rd. (corner of Cedar Hill Road).
For more information, go to stlukesvictoria.ca.
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