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Birders needed for annual Ladner Christmas count

It’s that time of year again. The long-running Ladner Christmas Bird Count will take place Saturday, Dec. 21.
bird count
The long-running Ladner Christmas Bird Count will take place Saturday, Dec. 21.

It’s that time of year again.

The long-running Ladner Christmas Bird Count will take place Saturday, Dec. 21.

Open to all experienced birders as well as those just looking for an enjoyable outdoor activity during the holiday season, the count also includes areas of Tsawwassen, south Richmond and Point Roberts.

It's part of the regional Christmas Bird Count, which is a component of a much larger count across the continent.

Counts happen in over 2,000 locations throughout the Western Hemisphere.

It's the 120th year for the counts, an ongoing project of the National Audubon Society in the United States and coordinated in Canada by Bird Studies Canada.

Each Christmas Bird Count is conducted on a single day between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5.

Counts are carried out within a 24-kilometre diameter circle that stays the same from year to year.

The Ladner count, which dates back to the 1950s, has a few ways people can participate. One is by joining a small team of birders as it drives or walks around its area, counting all birds that team members spot. Drivers, recorders and spotters are all needed.

Another way to participate is to stay home and count the birds that come to your feeders or in your yard.

It once again starts at 8 a.m. at various locations.

Area leaders will call volunteers with the information once they are assigned a team.

The Ladner count is usually at or near the top of all counts in Canada. At 128 species last year, it was second to Victoria which topped the country at 140 species.

Anyone interested in signing up should contact Jude Grass at 604-219-2043 or judegrass@shaw.ca.