Photo by Michelle Jean

Christmas Bird Count

Christmas Bird Count, Boxing Day 2022

The 2022 Christmas Bird Count (Boxing Day) was very well attended this year with fifteen groups conducting counts on the trails and surrounding area around Elk Island National Park. Two groups counted at their bird feeders outside of the Park. Seventeen species were identified with a total number of 345 birds counted. Numerous mammals were documented including a short tail weasel. The weather this year was -11 degrees Celsius with partially cloudy skies, much nicer than last years -29 degrees Celsius and overcast. Thank you Elk Island National Park for supporting the Friends of Elk Island Society with suppling shelter and warmth at Tawayik Lake Shelter. Hope to see you all back for the 2023 Christmas Bird Count!

A total of 17 species were spotted or heard. The birds counted were as follows:

• 8 Ruffed Grouse

• 4 Rock Dove

• 18 Downy Woodpeckers

• 24 Hairy Woodpeckers

• 6 Pileated Woodpeckers

• 42 Blue Jays

• 28 Black-billed Magpies

• 30 Common Ravens

• 149 Black-capped Chickadees

• 7 Boreal Chickadees

• 14 White-Breasted Nuthatches

• 1 Pine Grosbeak

• 7 American Crows

• 2 Brown Creepers

• 2 Great Grey Owls

• 2 Red Crossbills

• 2 White -winged Crossbills

• 1 Northern Flicker

All of this information has been forwarded to the Audubon Society, to be recorded with Christmas Bird Counts held all over North America. 

Norm Cameron (Compiler) on behalf of the Friends of Elk Island Society