Holiday Winter Bird Activities

What's Ahead! 

• Play the game “Birds of Canada”​
• Learn about the birds in our area​
• Understand the purpose for the bird count​
• Make a Holiday gift package for your family​

3

What are Winter Bird Counts

Everyday citizens who are enthusiastic about birds participate in some scientific data gathering. In Canada, there are two bird counts:

A) The Christmas Bird Count (CBC)

B) The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC)

A) Christmas Bird Count

The CBC started way back in 1900 by Frank Chapman, a renowned ornithologist who worked with the American Museum of Natural History. Due to the declining bird population and Frank’s interest in supporting our feathered friends, he initiated the Christmas Bird Count

4

The goal of the bird count activity was to replace a hunting competition called “Side Hunt” where people participated to kill the most birds and other animals through a competition. The aim was to replace this activity with a conservation-based activity.

​

B. Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count takes place for four days in February.

​

First and foremost, the count has shifted interest in birding activity from hunting to a conservation-oriented activity.

​

​

What are Winter Bird Counts

Bird Game Instructions

• Which of these are the common birds in Canada?  
• Stand up for birds. Sit down for non-birds (The teacher could also use “Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down”)
• Use the next slide to play this game

Goal: The goal of the game is to recognize Canadian birds. 

Bird Game 

What Birds do You See During Winter? 

Think, Pair, Share

• With your classmates think, pair and share, the names of common winter birds in Canada

Common Winter Birds in Canada

​

Nuthatch

​

​

Redpoll 

Cedar Waxwing

Blue Jay 

American Goldfinch

Ruffed Grouse

Downy Woodpecker 

Northern Cardinal

• Take an excursion outside to count the birds in the area they have designated 
• Work in teams of three for the count There will be two spotters and one student to tally the count. You can change tasks so that everyone has an opportunity to spot birds and to tally!
• Estimate the number of winter birds you think you'll see in an hour of observation
• Use the sheet for counting
• There is a column to indicate your guess

Bird Count Activity Explanation

Winter Bird Count 

Christmas Bird Count Video   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jeYGvWTH1k

​

Visit Birds Canada to learn more. ​

Bird Counting time! 

Now it is time to go outside and count the number of the different types of birds! 

• Remember! You will be working in groups of three 
• Two spotters  
• One student to tally the count

Bird Count Activity: Take a Guess

13

​

• How can we support the birds in our area that stay here all winter? How will I know what to feed each type of bird?
• Is the bird population increasing or decreasing? How would we find out?
• Do birds live in a community, or do they live alone? What did we see during our Bird Count Excursion?
• How can we make sure our birds have enough habitat to survive?

DISCUSSION

14

1. How does your count information support birds? Name two ways.

​

2) Using the Government of Canada’s species at risk public registry, list two species of birds in your area that are now on the “Species at Risk” list.

Species search - Species at risk registry (canada.ca)

After: Why Count the Birds? 

Designing a Holiday Card 

Goal: To create a holiday card and information package to explain the Holiday Season Bird count.

​

Instructions:  ​

​

You have made a bird counting invitation package for your family members. In it is all the information you need to go on a bird counting adventure. You will select the location and time with your family members. 

Holiday Card Checklist 

Use this checklist to make sure you have included all of the sections of the card so your family members can count the birds successfully.

For more information, please follow this link to the WILD Spaces online classroom