Christmas Bird Count looks at avian health in Winnipeg, North America [Video]

When you look out your window this weekend, chances are you will see birds but have you ever wondered how many feathered friends are flying around?

The Christmas Bird Count seeks those answers every year. The long-running tally tradition started as an alternative to hunting in 1900 and has been running constantly in Manitoba since 1925, with Minnedosa hosting the first count in 1908.

Now occurring worldwide, communities pick a day near the holidays and volunteers count the number of birds and species in the area. The totals contribute to a giant set of data that can be used to gauge habitat and avian health in general.

A great horned owl, a very popular bird in Manitoba, is seen in Rossmere Crescent. *Submitted photo: Rudolf Koes)

“With more than 2,000 counts across North America, it really gives scientists that use this data a good idea of what the trends are, …