Armed with binoculars and birdwatching apps, dozens of locals could be seen out and about in the capital region Friday for an annual tradition aimed at understanding wild bird populations.
Percy Zalasky was out in St. Albert for the Christmas Bird Count, a holiday tradition he has been taking part in for decades.
“It’s like a treasure hunt,” Zalasky said. “You always find something that you never know is going to be there, so it’s always exciting.”
The Christmas Bird Count is carried out by avian enthusiasts across North America on one day each holiday season.
It costs nothing to participate in, and bird watchers don’t even have to leave the house – with many simply counting the visitors at their backyard bird feeder.
The data collected is then used by researchers, conservation biologists and wildlife agencies to monitor the long-term health of bird populations, as well as inform strategies to protect birds and their habitats.
Zalasky is a bush beater, …