Santa Claus may get all the credit for coming to town this time of year, but Julie Bauer is more excited about the Lincoln’s sparrow landing in Haines Junction this holiday season.
“I believe that’s the first year we’ve ever had one,” Bauer told the News over the phone on Dec. 27, 10 days after the community’s Christmas bird count.
The Christmas Bird Count was started by the National Audubon Society in December 1900. At the time, a prominent ornithologist turned the tables on the classic Christmas hunt by suggesting people count birds instead of killing them.
Initially, only a few dozen people were swayed enough by this suggestion to put down their guns. However, the count has since grown to include nearly 2,000 communities.
Primarily recreational, the data is also used for conservation and biology purposes.
Any community can participate in the count, which consists of choosing a day to monitor, observe and record the species spotted within a 24-kilometre radius from a set point.
In Haines Junction, that point is the muffin — a sculpture on the Alaska Highway that features some of the larger animals that can be found in Kluane National Park.
The goal of the count is to get a snapshot of the bird population and how it may or may not be changing.
Bauer said the Lincoln’s sparrow, which does count Alaska as part of its range, was spotted at a feeder in a yard. Six house sparrows, also rare for the region, were overwintering in that yard as well.
Bauer said the sparrows were among the minority for being spotted at a feeder. Most of the 19 species recorded in Haines Junction were spotted in the wild, away from feeders, by those who participated in the count on foot, by ski or by car.
“I think, being warm, the birds are kind of looking after themselves,” said Jenny Skelton, who ran the Christmas count on Dec. 26 in Watson Lake.
Skelton said when it’s warmer and easier to find food, she sees fewer birds at feeders.
Skelton has been involved with the count since 2014.
She said numbers this year were average in Watson Lake, which surprised her. She said it’s always interesting to see the count come in, especially in a year like this one, when one may assume warm weather will have an impact.
“Just when you think things are out of whack and you start adding things ups, they’re not out of whack, so to speak,” she said.
For a few examples, in Watson Lake, there were 44 chickadees this year versus 42 in 2022; 16 grey jays versus 12 in 2022; one junco versus nine in 2022; 128 pine grosbeaks compared to 165 in 2022; four hairy woodpeckers versus six in 2022; three ruffed grouse versus two in 2022; two crows versus three in 2022; and one willow ptarmigan both years.
Skelton did say one difference this year was that the distribution of birds varied from previous years. She said there were more sightings on the lake side of town this year than most.
Another difference is that the redpoll, a bird that typically clocks high numbers, had lower recorded sightings.
Bauer said the same was true of the count in the Junction, where she’s been involved with the count for 17 years.
She said redpolls and crossbills were underrepresented in the final numbers, and pine grosbeaks were abundant.
On Dec. 17, the day of the count, the weather was -2 C. That’s significantly warmer than the 2022 Christmas bird count, which was -38 C.
Bauer credits that warmer weather with getting 28 participants out.
She said the total species count of 19 is right in the middle of the average, which ranges from 16 to 21 species.
Still, you can hear a bit of disappointment in her voice when she talks about some of the exciting sightings recorded in the three days before and three days after the official count.
Those sightings can be put toward a weekly count, but don’t count in the official report for the day.
Still, she said, it was exciting to have them.
“The four species that were seen on count week were American Three-toed woodpecker, Downy woodpecker, Willow Ptarmigan and Northern shrike,” reads her report. “Libby Anderson observed the Shrike killing and carrying off a pine grosbeak. Willow Ptarmigan were observed by Karen and John while walking the Dezadeash wetlands. The Auriol ski crew saw no ptarmigan. Angela heard the two Great horned owls night of the count. No potluck this year but hopeful for 2024.”
There will be a second count at Kluane Lake on Dec. 30.
Bauer said this count dropped off for a few years, but was rejuvenated in 2014. The centre of its 24-kilometre radius is Christmas Creek.
Because this area is more remote, there are typically fewer bird counters and fewer species seen. However, she says that’s what makes it special.
“I really like this count as there are few feeders and you have to get outside for the day, usually take the entire day in that area,” she says. “We have a team of people that ski 20 kilometres to cover the backcountry. Sometimes the trail is set with snowmobiles and sometimes not.”
As long as the weather cooperates, she says it’s a nice tradition.
For those who might be interested in participating in future counts, or who just want to learn more about birds, Bauer said to start by sitting and watching a feeder and getting to know what birds look like. A lot of the time, you’ll realize you recognize the bird, even if you don’t necessarily know its name.
Another good option is to download an app like Merlin Bird ID. It plays vocalizations and gives descriptions of birds to help you positively identify the birds you’re seeing and hearing.
If you want to keep it analogue, a book and a pair of binoculars is a great start.
The Yukon Bird Club also offers regular field trips and guided walks.
Ultimately, she says the goal of the Christmas Bird Count is just to get people out and make them aware of birds.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a really good birder or just starting out,” she said.
Contact Amy Kenny at amy.kenny@yukon-news.com