Welcome to the year 2012. It has been 8 and a half years since I began my birding career. For those of you who do not know me I am Nanaimo born and raised. I am a second year Bachelor of Science Degree Major in Biology at Vancouver Island University, with major interests in bird life and behavior and terrestrial ecology as well as conservation in our ever changing world.
This year I compiled our local Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count. I am still in the process of crunching numbers but it looks as though we will sit at 120 species, our typical number. Interesting trends include a very apparent lack of Red-breasted Nuthatch but a substantial number of Virginia Rail!
As I am sure many of you know 2011 brought us "The Big Year", a comical adventure of three birders and their passion for observing nature. The movie couldn't help but get me interested so today, a little late, but better than never, I finally made the decision that I would do a Birding Big Year in the Nanaimo Checklist Area.
The "Checklist of Birds of Greater Nanaimo", 2005, was prepared by local birders and naturalists Steve Baillie and Guy Monty on behalf of the Nanaimo Field Naturalists. The checklist area coverss from Nanoose Bay south to Ladysmith harbour. Also ncluded are the Islands of Gabriola, Protection, Newcastle and Mudge as well as the inland regions of "south Nanaimo" along the Nanaimo River hinterlands.
The checklist states 200 species of birds ranging from the common back yard birds to the ultra rare visitors of many moons ago. My goal for 2012 would be to see at least 175 species but I would be pleased to find more.
People are encouraged to report rare birds to the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store at 6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, B.C., V9T 2L8 250-390-3669 Toll-free: 1-888-249-4145, http://thebirdstore.blogspot.com/, to the British Columbia Rare Bird Alert at http://bcbirdalert.blogspot.com/, or to myself. Reporting the birds you see really helps me and other birders in our area.
I will update this blog with my reports whenever I bird. People are welcome to contact me at any time at my email ryancathers@yahoo.com
I look forward to documenting what could be this checklist's first Big Year.
Ryan Cathers,
Nanaimo, BC
ryancathers.zenfolio.com
No comments:
Post a Comment