Christmas Bird Count 2023

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Get your binos and warm clothes ready!

Our annual Christmas Bird Count will be on Thursday December 28th, 2023!  Ron Jasiuk and Russ McGillivary are organizing this year’s event. We will shortly be sending out details and invitations, so if you miss them, Contact us!

Headwaters Nature Christmas Bird Count areas

Across North America naturalists have been participating in Christmas Bird Counts for well over 100 years. The first Headwaters Nature Christmas Bird Count was conducted on 12 Dec 1987 when the club was know as the “Upper Credit Field Naturalists.” The citizen science data gathered by volunteers is used to track changes in populations and ranges of bird species.

Searching for birds is a great way to spend the day. It’s fun often exciting and you get to spend part or all of your day with fellow bird nerds. The circled area on the map is our “count area.” We only count birds that are within the circle. Our count circle is divided in six sub-areas each of which is covered by a team overseen by a team leader.

Two ways for you to participate:

a) CBC 2023 – Outside Mode

Spend part or all of the day outside looking for birds. Most searching is conducted by driving along backroads while scanning skies, fields and bird feeders. There are some sections (conservation areas, local woods) that are covered by foot. Depending on your level of bird identification ability you can choose to search for birds on your own, with some friends or join a group that has some experienced birders.

If this interests you, send an email to Ron at ‘rjasiuk6 at gmail’. Let him know that you’re
interested and whether you would prefer to bird on your own, with your own group or join a
group. Additionally let him know If you have a preference as to where you would like to bird.

b) CBC 2023 – Indoor Mode (AKA Feeder Watch)

No need to leave your home to do this. The day is spent monitoring your bird feeders, listing bird species and number of individuals.

If you’re interested in doing a feeder watch contact Russ at ‘russmcgillivray at hotmail.com’.
He will send you information on how to conduct a feeder watch and bird checklist for
recording birds at your feeder.

Post-Count Pot Luck Get Together

Traditionally, count day ends with a pot luck supper for all members regardless whether they were counting or not. It’s a great time to socialize with one another and share stories about the days’ sightings and adventures. The location for the pot luck will be at the home of R Jasiuk and A Moum in Mono. More information and directions will be forthcoming.

Riverside Woods Field Trip

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Riverside Woods – Headwaters Nature Field Trip: 2023 December 2nd

Ron Jasiuk led a wonderful and wonder-filled field trip. The plan was to wander the trails of the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s recently acquired Riverside Woods Nature Preserve looking for and identifying plants, animals, fungi and anything else that would catch our the interest. The plan was thwarted by snow that completely blanketed the ground and transformed the late fall landscape into a snow covered wonderland. Two hours was not enough time to fully explore the preserve so we definitely need to return again.

Highlights:

  • During the 2h, 5km walk our group of 10 passed through a very mature White Pine plantation, several meadows, a bottom-land hardwood forest, several White Cedar stands and a large hillside dominated by Equisetum (Horsetail).
  • Our group included Headwaters Nature members and members of the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) and of the Mono Nordic Ski Club. There were lots of discussions about how our respective groups could make use of this area and support each other.
  • Seeing the onsite native wildflower seed garden set up by the BTC. Seeds produced in this garden will be used to re-wild sections of the preserve.
  • Learning about the interesting history of this property that was first purchased by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in 1946 to honour employees of the company that died during WW II.

Gary Hall from the BTC telling us about the acquisition and future plans for the preserve.
Gary is the Land Steward Co-ordinator and one of the Biodiversity leads for the Caledon Hills Club of the Bruce Trail Conservancy. Ron Jasiuk is the Land Stewared for the Caledon Hills Club of the Riverside Woods property.
Photo: Ian Darwin

 

One of the remnants indicating the presence of the Boy Scouts of Canada that owned the 200 acre property from 1957 to 2023. The property was purchased by the Bruce Trail Conservancy, and renamed Riverside Woods. (Scouts Canada last used this area in 2014.)
Photo: Ian Darwin

 

Traipsing through the very aesthetically appealing snowy hardwood forest.

 

Tracing our route through the preserve.
This map is in the parking lot off the 1st Line Mono.

 

Jane sets a new level of expectation for our field trips — homemade cookies as a reward for getting out there.

 

The silent woods are calling. What are you waiting for?

How to get there:  map to Riverside Woods

 

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