Spring time sees Ospreys return from where they go in the winter File Photo KDG

The Christmas bird count has 120 years of world wide data at the Audubon Society . Good to our feathered friends and be especially mindful of migratory birds as they are protected.

Here are some highlights of the bird count conducted by the Nicola Naturalists Society this winter in the Merritt BC area.

  • American Wigeon 74 up from 50 high
  • Northern Pintail 17 up from a high of 2
  • Greater White fronted Goose 1
  • Northern Shoveler 1
  • Peregrine Falcon 1
  • American Kestrels 6 up from a high of 3
  • Brown Creeper 4 up from a high of 2
  • Black Capped Chickadees 96 up from a high of 58
  • Steller’s Jay 38 up from a high of 37

7 teams of counters were out and had what the club called a pleasant day of counting . A notation that species counts are often effected by food supply an exceptional Douglas Fir cone drop made for a high count in Pine Siskins last year. Siskins were missed this year and joined 2 other species well below average: American Gold finch 9 ( average of 48) and Robins 1 ( average 23).

Source NNA

On this Day: March 3rd 1923

Time Magazine is published.