Bird Counts

Common Loons © Mike MacLeod

The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club facilitates in five types of bird counts: the Dundas IBA Bird Surveys, West End of Lake Ontario IBA Survey, Lake Ontario Midwinter Waterfowl Census, Alan Wormington Fall Bird Count, and Christmas Bird Counts.

Dundas IBA Bird Surveys

The Dundas IBA Bird Surveys take place on a five-month schedule, covering the corridor of natural lands from Summit Muskeg through Dundas Valley to Cootes Paradise. Read previous Dundas IBA Bird Surveys

West End of Lake Ontario (WELO) IBA Survey

The West End of Lake Ontario (WELO) IBA Survey takes place on the second Saturday each month from January through April. This count has 17 areas ranging from West of Dixie Rd, Mississauga to Western Niagara-on-the-Lake.

To participate or find out more about the WELO IBA Survey, contact Chris Motherwell at cmtrain@cmotherwell.com for more information.

Lake Ontario Midwinter Waterfowl Census (a.k.a. the Duck Count)

The Lake Ontario Midwinter Waterfowl Census (a.k.a, the “Duck Count”) takes place each January, counting the waterfowl and Bald Eagles of Lake Ontario.

To participate or find out more about the Duck Count, contact Chris Motherwell at cmtrain@cmotherwell.com for more information.

Alan Wormington Fall Bird Count (FBC)

The Alan Wormington Fall Bird Count (FBC) is on the first Sunday in November each year, and encompasses the entirety of the Hamilton Study Area (HSA), a 25-mile (40.2336 km) radius circle from Dundurn Castle. Learn more about the Fall Bird Count

Christmas Bird Counts

We host two Christmas Bird Counts: The Hamilton CBC is held annually on December 26 (Boxing Day), and is one of the oldest CBCs in Canada, having begun in 1921. The Hamilton CBC covers a 7.5-mile (12 km) radius, centred at Dundurn Castle. Beginning in 2016, the Peach Tree CBC covers an area east of Hamilton that includes the Lake Ontario shoreline at Grimsby, south through the Niagara Escarpment, continuing on through rural farms and woodlots all the way to Caistorville. Learn more and sign up for the Christmas Bird Counts