Common Loons © Mike MacLeod
Bird Counts
The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club facilitates five types of bird counts: Christmas Bird Counts, West End of Lake Ontario KBA Survey, Lake Ontario Midwinter Waterfowl Census, Alan Wormington Fall Bird Count, and Dundas IBA Bird Surveys.
Christmas Bird Counts
The Hamilton CBC is held annually on December 26th (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.
The Flamborough CBC began in 2021 and is held annually on December 30th. It covers the area between Hamilton and Guelph.
The Peach Tree CBC began in the 2015-2016 season and 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. The exact calendar date on this count varies but tends to be in early January.
Learn more about and sign up for the Christmas Bird Counts
West End of Lake Ontario (WELO) KBA Survey
The West End of Lake Ontario (WELO) IBA Survey takes place on the second Saturday each month from November 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 KBA Survey, contact Chris Motherwell at cmtrain@cmotherwell.com for more information.
Lake Ontario Midwinter Waterfowl Census (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)
Dundas IBA Bird Surveys
The Dundas IBA Bird Surveys took place on a five-month schedule, covering the corridor of natural lands from Summit Muskeg through Dundas Valley to Cootes Paradise. It has been on pause since the pandemic.