Mike Klotz described it as a “COVID-style” bird count.
For the 121st edition of the annual Christmas bird count, people had to follow coronavirus restrictions that meant fewer people in the field than previous counts, explained Klotz, organizer of the local event.
“It’s two people or your bubble [the select few friends or family members someone can have close contact with],” and if members of a team are not in a bubble, they had to stay at least six feet apart while in the field, he told the Langley Advance Times on Sunday, Dec. 27, as the count got underway.
Klotz and Carli Wyllie, who were looking for birds together, were also in each other’s bubble, so they could be closer than six feet.
“We’re okay, but there are some other groups out there who will have to maintain their distance,” Klotz remarked.
Another difference will see the usual post-count get-together featuring hot cocoa replaced with a Zoom online meeting, he said.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Drier weather produces larger numbers for 120th annual bird count in Langley
With fewer people taking part, the numbers of bird spotted was still about the same as previous years, with 7,800 individual birds counted in the northwest Langley sector, about 100 birds less than last year.
At Brydon lagoon in Langley City, Nehal Saleh and her family – husband James Boone and sons Zach, 8 and Aden, 6 were within their familial bubble, along with grandmother Lea Rachi.
READ ALSO: Kids can collect vital bird data during Langley bird count
It was the third year for the Langley-based Explore Science Club to host their annual kids count.
Saleh, who founded the club that offers programs throughout the year to get kids excited about science, explained the more than 20 families taking part this year were scheduled at different times throughout the day to ensure distances are maintained. Families had a three-day window to take part.
“We’re hoping to start a Christmas tradition,” Saleh enthused.
READ ALSO: Keeping a careful distance, participants prepare for 121st annual bird count in Langley
Christmas bird counts in the Lower Mainland are each conducted on a single day between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5.
Each one is organized by a birding club or naturalist organization.
READ MORE: Langley Christmas bird count is part of 118-year-old tradition
They all, including the White Rock - Surrey- Langley count, are part of a world-wide count that has been going on for about 121 years.
An early-winter bird census by the National Audubon Society, it is conducted with the help of more than 70,000 volunteers across Canada, the U.S. and many other countries in the Western Hemisphere.
It got started as a humane alternative to competitions held in the late 1900s between hunters to see who could kill the most birds.
There is still an element of competition, with participants looking to identify the most birds or to find unique species.
Data from the local count is used to identify significant bird population changes and help direct conservation planning.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
