What is the Christmas Bird Count?

The Christmas Bird Count originated in 1900 and now takes place in thousands of locations each winter. Volunteer participants go out during a dedicated day between Dec 14 to Jan 5 to list all the birds they see in a 24 km diameter circle around their community. The information collected by volunteers provide important data used by conservation biologists and environmental planners to evaluate distribution and population variations in winter birds.

In Canada, the Christmas Bird Count is organized through Birds Canada, in partnership with the National Audubon Society. For more information on the CBC and to find count circles near you: Birds Canada - Christmas Bird Count page.

TIMMINS CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

The Timmins Christmas Bird Count takes place every year in December. For over 30 years, local volunteer birdwatchers have been collecting important data on winter birds in the area by joining the count within a 24km diameter circle around Timmins: see BirdsCanada Timmins Christmas Bird Count PDF Map.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

The 32nd Timmins Christmas Bird Count will take place on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025

Sign up for the Field Count or Feeder Count by contacting timminsbirds@gmail.com (it is not mandatory, but knowing how many participants will be joining us will help us distribute the routes)

FIELD COUNT PARTICIPANTS

How it works: Field participants meet at 7am on count day. As a field counter, you (or your group) will be assigned a route or a specific area inside the 24 km diameter circle around Timmins where you will go out and list the birds you encounter while documenting the time spent counting and the distance covered.

The Field Count can be done by walking a local trail, snowshoeing in the forest, cross-country skiing, travelling short distances by vehicle or snowmobile and stopping every 100-200 meters approx. to actively listen and look for birds. Field counters can also go out and do nocturnal owl search within the 24hr period, before or after daylight.

Timmins Christmas Bird Count - FIELD - Instructions (PDF)
Timmins Christmas Bird Count: FIELD COUNT DATA SHEET (PDF)
Timmins Christmas Bird Count - Winter Checklist of Birds (PDF)
Rare bird documentation form: to fill and return to the compiler if you encounter a rare bird, or a bird that isn't usually in Timmins in winter: Timmins Christmas Bird Count: Birds Canada Rare Bird Documentation Form PDF

Meeting time/Location:

Sat. 20 Dec 2025, 7:00am to 7:30am: Distribution of routes- Mikes Restaurant (355 Algonquin Blvd.. E, Timmins) You are all welcome to come inside and join some of the participants for breakfast and/or coffee, or just come in to see the map, pick a route, and grab the data sheets and winter checklists! All are welcome to join us at Mikes whether they are doing the Feeder Watch or the Field Count.

Optional: Mid-day meetup: 12:30pm/1pm: We will meet again between 12h30pm and 1pm at Tim Horton's (400 Algonquin Blvd E) to pick up the morning data sheets, and to distribute the afternoon routes for those who wish to continue and help us cover the routes that still need covering.

ARE YOU NEW TO THE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT? Sign up for a guided Christmas Bird Count route by contacting timminsbirds@gmail.com or let us know on Sat morning if you'd like to be paired with an experienced participant.

FEEDER COUNT PARTICIPANTS

How it works: Feeder counters stay at home and count the birds in their yard, at their feeders on count day. They list all the birds they see in their yard, and note the duration of time spent actively watching for birds.

* Feeder participants have to confirm their participation and address a week before count day so that their address can be noted on the CBC count map to ensure field counters skip their yard to prevent counting the same birds.

More resources for Field and Feeder Count Participants:

PHOTO CHECKLIST: Timmins Winter Birds (PDF)
Illustrated Checklist of common birds you can expect in winter in Timmins (PDF - Print and fold brochure)
Rare bird documentation form: to fill and return to the compiler if you encounter a rare bird, or a bird that isn't usually in Timmins in winter: Timmins Christmas Bird Count: Birds Canada Rare Bird Documentation Form PDF

For more info, contact timminsbirds@gmail.com
To connect with other volunteer participants, as questions, share your sightings and photos, join the Timmins Christmas Bird Count/Recensement des oiseaux de Noël Facebook Group.

Join other Christmas Bird Counts in Northeastern Ontario: There are many other Christmas Bird Counts in northeastern Ontario that would love your help (Hearst, Kapuskasing, Moonbeam, Smooth Rock Falls, Iroquois Falls, Matachewan, Kirkland Lake, Hilliardton, etc...) For more info (dates and compiler's contact info) find a circle on the map here: Birds Canada Christmas Bird Count page.

Recensement des oiseaux de Noël de Timmins

Venez participer au Recensement des oiseaux de Noël de Timmins le 20 décembre, 2025!

Nous avons des rôles pour tous les bénévoles: Vous pouvez vous rendre sur le terrain et couvrir une zone désignée, vous joindre à des participants expérimentés, compter les oiseaux à vos mangeoires, ou même effectuer un recensement nocturne de chouettes et hiboux. Contactez le compilateur pour plus de détails.