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10 /January 2023 By Chery! Anderson How the count started, and how the data is used today. Prior to the turn of the 20th century, hunters en- gaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas "Side Hunt." They would choose sides and go afield with their guns—whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won. Be- ginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist and con- servationist Frank M. Chap- man, proposed a "Christmas Bird Census" that would count birds during the holidays ra- ther than hunt them. This be- gan the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) which now takes place any day from December 14 to January 5. The 25 counts com- pleted in 1900 have grown to hundreds of counts and thou- sands of bird counters throughout North America. The data collected in this long -running wildlife census is used to assess the health of bird populations and guide conservation actions. (www.audubon.org/ conservation/science/ Christmas Bird Count The Prince Edward County Counts In Prince Edward County there are two main opportu- nities to participate in a CBC. The Prince Edward Point Count is based on a circle that extends from and in- cludes Prince Edward Point to Adolphustown including most of the Cressy peninsula and the Black River area. The Sandbanks Count is centred on the park and sweeps through the Point Petre Pro- vincial Wildlife Area and are- as in between. As a result, the birds across the South Shore are well documented in December every year. The Prince Edward Point Count was held on December 17. Six people counted birds in the eastern portion of the South Shore including the waters of South Bay and Lake Ontario on the other side of the peninsula. We docu- mented 46 different species including at least three Bald Eagles. Nine people joined the South Shore portion of the Sandbanks Count on Decem- The South Marysburgh Mirror Included in the 2022 count was this Red Shouldered Hawk.—Photo by Joanne Dewey ber 20. It was a beautiful day and through a combination of driving the roads and walking the trails we tallied 43 species including a Purple Sandpiper found by Dale Smith, Mikaela Naumann and Paul Jones at Charwell Point. The Sandpiper is a rare visitor to the County this late in the year and this is only the second time it has been found on the Christmas Count.The outing is fun for participants, gathers im- portant data and is a healthy way to celebrate the holi- days. a Walker's 1955 County Road 17 Milford, ON KOK 2P0 Complete Automotive Service 613 476 2837 PERFECTLY PRESERVED 4 a For the Prince Edward Me Home The “Perfectly Preserved” team from the Prince Edward Coun- ty Memorial Hospital Auxiliary would like to thank everyone who supported us so generously in 2022. Your donations of jars and produce as well as your presence at the weekly Coun- ty markets and the Festival of Trees was greatly appreciated, and we look forward to seeing you all in 2023. Zack Lammes Excavating Septic Systems / Foundation Excavations / Hydro & ter Lines Lot Clearing Driveways /