The storms of December 2006 will not fade quickly from the memory of many residents of Cortes Island, but somehow sandwiched in-between all the snow and rain and wind the Cortes Island Christmas Bird Count (CBC) found a calm day! The CBC is co-sponsored annually by the Cortes Island Museum and Bird Studies Canada and the results of the count are recorded with the Audubon Society, the organization that started the CBC 107 years ago.

On December 17th a group of 20 enthusiastic birders split into 5 groups to cover the beaches, lakes and forests of Cortes. One group also toured Gorge Harbour and Marina Spit by boat checking for sea and shore birds. In addition, 12 people watched their feeders and yards during the 24 hour period adding a number of exciting species. All the participants' close observations identified 81 different species of birds, a record number for this count!

A few birds were noted that are typically not spotted in this area during the winter, including two hummingbird species - Rufous and Anna's (depending no doubt on the feeder's they frequented). Unusual waterfowl included an American Coot and Trumpeter Swans on Gunflint Lake, a Yellow-billed Loon near Squirrel Cove, two female Wood Ducks at a swamp bordering Anvil Lake, and two unusual species of geese a Greater White-fronted in the orchard at Linnaea and a Greylag mixed in with Canada Geese in a field near Smelt Bay. Six Black-capped Chickadees were spotted in one backyard along with the most commonly seen Chestnut-backed Chickadees.

The following species, though around Cortes during the winter, were observed this year for the first time or only rarely seen on past counts. A Western Screech Owl was heard early in the morning of the count in the Smelt Bay area. The large Western Grebe, and 2 Marbled Murrelets were spotted from the shore feeding in Uganda Passage. Two Long-tailed ducks were frequenting Cortes Bay again this year. Five Brant's Cormorants, a bird typically in coastal waters with active tidal rips were observed near the mouth of Cortes Bay. One White-crowned and one Golden-crowned sparrow were recorded by the groups covering the south part of the island.

The Golden-crowned Kinglet was one species that seemed more numerous in 2006 than in previous years. Often seen high in the tops of trees, this year they were observed feeding on the ground, eating tiny white grubs possibly dropping from the cones of Douglas Fir trees.

The day was a success with the help of all the birders willing to share their knowledge and skills. Thanks also to Suzanne for providing a yummy hot lunch so we could thaw out and regroup for the afternoon. With the power outages leaving the Manson's Community Hall & Museum quite frigid, Lynne & Joe Jordan kindly offered their home overlooking Manson's Lagoon (a great birding spot) as the warm gathering place.

If you missed the CBC but would like to join in the Museum's spring birding day, watch the flyers or the Cortes web-page in early April for details of the event. No previous birding experience is necessary, and it is a great way to have fun and improve your birding skills.