To All Bird Enthusiasts! Saturday was so miserable, we are extending the count to Sunday. Please send your reports to cimastwincomm.ca.

Since 2004, the Cortes Island Museum has led the Spring Migration Bird Count event, usually held on the first Saturday of May. And we will not miss this year!

We recognize that this year we must do the bird count in a different way. So, on Saturday, May 2, grab your binoculars and observe through your window, or maintaining your social distancing go for a walk, and record Cortes Island bird species. Send your observations to cimastwincomm.ca and we will combine everyone’s and add them to the previous years' results posted on our Bird Counts page.

Record the bird species sighted in your backyards, birdfeeders, gardens, and wherever else you can safely spot them. Include the bird species (no numbers) you can identify during the entire 24 hours.

Please take pictures! We love birds' pictures and we will be happy to post on our website any pictures you take. Pictures of rare species observed are especially important.

To make your task easier, here is the bird sheet list we usually use for recording the spring bird count. You can also download this Word document and use it to mark your observations, then email a marked copy back to the Cortes Museum.

If you need help in identifying observed birds, you can check the WhatBird website.

While you are out and about, keep your eye open for butterflies. Mike Yip, in his presentation in 2019, challenged us to record butterfly species found on Cortes Island. If you cannot identify a butterfly, email us a picture and we will help with identification. Check our website page Butterfly Sightings for more information.

Happy birding!