Bird Protection Quebec (BPQ) organizes two annual Christmas Bird Counts, one for the Montreal region and one for the Hudson region. Christmas Bird Counts are conducted in over 2,000 localities across Canada, the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean each year. The results of these annual citizen-science projects provide important data on the birds that inhabit these regions each winter. We encourage birders like you to get involved locally.
CBC General Information
Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) are held within mandated 24-km wide circles. Bird Protection Quebec organizes two CBCs according to the circle limits below.
Bird Protection Quebec’s 87th Annual Montreal and 82st Annual Hudson Christmas Bird Counts
Montreal CBC
Saturday, December 17, 2022
The Montreal circle is centered at the intersection of Sherbrooke Street West and Westminster Avenue in Montreal West.
Circle Coordinator: Sheldon Harvey
christmasbirdcount@yahoo.com or 514-637-2141
Hudson CBC
Friday, December 30, 2022
The Hudson circle is centered at Cooper Airport in Saint-Lazare and covers Coteau-du-Lac, Saint-Lazare, Hudson, Les Cèdres, St-Clet, Vaudreuil-Dorion and a small part of Oka.
Circle Coordinator: Chris Cloutier
cbchudson2@gmail.com or 514-914-9464
How to get involved
You can contribute to the count in one of the two following ways. Both are free of charge.
Field participant
Field participants are assigned to one of several existing teams responsible for covering a designated territory. An experienced birder leads each team and is responsible for ensuring that detailed records are kept of all species seen and counted throughout the day. Participation is free and no previous experience is required.
Feeder watcher
If you maintain bird feeders at home and live within the count circle, you are invited to participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count by recording species seen at your feeders on the day of the count. Simply contact one of the Christmas Bird Count coordinators in order to register your name and location. Instructions on how to participate will be provided to you, together with a bird species checklist to record your observations. Participation is free and no previous experience is required.
To register as a field participant or as a feeder watcher, or for more information please contact the coordinator listed above for the region you are interested in.
Can’t participate on the official CBC day?
If you are unable to join us as a field participant or a feederwatcher but keep you bird feeders full, we’d be happy to have one of our teams pass by to make sure your feathered visitors are included in this year’s count data. Please contact one of the CBC coordinators listed above to provide your location details.
Other Links:
Historical results from the North American Christmas Bird Counts provide important long-term baseline data on the population dynamics of many early winter species across the continent. You can view these results by visiting the Audubon Christmas Bird Count website at https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count