Christmas Bird Count set for Dec. 27 in White Rock, Surrey, Langley

Published 9:38 am Tuesday, December 9, 2025

It’s a tradition borne of a historic holiday shooting practice.

The 126th annual Christmas Bird Count is set for Saturday, Dec. 27 throughout Surrey, White Rock and Langley, an event that started in 1900 that is now North America’s longest-running Citizen Science project.

Prior to the turn of the 20th century, hunters were known to engage in a tradition called a Christmas “side hunt”, a CBC release noted, where groups of hunters would gather early in the morning, choose sides, and take to the fields and forests, shooting everything in sight.

The side that returned with the largest pile of feathers or fur, won the ‘contest.’

Scientists and observers started to notice — with alarm — a decline in the number and species of birds and so, to determine if this was a trend, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman suggested a new Christmas tradition: instead of hunting birds, people would count them instead.

Now, the annual count happens in more than 2,000 locations throughout the Western Hemisphere, with the information collected by thousands of Christmas Bird Count volunteers forming one of the world’s largest sets of wildlife survey data, the release said, adding the results are used by conservation biologists, environmental planners, and naturalists to assess the population trends and distribution of birds.

“I am deeply proud of the community’s dedication to helping gather vital information about our bird populations each year,” said Mike Klotz, one of the organizers of this year’s count.

Klotz noted that it is important to not only count the birds found in the field, but backyard feeders also need to be monitored, as many small birds are drawn in from the woods by feeders, and this information is extremely valuable in improving the collected data.

“The trends we observe are shifting with more birds adapting to suburban backyards as our communities expand into formerly wild spaces,” Klotz explained. “If you can’t join us in person but have feeders or a backyard where you observe birds, we’d love your help,” he said. “Simply make a list of the birds you spot and send it to cbcwhiterock@gmail.com. so we can include your observations in the count.”

There are various meet-up spots in Surrey, White Rock and Langley for participants, and you don’t necessarily need to know a lot about birds, or bird watching, count coordinator Kristina Breit added, noting it is a half-day commitment.

“Come out , join us and have fun. Don’t hesitate if you don’t know a ton about birds because if you are enthusiastic and enjoy learning more, that is all we need,” Breit said.

“Anyone can participate – no experience required!” Klotz emphasized. “Whether you’re a seasoned birdwatcher or a first-timer, we welcome all who are eager to help,” he said.

A wind-down meeting is planned at Elgin Hall, 14250 Crescent Rd. after the count.

Contact Breit at 778-990-5355 or email her at cbcwhiterock@gmail.com, or call Mike Klotz at 604-861-1677to get involved.