2nd Annual “Frontenac” Christmas Bird Count

Carolyn Bonta | Dec 07, 2016

The Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre (ELEEC), in partnership with the Friends of Frontenac Park and Bird Studies Canada, invites participants to the 2nd Annual “Frontenac” Christmas Bird Count (CBC).  The 2016 official count day is Saturday, December 17, beginning with an introductory workshop for novice birders at 8:30 am, followed by the field survey.  No experience necessary – participants of all ages and ability are invited to take part in the day’s events.

The CBC is the longest-running Citizen Science program in the world, promoting conservation and providing valuable data on winter bird populations since Christmas Day of 1900. The Frontenac survey area covers rural areas around Sydenham, Harrowsmith and Perth Road Village, but also encompasses several protected areas within its 24 km diameter, including Frontenac Provincial Park, Gould Lake Conservation Area, and properties owned by the Queen’s University Biological Station and Nature Conservancy of Canada.  We need volunteers to assist with roadside surveys, as well as adventurous pedestrian teams to count birds in more remote areas.  Residents with bird feeders are encouraged to participate as feeder watchers.  To learn more or to take part in the Frontenac CBC, please contact site coordinators Carolyn Bonta / Michael Johnson at 613-531-4578 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Concurrent with the Frontenac CBC, the ELEEC is hosting a Christmas Bird Count for Kids (CBC4K) event to introduce children and their families to birdwatching and local winter bird diversity.  “Young-at-heart” participants are also welcome!  Following an indoor presentation, and armed with binoculars, field guides and audio call recordings, we will then head outdoors on the trails in search of birds to count.  This free morning session will run from 9:30 am to noon.  The ELEEC is located at 1500 Hewlett-Packard Lane, off North Shore Road, near Perth Road Village.  For information on CBC4K, please contact Carolyn Bonta, Manager – Elbow Lake at 613-353-7968 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Suitable for ages 3 and up; advance registration recommended.

About the Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre

The Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre was established in 2011 through a partnership agreement between the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Queen’s University Biological Station (QUBS), co-owners of the 455-ha Elbow Lake property.  

As the public outreach arm of QUBS, the ELEEC’s mission is to provide outdoor programs to enhance conservation biology teachings in the community.  Our public educational events expose participants to real researchers doing real science right here in our local area, and we do this in a very hands-on way.

For more information on our programs, please visit elbowlakecentre.ca/events.

About The Friends of Frontenac Park

The mission of the Friends of Frontenac Park is to undertake activities to enhance appreciation of the ecosystem of Frontenac Provincial Park, part of which involves creating programs and materials to promote public awareness, education, and understanding of the park’s natural and cultural heritage.

For more information, please visit www.frontenacpark.ca.

About Bird Studies Canada

Bird Studies Canada (BSC) is our country’s leading science-based bird conservation organization.  Our mission is to conserve wild birds of Canada through sound science, on-the-ground actions, innovative partnerships, public engagement, and science-based advocacy.

BSC is a national charity built on the contributions of thousands of supporters and Citizen Scientists.  Using data from our volunteer monitoring programs and targeted research, BSC scientists identify significant population changes and direct conservation planning.  

For more information, please visit www.birdscanada.org.

Contact

To learn more about the Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre, please contact:

Carolyn Bonta, Manager – Elbow Lake, QUBS
c/o    Queen’s University Department of Biology
    116 Barrie St.
    Kingston, Ontario  K7L 3N6
Phone: (613) 353-7968
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.elbowlakecentre.ca

To learn more about The Friends of Frontenac Park, please contact:

Friends of Frontenac Park
P.O. Box 2237
Kingston, Ontario  K7L 5J9
www.frontenacpark.ca

To learn more about the Christmas Bird Count, please contact:

Canadian Christmas Bird Count Coordinator
c/o    Bird Studies Canada
    P.O. Box 160
Port Rowan, Ontario  N0E 1M0
Phone: 1-888-448-(BIRD)2473
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/cbc