Christmas bird count is set for tomorrow The South Peel Naturalists Club (SPNC) will be one of approximately 60 Ontario Nature member groups taking part in the annual nationwide Christmas Bird Count. Saturday will mark the 46th year the club has participated in the single-day event that originally started as a census in 1900. The club has more than 200 members from Mississauga, Oakville and surrounding communities. Nearly 400 bird counts will be held in Canada from Dec. 14-Jan. 5. Ontario is holding 125 counts and will be attended by 12,000 volunteers. Nearly 12,000 participants identified 3.3 million birds in every province last year. This year's bird count is expected to attract more than 50,000 observers in 2,000 locations across North America. Volunteers are assigned specific routes within a 24-km radius. Data collected allows researchers and conservation organizations to study the long-term health, population numbers and ranges of birds across North America. With this information, groups like Ontario Nature can determine and evaluate conservation activities. "The volunteer-driven counts provide essential information to help us protect wildlife. The Christmas Bird Count contributes enormously to our understanding the dynamics of bird populations across Ontario," said Caroline Schultz, executive director of f Ontario Nature. "I join the Uxbridge count each year and love seeing how much fun birders of all abilities have and how proud they are to make such a meaningful contribution to scientific research." Bird Studies Canada coordinates the count in Canada with the National Audubon Society. All bird counts are open to the public. For a full list of Ontario Nature member groups holding bird counts, visit www.ontarionature.org/media/ news_releases. For more information on SPNC's bird count, call 905-279-9576 or visit www.spnc.ca/ActiveTrips.html. SPNC is located at 109 Thomas St. in Oakville. 7 · Friday, December 16, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Our new stores. More reasons to shop where you live. 905 842 2140 | oakvilleplace.com facebook.com/OakvillePlace