FRIDAY
S I N C E
DECEMBER 14, 2012
1 8 9 5
Vol. 117, Issue 232
110
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Quest for Sochi begins Page 13
INCLUDING H.S.T.
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
Count provides vital info on feathered friends BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
Bird enthusiasts will unite and flock to areas in Greater Trail this weekend, to participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC). This is the 113th year that the count will be conducted across North America, Latin America and the Caribbean between Dec. 14 and Jan 5. Locally, the binocular brigades will be out in full force on Saturday. “You don’t have to be an expert, as long as you can identify a few birds, said Linda Szymkowiak, CBC volunteer for eight years. “All you need is a feeder, bird identification book, and a pair of binoculars.” Birds are counted in a giant circle of territory, with most of the counting being done from the roadside. Rossland has 40 volunteers, 30 of whom will participate in the comfort of their own backyards. “We have people with backyard bird feeders, who can do the count that way, said Szymkowiak. “Others count townside or strap on their snow shoes or skis and go into the back woods to do the count.” Saturday will start at the break of light for Shirley Coffin, volunteer in charge of the Trail and Genelle count. “As soon as it is light, I’ll go down to the esplanade and Gyro Park to count ducks and geese, she said. “The land fill is a great spot, to count crows, ravens and wild turkeys.” Winter bird populations have been fairly stable over the last few years, however,
the overall trend is better indicated when analyzed over a period of 10 or more years, as opposed to year-to-year, said Szymkowiak. “Birds such as finches, are dependent on seeds from conifer cones, and may fly all over B.C., she added. “These are called irruptions, when birds migrate to areas where they aren’t typically found.” In 2011 507 birds -- 37 different species -- were recorded in Greater Trail, covering most parks, bird feeders and other watering holes where birds might be found in Trail, Casino and Genelle. In the Beaver Valley area south of Trail and east of the Columbia River, only 31 species were observed but 814 birds were noted. The overall number for Greater Trail birds is around three quarters of what it used to be six years ago, last year’s organizer Arnold By told the Trail Times last January. The annual bird count is the longest-running citizen science survey in the world, and the data collected by the counters is critical to study long term health and state of bird populations. For many years, the CBC was organized on a continental scale by the National Audubon Society. Since 2000, Bird Studies Canada has partnered with Audubon to coordinate counts in Canada. Scientists rely on the trend data of the CBC to better understand how birds and the environment are faring throughout North America. For more information or to volunteer, contact Szymkowiak at 362-7107.
Free horse-drawn carriage rides for kids on Saturday BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
In keeping with the Victorian inspired theme and décor of downtown Trail, the Silver City Nites committee is offering free rides for kids on a horse drawn carriage this Saturday. The horse will be clip-clopping through the streets of downtown Trail from 10 a.m. until noon, with pick up and drop off in front of the Royal Theatre on Bay Avenue.
A craft tent will be set up in front of the theatre and firefighters will warm the crowd with street-side gas fire pits. A treasure hunt will run from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. for children to walk the downtown core and search for hidden clues in stores’ Christmas window displays. The Royal Theatre will run the animated movie Rise of the Guardians 3D from noon until 1:30 p.m.
SHERI REGNIER PHOTO
Shirley Coffin will be out with local bird watchers this weekend for the start of the annual Christmas Bird Count.
Low deer numbers concern TWA Associations lobbying government for control of predators BY TIMOTHY SCHAFER Times Staff
With the West Kootenay hunting season largely in the bag there wasn’t much in the bag for hunters who trekked out into the backcountry, says the president of the Trail Wildlife Association. Terry Hanik said a sparse population of deer—both white tail and mule—contributed to a lean year for those looking
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to put venison into the freezer this winter. He pointed to a Dec. 2 meeting of the West Kootenay Outdoorsmen—that includes clubs from Castlegar, Nelson, Nakups, West Arm, Trail, Creston and Grand Forks— where the tale of the one that never appeared was a common theme as hunters regionwide noted the deer count was down. The low count is concerning hunters across the region, said Hanik, as they wonder how to re-establish the natural balance.
“You talk to different hunters and they aren’t happy. The odd hunter is getting their game,” he said. “We need a management plan to see what we can do with the deer, and why their numbers are down.” One of the main concerns for hunters is there are more predators than ever, said Hanik. Hunters are seeing more wolves, coyotes, cougars and even black bears than anything from the deer, moose or elk families, he added. The predator count is really See PREDATORS, Page 3
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