The Richmond News December 28, 2011 A5
News
WILDLIFE
Counting crows and other birds in annual survey Grass: ‘It’s to give us an idea of how they’re doing’ BY BENJAMIN YUNG Special to the News
After the presents and Boxing Day shopping were done with for another year, avian enthusiasts quickly turned their attention to some good-old-fashioned bird counting on Tuesday. About 90 volunteers — made up of birding club amateurs, biologists and professional consultants — formed 12 teams to count all the different species in the 111th annual Ladner Christmas Bird Count (LCBC) that includes south Richmond (south of Steveston Highway, roughly Garry Point to No. 2 Rd.), Delta and Point Roberts. “The Christmas Bird Count is basically a one-day survey of birds in a 15-kilometre diameter circle,” said co-ordinator Jude Grass, who has been involved with the event for more than 30 years. “It’s to give us an idea of how they’re doing every year. You get a snapshot of what’s here — less of this bird, more of that bird.” Providing data for the wildlife society
Audubon, counts happen all over North America in the winter when the winged animals fly south from the Arctic in search of warmer climates. Last year, the LCBC, with its sizable farmland areas and watery habitats, beat out all the other participating cities in the Lower Mainland and Canada (including the count in Vancouver that covers the other parts of Richmond) with 144 species sighted. The LCBC also holds the national record of 152 species during a count held about a decade ago. With the mild winter this year, Grass was hopeful to reach a similar number. At press time, teams were still out in the field with binoculars and telescopes in hand working until 4:30 p.m. when everyone meets at the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta to tally all the results. “The weather’s been good. I’ve been out and it’s not been too bad, spitting a little,” she said in the morning. “I’ve managed to get 22 species on a two-kilometre stretch of road.” see Count page 6
CHUNG CHOW/RICHMOND NEWS
Volunteers were out in force to participate in the annual bird count which covers a 15kilometre diameter circle that includes south Richmond, Ladner and Point Roberts.
ACCIDENTS
Two pedestrians struck, one killed Dark clothing, not speed, a factor in three recent fatalities BY ALAN CAMPBELL
acampbell@richmond-news.com
Two pedestrians were struck — one fatally — after two separate incidents within 10 minutes of each other in the run up to Christmas. The first accident happened about 5:08 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 22 on No. 2 Road, just south of the Steveston Highway intersection. An elderly Asian man was struck by a northbound vehicle after apparently trying to cross the road away from a crosswalk. The man was wearing dark clothing and, after speaking with witnesses,
police believe speed wasn’t a factor. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment, however he succumbed to his injuries in the early morning of Friday. Less than 10 minutes after the No. 2 Road accident, the RCMP was called to a second pedestrian collision near Lansdowne Road and Kwantlen Street. A vehicle, which was westbound on Lansdowne, struck an Asian male who was walking diagonally across the street and not in a crosswalk. The pedestrian — who was also wearing dark clothing — was struck by the vehicle, suffering a minor
head injury and a fractured leg. He is expected to make a full recovery. As with the earlier collision, speed does not appear to be a factor. This brings the total number of pedestrians hit by cars in the last month up to four. Three were fatal. Richmond RCMP’s traffic services unit has been focusing upon pedestrian safety in recent weeks in an effort to reduce incidents such as these. And police are again reminding pedestrians to use marked crosswalks and be wary of the fact that in the evening hours they can be difficult to see by the motoring public.
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