Everyone can participate, however there is a specific methodology to follow.
Counted with us before?
Prior participants are already registered and will receive an emailed notice before the Count. You remain on our participant list from year to year unless you unsubscribe, or if you are inactive for 3 consecutive years.
Returning Edmonton participants may update their zone or contact info through our emailed Save The Date notice.
If you no longer wish to participate, just unsubscribe through any emailed notice and you'll be permanently removed from our list. You can sign up again if you change your mind.
New to the Edmonton, Alberta Count?
Citizen science involves guidelines to create good research data.
Option 1 "Feeder Watcher"
If your home is within the boundaries of the Count Circle, then you can stay home and keep a list of species and number of birds that visit your feeder(s) for a couple of hours on Count day.
New feeder watchers use the form found below to register prior to the count day.
Feeder Watchers must be in a recognised zone. If your home is not within the Count circle, scroll to the bottom of this page for more information.
Bush Beaters enter only your preferred zone number into the zone box on the form. Any additional zone options that work for you may be added in the remarks section. Also note if you're a beginner birder.
After completing the Participate form, remember to click Subscribe*.
*We communicate by email. Approx. 8 emails will be sent to you per year. We do not sell, share, rent or trade your email address, we use it only to communicate about the Count.
Each zone is organized by a Zone Captain. Your zone captain may contact you via email or phone.
Note: Many folks live outside the Count circle, here's how they can participate:
If you have family or a friend who lives within the circle, enjoy a visit and count yard birds there. Use the participate form to register at that location if they are not already registered.
Register as a bush beater in a zone of your choice and join a walking group.
Join a nearby count outside the city, see the Home page.
There are other citizen science projects that don't use the count circle. Note these are not Edmonton Nature Club events and we are unable to provide additional information.
Project FeederWatch requires a Birds Canada membership (you get a membership with a donation of any amount) and a minimum feeder bird count for 2 consecutive days. The Project FeederWatch season always begins the second Saturday in November and runs for 21 weeks. You can count 2 consecutive days in only one week (for example the day of the Edmonton Christmas Bird Count plus the day before or after) or 2 days in as many as all the 21 weeks.
The Great Backyard Bird Count takes place in February. Participating is free, easy, fun to do alone, or with others, and can be done anywhere you find birds. Simply watch birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the designated four days in February , and report to eBird what you see. Details on how to use eBird are included through the project link.