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It’s a Hamilton tradition dating back almost 100 years: the Christmas bird count. And it’s exactly what it sounds like: counting birds.

Robert Porter has been interested in birds for most of his life, so coming across a Pine Siskin near McMaster University was a pleasure:  “It’s uncommon, you may get them in your feeders this time of year, maybe if you’re lucky and I’ve heard them pass over me this fall and winter, but this is the first time properly in some photos this year.”

He also captured a Red-Tailed Hawk, Carolina Wren, Northern Mockingbird and a Song Sparrow, just to name a few.  Bird counts take place across North America in various communities.  The Hamilton area is unique because of its landscape.

“We get a lot of because of the bay and Lake Ontario; a lot of ducks, diving ducks, geese, swans, loons.  As a lot of counties are landlocked, they don’t have a lot of bodies of water to attract these birds.”

This year’s bird count is a little different than last year’s when we were in the middle of the ice storm.  Getting around was a challenge as well as actually seeing the birds.

A Palm Warbler was spotted at Bayfront Park.  Chris Street explains it’s a rare find:  “Right now, Palm Warblers are found as far north as Florida and as far south as South America. They don’t belong here.”

Street says the warbler could be confused, sick or perhaps found some food. All of the data from the count will be collected and shared with a conservation group in New York City which keeps track of birds across the Americas.