Karen Lander
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 22/99) - Yellowknife-based biologist Bob Bromley said that the -35C weather didn't keep too many bird watchers at home earlier this month.

Surprisingly, 16 people attended the annual bird-watching outing, which is sponsored by Ecology North. The ages of the bird watchers ranged from five years old and up. The bird watch took place on Jan. 3.

In total, there were almost 2,000 birds sighted during the Sunday afternoon count.

"It was a pretty cold day, but we had a good turnout," said Bromley.

Altogether 1,870 birds were spotted. Of the 11 species, the count found goshawk, spruce grouse, magpies, pine grosbeaks and chickadees.

"The grouse and ptarmigan were up in numbers so we had a good count," Bromley said, adding, "It seems to be a 10-year cycle and right now we're at the peak of the cycle."

Bromley remembers about five to six years ago when the count was as low as nine birds.

"The other species that have had a rise in numbers is sparrows, simply because more people are feeding them," said Bromley.

Although most birds are Northern, ptarmigans head south in the summer.

Bromley said that the house sparrow is European and became established in Yellowknife in the late 60s.

The health of the birds, he added, seems to be fine.

"The increase in ravens is high compared to when we first started because of the growing rate in human population."

Bromley also stated that the ravens start building their nests in March, while the rest of the feathered friends begin to nest in late May or June.

"Last year, there were 13 species and it was a lot warmer, so birds were more active," Bromley said, noting ptarmigans came in at a record count of 478.

As well as sponsoring a bird-watching course throughout the city, Ecology North will be holding a Spring Bird Walk in May.