May Bird Count 2023 Results

May Bird Count Results are in! 2023 results include:

• 267 species (just a bit below average of 271), plus three species seen only during count week
• 174,712 birds (nearly 20% below average) - half of this is low #'s of Franklin's Gulls, along with lows for American Coots, Black-bellied Plovers, swallows, and some shorebirds.
• No new species this year, keeping Alberta at 340 cumulative species since 1976
• 13 record high species counts - Yellow Warblers and Mourning Doves notably high
• Unusual species for Alberta MSC:  Indigo Bunting (Edmonton), Lewis's Woodpecker (Waterton), Ross's Goose (Taber), Cackling Goose (Fort McMurray)
• Missing "regulars" that we normally see nearly every year: Semipalmated Plover, White-rumped Sandpiper (seen during Count Week only)
• 18 counts, with 451 participants who spent 1,469 hours and travelled 11,392 km.  A bump up in # of participants, but about 10% lower time and distance than average

For detailed spreadsheets and summary notes for all years, visit our May Species Count Archive.