Eyes on the Skies: Grey-Bruce Birders Log Thousands of Sightings in Annual Winter Count
Local results from the 2025 Christmas Bird Counts reveal species highs, rare sightings, and shifting winter bird patterns across Owen Sound, Neyaashiinigmiing, Wiarton, and Meaford.
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
Each December, volunteers across Grey and Bruce counties brave the elements to participate in the annual Christmas Bird Counts, contributing valuable data to one of North America's longest-running citizen science initiatives.
This year’s counts offered a snapshot of shifting bird populations amid early winter conditions, and curators from Owen Sound, Neyaashiinigmiing, Wiarton, and Meaford submitted results for this column. From record highs and rare sightings to notable absences, the results provide insight into local avian trends — and the broader environmental changes they may reflect.
Owen Sound Christmas Bird Count Highlights
On December 14, 41 participants recorded 6,425 individual birds from 57 species.
Unusual sightings included:
Ring-necked Duck
Carolina Wren
Several Red-winged and Rusty Blackbirds
While many species were seen in lower numbers than usual, several were observed in higher numbers than average, including:
Redhead
Greater Scaup
Horned Grebe
Bald Eagle (new record high)
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Several species of finches
The irruption of northern finch species this winter is likely due to food shortages in their usual habitats.
—Erik Van Den Kieboom, Compiler
Neyaashiinigmiing – December 14
The 15th Neyaashiinigmiing CBC also took place on December 14. Inclement weather and illness led to several cancellations, with only 10 participants covering the area.
Results:
31 species (record low, well below the average of 40)
710 individual birds (also a record low, compared to the average of 1,062)
Notable misses included:
Common Merganser
Ruffed Grouse (first-ever miss)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Golden-crowned Kinglet (first-ever miss)
Despite sightings elsewhere on the Saugeen Peninsula, no winter finches were recorded. American Goldfinches appeared in average numbers.
—Jarmo Jalava and Miptoon (Anthony Chegahno), Compilers
Wiarton – December 21
The 52nd Wiarton CBC took place on December 21, with 24 participants and one feeder watcher recording 53 species and 3,917 individual birds.
While this total was above the long-term average (3,767), it was below the 10-year average (4,983) and far short of the 2023 record (8,628).
Highlights:
Record high: Dark-eyed Junco (105; previous high was 102)
Other notable sightings: Gadwall, Iceland Gull, Golden Eagle, Merlin, White-winged Crossbill, and Common Grackle
Winter finch sightings:
White-winged Crossbill (2)
Redpoll (43)
Pine Grosbeak (23)
Evening Grosbeak (113)
American Goldfinch (351 – above average)
House Finch (16 – small but persistent population)
—Jarmo Jalava, Compiler
Meaford – December 28
The 55th Meaford CBC took place on December 28, with the combined efforts of 6 teams and 5 feeder-watchers documenting 50 species.
No new species were added to the all-time cumulative list (which remains at 129)
New record high: Horned Grebe (72, surpassing 52 from 2023)
Unusual sightings:
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (video recorded; first since 1973)
Gray Catbird (photographed the day before; only the second record)
Total birds counted: 3,745 (low-average), bolstered by approx. 500 overwintering Canada Geese.
—Lynne Richardson, Compiler
The Christmas Bird Counts across Owen Sound, Neyaashiinigmiing, Wiarton, and Meaford offer a valuable look at winter bird populations in our region, thanks to the commitment of local volunteers and compilers.
Each count reflects not only the species present but also the effects of weather, habitat, and seasonal food availability.
Together, these observations help deepen our understanding of the natural world close to home and highlight the importance of continued local monitoring year after year.
Contributions from the community do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of The Owen Sound Current and its editor or publisher.
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