2 new species spotted during Hamilton's Christmas bird count

The Hamilton area has welcomed two new bird species this year, according keen-eyed avian-enthusiasts who took part in the Christmas bird count.

The Fish crow and Eurasian collared dove were officially spotted and added to Hamilton's bird population during the annual event.

"These are new potential residents to the area," explained Hamilton Naturalists' Club director, Rob Porter.

Porter is responsible for collecting and tallying the data from the Boxing Day event.

Birders can submit their numbers by spreadsheet, or by using the app, eBird — and although the final numbers aren't in yet — the group is reporting two new types of birds for the area.

"We have two new species and that doesn't happen very often on the count, even just one new species," said Porter.

"This is the 98th year, you don't get new species too often on the count, let alone two that are probably actually new to the area, not just weird, vagrant, single birds showing up."

New species

The first spotting was of a Eurasian collared dove and like its name suggests — it's from both Europe and Asia. Porter says it was introduced in the southern U.S. around the '80s.

The second spotting was the Fish crow and although it looks identical to the American crow the two are quite different vocally, according to Porter.

"It makes a kind of very inconspicuous arrival when they do show up in new areas because you have to kind of know that call is different and have heard a call," he said.

The Fish crow is native to North America and Porter says they're expanding their range to this area. A couple years ago a nest was found.

This year may have marked the 98th count, but standardization for counting really started about 65 years ago. That's when Porter says groups started counting in circles.

The Hamilton count covers a 7.5-mile radius circle, centred at Dundurn Castle. Porter says they still use miles because of the count's American origins.

Although the results might not be too "flashy" from one year to the next, Porter says you start seeing trends over five, 10, 15 and 20 years.

"It helps us accumulate a good set of data."