ItB次元官网网址檚 a tweet up in the old sense of the word.

Hundreds of Greater Victoria residents have been out tackling the tricky task of tracking authentic tweeters.

The Victoria Christmas Bird Count, held in late December, found both highs and lows in species numbers, but this year nothing rare was spotted.

B次元官网网址淲e had a new record number of AnnaB次元官网网址檚 hummingbirds,B次元官网网址� said Darren Copley president of the Victoria Natural History Society. B次元官网网址淭here were more than 1,000 counted B次元官网网址� previously there were 556. ThatB次元官网网址檚 a lot for a species thatB次元官网网址檚 not been here super-long either.B次元官网网址�

Copley said itB次元官网网址檚 amazing that the non-migrating humming bird ended up here and stayed.

Other species seen in high numbers include the northern flicker and pileated woodpecker. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a good sign that we still have dead trees around for them,B次元官网网址� he said.

Loss of habitat is likely the cause for lower numbers seen in some populations.

B次元官网网址淲e see trends over the years,B次元官网网址� said Copley. B次元官网网址淭his year we had a high count for the western screech-owl in Victoria B次元官网网址� we counted three.B次元官网网址�

While that doesnB次元官网网址檛 sound like a high number, compared to 15 or 20 years ago when 23 were counted, in recent years none have been seen. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 likely habitat loss, but there are a few still hanging on,B次元官网网址� he said.

Some 30 Merlin, a small falcon, were seen in Goldstream. B次元官网网址淭hey need forest, but clearly they do OK in cities,B次元官网网址� said Copley.

The Victoria Bird Count numbers are added to a greater count that goes across the country.

Copley said the number of snowy owls is up in the province, but none were seen here. B次元官网网址淒elta had over 40. We had the odd one in Victoria, theyB次元官网网址檙e always a treat for a bird watcher to see.B次元官网网址�

One thing Greater Victoria has is diversity.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e usually close to the top in diversity, itB次元官网网址檚 a competition with Delta on the Lower Mainland. We usually come really close,B次元官网网址� said Copley.

B次元官网网址淩are species are not as important. An important part of it is keeping track of the common species to make sure they are doing well, the numbers give us an indication if something is not well.B次元官网网址�

Bird watcherB次元官网网址檚 paradise

Darren Copley, president of the Victoria Natural History Society, recommends wetlands, forests and shrubs for spotting birds.

B次元官网网址淭hose are places that make good habitat B次元官网网址� we see a lot of diversity in the Martindale flats in Central Saanich. ThatB次元官网网址檚 where youB次元官网网址檒l find the most number of species.B次元官网网址�

Being near the ocean adds to the total number of birds we can see locally as well.

Find out more at naturevictoria.ca.