The Williams Lake Field Naturalists will be holding their 49th annual Christmas Bird Count on Sunday, Dec. 18.

The Williams Lake count began in 1969 when 414 birds of 21 species were counted.

In the last 10 years the count has averaged over 4000 birds and 52 different species

Last year set a record with 5251 birds of 59 species but each year will be different depending on the many variables like weather conditions in the preceding weeks and on count day; snow and ice conditions which will determine availability and accessibility of food supplies, and number of surveyors in the field.

Many of our wintering birds supplement their food supply at bird feeders and the count relies to a great extent on reports from people within the count area to report what they see at their feeders on count day.

The count circle is a  24 kilometre diameter centred in Williams Lake and reaching as far north as Bull Mountain and the Onward Ranch on Mission Road to the south; from the Meldrum Creek Road in the west to all of Fox Mountain, stretching almost to Likely Road in the east.

If you would like to help with the count, please call Phil Ranson at 398-7110 or email: ranson1@telus.net.

To report birds at your feeder on count day phone Fred McMechan at  250-392-7680 after 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18.