Eighteen species were spotted during the annual Christmas Bird Count in the Hay River area on Dec. 16.
That's the most species spotted during that one-day count in the past seven years.
Gary Vizniowski, the organizer and data compiler for the count in the Hay River area, was pleased with the number of species spotted and the 10 people who participated, either by watching their backyard feeders or counting in specific areas, such as the ski club and on the Hay River Reserve.
"The turnout was good and to end up with 18 species was great," he said.
In the past seven years, the number of species has been as low as 14 in 2013.
In all on count day, 599 birds were spotted.
The overall number has been as low as 384 in 2011 and as high as 704 on Jan. 2, 2016.
The count day must be held between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5 inclusive during each Christmas season.
Species are also recorded for what's called count week – three days before and three days after the count day.
In that period, two other species were spotted this year – an American robin and a white-winged crossbill.
Vizniowski said no rare species were spotted either on count day or during count week.
The American robin was the only out-of-season species, he noted. "And that's not unusual for us. We always get robins late into the fall."
Vizniowski noted that for the second year in a row the count did not see a willow ptarmigan.
"We're not getting nearly as many as we did years ago," he said, although he noted there are lots north of Great Slave Lake.
Vizniowski, who is an avid birder, noted the last time he saw a willow ptarmigan in the Hay River area was 13 months ago.
The Christmas Bird Count is part of an international conservation initiative.
It takes place within a designated and unchanging circle, which is 24 km in diameter and centred on the communication towers south of the Hay River Regional Health Centre.
The first count in Hay River was in 1977, and it has been held off and on ever since.
Started in 1900 in the United States, the Christmas Bird Count now includes locations throughout the Western Hemisphere.
Bird Studies Canada and the National Audubon Society help co-ordinate and support the more than 2,500 counts.
Fact file: The Christmas Bird Count by the numbers
Dec. 16 totals:
- Common raven: 283
- Common redpoll: 105
- Black-capped chickadee: 68
- Black-billed magpie: 36
- Pine grosbeak: 28
- Boreal chickadee: 13
- Spruce grouse: 13
- House sparrow: 11
- Hoary redpoll: 10
- Red-breasted nuthatch: 7
- Ruffed grouse: 6
- Gray jay: 5
- Bohemian waxwing: 5
- Downy woodpecker: 3
- Hairy woodpecker: 3
- Three-toed woodpecker: 1
- Pileated woodpecker: 1
- Great horned owl: 1
Total species for count day: 18
Total number of birds spotted on count day: 599
Count week sightings:
- White-winged crossbill 3
- American robin 1