The annual spring bird count occurs throughout Saskatchewan. (ID 13240560 © Joanne Zhe | Dreamstime.co)

By Derek Cornet

nature

La Ronge bird count shows fewer numbers, but more species

May 20, 2025 | 4:46 PM

Data from the annual spring bird count in the La Ronge area has been compiled, and it shows a drop in the overall number of birds, but an increase in the amount of species.

The bird count was held April 24 to May 14 and works by participants recording the birds they see in a 24-hour period within a 24-kilometer radius of La Ronge. This year, seven people took part which is on par with previous years.

The pintail or northern pintail, which was recorded in the La Ronge bird count, is a duck species with wide geographic distribution. (ID 14643448 © Bill Warchol | Dreamstime.com)

“The number of actual individual birds was 2,551 and the number of birds normally is around 4,000,” said John Schisler, who has been organizing the count for the last two decades.

“The species count is actually up a bit. They normally run around 45 species of birds, but this year we had 67.”

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Although the birds did seem to arrive in the area later than usual, Schisler explained the drop in the number of birds is a trend being seen across Canada and the world. He said contributing factors are likely human-caused impacts to habitats and a rise in the human population.

Turkey vultures, like the one pictured, were among new species recorded in the La Ronge bird count. (ID 139740328 © Amelia Martin | Dreamstime.com)

More southernly found birds are also arriving in the North. Some unusual ones recorded during the count include turkey vultures, canvasback ducks, northern pintails, and a winter wren.

“These are certainly all southern birds, which are common in the south,” Schisler remarked.

“I think we are seeing southern birds moving north. The other thing is people are using an app now, which gives all the bird [species] and people are using that to identify birds. I think that has somewhat improved the different number of species we are seeing.”

The annual spring bird count occurred throughout Saskatchewan. The information obtained in La Ronge will be added to a provincial database.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com