Although the name Christmas Census was applied to some reports in 1908 and 1924, by involving more than one day they cannot be considered normal counts. From the mid 1940's through the early 1950's there were sporadic counts at a few places in the southern half of the province. From 1956 through the 1960's, encouraged by the late W. A. Squires through his provincial museum newsletter, Nature News , counts were conducted annually in an increasing number of New Brunswick areas. Now, in the late-1990's, about 1000 participants spend 1500 hours afield, travel about 13,000 km and report from nearly 500 bird feeders in 45 areas of the province. Usually, they find a total of from 120,000 to 140,000 birds of about 125 species.
Winter is a difficult time for birds in New Brunswick.
The weather is often severe and the food supply limited. Most insect-eating birds and many waterbirds migrate south to milder climates. Those that remain with us or come here from farther north are hardy birds able to withstand cold temperatures, if they can obtain enough food. Our winter birds survive by feeding on fishes, molluscs, seeds, fruits, the dormant stages of insects, or small mammals and birds. During winter, the variety of birds in most habitats of New Brunswick is small.