PGNC News & Notes 2025-12-30 – Prince George Naturalists Club

PGNC Memberships: New and Renewals
PGNC Next Executive Meeting
PGNC Christmas Bird Count, Sunday January 4, 2026
Project FeederWatch, November 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026
Birdwatching Backpacks at Prince George Public Library
Volunteer at PGNC Events!
About this newsletter

Club News and Events

PGNC Memberships: New and Renewals

Thank you to everyone who is joining the PGNC or renewing memberships for 2026.

Your membership supports the Prince George Naturalists Club and BC Nature, our parent organization, in all their good work.

E-Transfer is available by sending an email that goes directly into the Club’s bank account. No secret word is needed. Payments by cheque can be mailed to Prince George Naturalists Club, PO Box 1092, Prince George BC V2L 4V2.

Memberships run from January 1 to December 31. Cost is $25 per calendar year for individuals, $40 for a family, and $15 for students. Benefits of membership: Subscription to the online version of BC Nature magazine, liability insurance coverage for Club work parties and field trips, and access to popular events limited to Club members only. Add $5 if you wish to receive a printed version of the BC Nature magazine in the mail.

“To be a naturalist is to be joyful, inquisitive, and at home in the world. To be home is to treat every life form as a family member.” – Marina Richie

PGNC Next Executive Meeting

Over the summer, the Executive meetings are held at a time and location that suits all participants. Starting in September, Executive meetings are scheduled for the second Wednesday of the month. All members are welcome to attend. If you wish to attend, send an email to the Club to obtain meeting details.

PGNC Christmas Bird Count, Sunday January 4, 2026

Mark your calendars! Prince George Naturalists Club presents the 58th annual Christmas Bird Count. Special thanks to Cara Snell for designing the Black-capped Chickadee in the graphic.

Message from Cathy Antoniazi, our PG Christmas Bird Count coordinator:

“The Prince George CBC is next Sunday January 4. The circle is covered with 18 groups in the field and I still have a couple of the regular participants to hear back from. There is room for just a couple more participants so if you would like to take part by joining a field group please let me know soon at: canton1@telus.net.

I have just started contacting the regular Feederwatchers. If you live in the count circle, have feeders and are able to count your birds on Sunday, please let me know ahead of time so the field group doing your area doesn’t count the same birds.

This is the count circle:

https://naturecounts.b-cdn.net/downloads/cbc/maps/BCPG.pdf

The PG Naturalists Club has had a CBC since 1968 and every count winds up being different. There don’t seem to be many winter finches around this year. I have yet to see a redpoll or a siskin. However, there have been a lot of owls, especially Short-eared Owls, a couple of Snowy Owls, some Northern Hawk Owls and the lost Barn Owl. There have also been quite a few semi-hardy birds that have stayed. I have heard about a Hermit Thrush, a Varied Thrush, quite a few robins and some different sparrows. I still see the Purple Finch occasionally. Count week starts Thursday – please keep a mental note if you see something interesting during count week. Birds seen during count week and missed on count day can be included as count week birds.

Keep an eye out for Bramblings. There is currently one in Terrace, Telkwa and Smithers. They like to come to the feeders.”

Other News

Project FeederWatch, November 1 to April 30

Everyone is invited to join this wonderful project which contributes to scientific knowledge about birds in North America. Here’s the link.

Birdwatching Backpacks at Prince George Public Library

Prince George Public Library, Bob Harkins Branch, has five birdwatching backpacks available for checkout. Type birdwatching backpack into the Search box on the PGPL website, or use this link.

Volunteer at PGNC Events!

Volunteers are always welcome at PGNC events, and if anyone would like to get involved you can contact us through email, or on our social media pages.