Bird diversity and abundance

As the saying goes, the early bird gets the worm. How early must you be to get the bird? To record birds singing in the forest our staff start work half an hour before sunrise, sometimes as early as 4:00 AM!

More than 200 species of birds have been sighted in Prince Albert National Park. Some birds stay year-round, some nest just for the summer, and many birds use the park as a pit-stop as they migrate along the North American Flyway. Birds are sensitive to changes in their environment making them excellent indicators of forest health. A forest containing a large abundance and wide diversity of bird species means a forest ecosystem is healthy and balanced.

Each spring, during bird breeding season, specialized audio recording equipment is taken to about 170 sites within the park and bird calls are recorded. The recordings are then analyzed to determine the variety of bird species, and abundance in various habitats.