Holidays in North America's National Parks

A clever ornithologist named Frank Chapman proposed a new idea: A Christmas bird census, in which hunters would lay down their guns and join bird lovers in counting every individual bird they saw on a single day of the year.  The first count on December 25, 1900, involved 27 participants in 25 locations from Scotch Lake in New Brunswick, Canada, to Pacific Grove in Monterey County, California. Together, they tallied about 18,500 individual birds of 90 different species.

The concept proved to be useful not only in rescuing bird populations from unnecessary killing, but as a tool for scientists as well.  To this day, the national Christmas Bird Count (CBC)—managed by the National Audubon Society—helps to reveal declines in individual species, concentrations of birds in specific habitats, the effects of habitat loss, and the growth of invasive species (like house sparrows, European starlings and house finches) across the country.

If you’re looking for a great way to enjoy your favorite national park over the holidays, sign up to volunteer for the park’s Christmas Bird Count.  Counts are no longer held on Christmas Day, but they are clustered between December 14 and January 5 each year—months when birding can be challenging, but resident species are firmly established in reliable habitats.

Here are just a few of the national parks that participate in the Christmas Bird Count. Click on each for more information about its past results and future events. To find a count in your area, visit Audubon’s CBC information site.

Big Bend NP, Texas

Everglades NP, Florida

Glacier NP, Montana

Great Basin NP, Nevada

Joshua Tree NP, California

Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Texas

Pipe Spring National Monument, Utah/Arizona

Prince William Forest Park, Virginia

Rocky Mountain NP, Colorado

Yellowstone NP, Wyoming

Yosemite NP, California

Niagara Falls has some spectacular holiday traditions and festivities as well, not he least of which is the Festival of Lights.

Winter Festival of Lights
Niagara Falls is an enchanting winter destination, and the 25-year-old Winter Festival of Lights makes it even more romantic. The brilliant Niagara festival brings three-million tree and ground lights along with over 125 animated light displays to town. The award-event draws 1.3 million visitors between November and January each year.

The Lights

During the Winter Festival of Lights, Niagara Falls is transformed into a winter wonderland of shimmering lights.  Below, you will learn about the wonderful illuminations found within the Niagara Parks and throughout the City.

The five kilometre route along the Niagara Parkway is known as the Niagara Parks Winter Wonderland and includes three million sparkling tree and ground lights and over 120 lighting displays including the world-famous Enchantment of Disney® animated displays.

There is no admission fee to view the illuminations but donations are gratefully accepted (suggested contribution $10 per car), with proceeds used to enhance the lights and displays.

Light Displays Include:

·         The Great Canadian Outdoors (Dufferin Islands)

·         Winter Wonderland

·         Enchantment of Disney®

·         Candy Cane Lane

·       Etc