It was a sunny day - but still freezing cold - for annual Christmas Bird Count

Birds of a feather flock together. And this week, that meant birders gathering for the 97th annual Christmas Bird Count.

The Boxing Day tradition datesback to 1921, and has grown to about 100 people trying to spot and identify the birds in Hamilton.

The day is organized by the Hamilton Naturalists' Club.

It's been held annually on Boxing Day since the 1970s saysRob Porter, local coordinator of theChristmas Bird Count.

This year was different from years previous, he said, because it was a sunny day in Hamilton, albeit a cold one.

Tuesday's temperatures were in the negative double digits.

The sun, however, made it a little more pleasant for the counters, he said.

"When it's sunny and there's not a lot of wind and all that, they're going to come out a lot more to feed," Porter said."So typically, you'll see more birds during that time."

Over the years, the day has evolved and turned into an honour system style of counting birds.

"Hunting was part of the reason and it became kind of a conservation effort to do a census that way," said Porter.

This year, one group found a roost of turkey vultures.

"They're becoming more common in the winter, but we've never found an actual roost of them during a count before, so that's something that's new," said Porter.

Porter says for the past three years, the Hamilton area has seen a record number ofCarolina wren, because when it gets into an area it just stays, it doesn't migrate.

The red-bellied woodpecker and wild turkey also seem to be on the rise.

"The interest in birding has been going up over the last few years with the rise of digital cameras, which has helped people identify a lot because they get a quick photo, post it online, and someone will tell them what it is," said Porter.

"People are getting interested because it's getting that much easier to learn."

On Jan. 2, the 3rd Peach Tree Christmas Bird Count will take place covering a larger area of the Niagara Peninsula, from Fifty Point down to Caistorville.