Red-throated Loons; A Highlight For London, Ontario

The numbers of waterfowl continue to grow on the Thames River as a direct result of the increased ice coverage on the Great Lakes. Reports from this past week indicate the Great Lakes are 80% ice covered, with Lake Ontario being the only one with any significant open water. Many species of diving ducks that typically winter on either Lake Superior or Lake Huron are unable to feed in these locations due to the ice. As a result, they are migrating further south and showing up on the Thames River. Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Greater Scaup, Canvasback, Redhead, and three types of Merganser have all been recorded. Recently larger numbers of Long-tailed Ducks have shown up too.

This past week while out walking through Springbank Park I was enjoying all of these wonderful species and added three new species to my life list: Red-necked Grebe, White-winged Scoter and Red-throated Loon. Three new species in just a couple of days is quite exciting. I regularly submit my observations to ebird as well as The Middlsex/Elgin/Oxford Natural History Observations group, and decided on these days my sightings of these species, especially the loons were worth submitting. I first submitted to ebird where they deemed all three species to be rare and required more information to confirm. I photographed all three species during my outing and was able to submit these photographs to confirm my sightings.

After submitting my observations to the Middlesex/Elgin/Oxford Natural History Observation group I received an email from the group’s record keeper to confirm that I did in fact see two Red-throated Loons, as they are virtually unheard of in our area. I also submitted my photographs to this group to confirm the loon sightings. I was quite thrilled to learn that these were the first Red-throated Loons recorded in winter in Middlesex County since 1898. These birds breed in the arctic and winter on both coasts of North America, as well as the Great Lakes, with inland sightings extremely rare. Knowing how special this sighting is makes it by far my best to date.

The number of birders increased over the course of the week along this stretch of river after reporting the sighting, with many hoping to see this pair of loons. Another report came in from later the same day as my initial sighting that one of the birds was seen in the same location. This was the last report of the birds in the area.

My guess is that these two Red-throated Loons were migrating through to the Eastern Seaboard and used the Thames River as a quick stop over to rest and feed before carrying on their journey. As is the case a lot of times in birding, I was in the right place at the right time and am truly grateful. Who knows, it may just be another 116 years before another one is seen in this county.

Good birding,
Paul

Taking Part In The 2014 Great Backyard Bird Count

Today marks the start of the 17th annual Great Backyard Bird Count. Running through until Monday you can help scientists track bird populations as well as seasonal movements with as little fifteen minutes of your time. It is free to participate, great fun for beginner and expert birders alike and the perfect way to introduce newcomers to birding. If you haven’t participated before signing up and submitting your counts is easy. Simply go to this link and follow the steps to sign up and participate. http://gbbc.birdcount.org/

Birds can be counted anywhere anytime over the course of the next four days. You may count for as little as fifteen minutes or all day if you like. Counts aren’t limited to your backyard despite the name. You can count in your backyard if you like but can also participate at your local park or other favourite birding hotspot. You may submit a list just once, everyday or multiple lists from the same day at different times. Every count is important as it helps scientists understand bird populations, ranges and seasonal movements. The information collected is then compared to that of other years and helps researchers understand how weather influences bird populations, where irruptive species such as the Snowy Owl appear some years and not others and how diseases like West Nile is effecting birds in different areas.

If you are new to birding and reluctant to participate, don’t be. Although accuracy is important every observation is helpful, so submitting counts of just the birds you are comfortable identifying still helps. It is also a great opportunity to introduce newcomers to the hobby of birding. If you are an avid birder count with someone, whether it be a niece, nephew, grandchild, or someone of similar age, compile a list together and help them to identify new species. Not only will you be helping science, you may just gain a new partner for your next birding adventure.

Good birding,
Paul

Black-capped Chickadees

Black-capped Chickadee

London, Ontario Birding Report January 26th – February 1st 2014

IMG 4330 1 - London, Ontario Birding Report January 26th - February 1st 2014 — The most unique observation of the week was this leucistic Black-capped Chickadee.

This past week turned out to be a rather productive one for observing birds along the Thames River, especially waterfowl. In the stretch of river between Greenway and Springbank Parks I recorded twelve species of waterfowl, with a couple of highlights being a Canvasback and Long-tailed Duck. Temperatures were in the negative teens with wind chills ranging from -20C to – 30C most days so dressing for the weather was a must, but well worth getting out for any birder.

The city of London does an excellent job plowing and salting throughout these two parks so walking isn’t an issue, in fact the paths here are better maintained than most neighbourhood sidewalks. Other notable species from the week were a Northern Shrike, regular appearances by the resident bald eagles with both adult and juvenile birds observed, and a leucistic Black-capped Chickadee. Identifying such a unique bird was quite tricky, as at first I believed it to be a Boreal Chickadee. Luckily I managed a few photos, and with the help of two London bird experts deemed it to be a leucistic Black-capped.

One of the most interesting views of the week was watching a male Red-breasted Merganser feed while looking down from a bridge above. The water in this particular section of river is quite shallow and clear so the bird was easily seen swimming underwater each time it dove in search of food. I managed several photos of the bird underwater, as it surfaced, and a couple of times with a crayfish in it’s grasp.

A large flock of Robins was seen feeding on Buckthorn berries on the river bank.

A complete list of birds observed is as follows:

gspost - London, Ontario Birding Report January 26th - February 1st 2014 — Greater Scaup male and female.

American Black Duck
American Coot
American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Robin
Bald Eagle
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
Bufflehead
Canada Goose
Canvasback
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Dark-eyed Junco
Downy Woodpecker
European Starling
Great Blue Heron
Greater Scaup
Hooded Merganser
House Sparrow
Long-tailed Duck
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Muscovy Duck
Northern Cardinal
Northern Shrike
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-tailed Hawk
White-breasted Nuthatch

Birding during cold winter months can be the only time of year to see some of these species. Invest in some good quality warm clothes and enjoy the outdoors twelve months a year. The physical and emotional benefits of birding are unbelievable and I encourage all to get out whenever you can.

Good birding,
Paul

American Robin: A Sign Of Spring, Or Elusive Winter Resident?

Many people associate seeing a Robin in early March as the unofficial start of spring. Truth is that many Robins don’t migrate south at all. Check their year-round range in the map section of your favourite field guide and you will see that it extends into eastern Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes. So why do these birds seem to disappear come fall and into winter?

Watermark 1 - American Robin: A Sign Of Spring, Or Elusive Winter Resident? — **This leucistic American Robin feeds on the fruit of a Buckthorn tree.**

Robins feed on a variety of food: earthworms, insects, as well as fruits, and berries. In the spring rising temperatures and warm rains melt the snow, making flooded lawns and gardens the perfect place to spot Robins foraging on worms, grubs, and insects. This is when many see their first Robin of the year and proclaim spring to be here. During the fall and winter months, a Robin’s diet consists mostly of fruit and berries, so they are not likely to be seen hopping across a snow covered lawn in search of food. Look for them to be roosting in the canopies or thick underbrush of trees and shrubs that produce berries such as Buckthorns, Hawthorns, or Dogwoods. Two areas I have had luck finding Robins in winter are, along rivers where Buckthorn lined banks provide shelter from the wind and plenty of food, and low swampy areas adjacent to ponds with fruit-bearing trees around.

IMG 5305 1 - American Robin: A Sign Of Spring, Or Elusive Winter Resident? — **As the seasons change, so too does the Robin’s diet. During the winter months American Robin’s feed on fruit and berries.**

During spring and summer, Robins can be heard singing and calling before sunrise and after sunset. In winter Robins are less vocal, making their presence seldom known. The opposite behavior from spring to fall gives this bird the illusion of disappearing from an area, when in fact their numbers could still be quite high. On a recent walk along my local river, I caught an orange flash out of the corner of my eye. I glanced over and saw that a Robin had landed in a tree next to the path. I paused for some photos and could hear the fluttering of many wing beats. Glancing up into the trees I could see several Robins gorging themselves on berries. I lowered my lens, began to count, and quickly reached thirty birds. These Robins were a mere arm’s length from the path, and because of their stealthy behavior, almost went unnoticed by me. On this particular day, the wind chill was -22C, but the abundance of food had plenty of Robins still in the area.

IMG 3831 1 - American Robin: A Sign Of Spring, Or Elusive Winter Resident? — **Finding trees with remaining fruit is crucial in locating robins during winter.**

Next time you are out doing some winter birding pay special attention to the thick underbrush and canopies of fruit-producing trees and shrubs. There is a pretty good chance you will come across a Robin giving you false hope of spring.

Good birding,
Paul

Subscribe To My Blog

Be Respectful When Enjoying Nature

I have always had an interest in birds. Ever since I was a child I have been fascinated by their different sizes, shapes, and colours. Learning to identify them by sight and sound has been something I have spent many hours doing. I have also put in a lot of time learning what type of habitat each species lives in so that I can go looking for specific birds. Over the years I have taken my birding more and more seriously and a result have been adding more species to my life list. It wasn’t until two years ago that I took up photography, as a way to capture my moments in nature so I can relive them over again, as well as share them with family and friends. I am a birder first and a photographer second. I always put the well being of the birds first and also take into consideration the feelings of others. I see far too many photographers who will do anything to get the shot without thinking about how it affects the birds or other people.

The classic example of this behavior is taking place all the time with this year’s Snowy Owl irruption. I have read many times and witnessed with my own eyes the various actions of these photographers from baiting to walking within a few feet of the owls before they fly. I have already covered my thoughts on baiting in a previous blog, but would like to share my thoughts on disturbing the birds.

Snowy Owls have travelled hundreds if not thousands of kilometers south during this year’s irruption. Many of these owls are young birds that have wandered from their territory in search of food. Birds that have travelled these distances are fatigued, hungry, and are already under incredible stress. Being chased from their perches by humans only adds to their stress.

During a recent drive, I noticed a Snowy Owl sitting on top of a hydro pole. I pulled my truck off to the side of the road a safe distance back so as not to disturb the owl. I pulled my camera from my bag and proceeded to take some photos out of my truck window. I knew I could get better shots if I was closer and positioned myself at a different angle to the sun, but I could see the owl was unaffected by my presence, so I respected the owl and kept my distance. A few minutes passed and by this point, three other cars had stopped to watch and take pictures. Everyone was keeping their distance and the owl’s mood did not change. Then one man decided to venture from his van to get closer. As the man approached the owl became restless. It raised up on its legs and began looking around with rapid head movements. The mood of the owl had clearly changed from when it was sitting puffed out with very few head movements. The man walked right up to within 15 feet of the pole when the owl took off over the field and eventually landed on the roof of a farm building, too far for decent photos or even a view with the naked eye. In fact, if I didn’t see where the owl landed it would be virtually unnoticeable from the road. This man clearly had no respect for the bird and the fact that he was causing it stress. He certainly didn’t care either about the other three vehicles of people that arrived before him who were enjoying the owl. What about others that may have come across this owl at the side of the road while driving by? This particular owl would go unnoticed except by the extremely observant passerby. To think this man’s selfishness would deny others the chance of seeing such a wonderful bird upsets me.

The message that I am trying to spread is pretty clear. When out birding or photographing birds ( because many photographers I wouldn’t class as birders) be respectful. Look around, pay attention to those around you that may be enjoying what you see too. Keep your distance and everyone can enjoy nature together. More importantly, respect the birds and the fact that you are in their environment. They don’t come into your home and disturb you, so don’t do it to them. You wouldn’t walk to within a few feet of a tiger or bear for a picture so what makes it okay with a bird? I read a quote a while back and I ask you to remember it next time you are out, “If your behavior changes their behavior, you are too close.”

Good birding
Paul

Subscribe To My Blog

Think Spring, By Building Nest Boxes For Your Yard This Winter

Winter is the perfect time to start thinking about adding nest boxes to your yard. By watching the birds that come to your feeders, you already have a great idea of the different species that frequent your yard. With a little research as to which of these species nest in boxes and where to place them, you will be ready for a spring and summer full of enjoyment watching these birds raise their young.

Many birds will readily nest in a properly placed box, but the key is to make sure they are up by early spring. That is why it is best to use the winter months to plan what species, and where would be a great location for them to nest. Wrens, woodpeckers and chickadees are all species that waste no time finding a new nest box in your yard. If you are like me you will get great enjoyment from making the nest boxes yourself. Building nest boxes is a great winter activity to pass time when you are not out birding. If building them yourself isn’t your thing, than they can be purchased from the same local independent retailer you purchase your seed from.

Nest boxes are quick and easy to build, with only a few tools and materials required. Pretty much any type of wood can be used for nest boxes, except pressure treated, or others that contain chemicals to preserve them. My personal preference is cedar because it is inexpensive and naturally weather resistant so the nest boxes will last many years. A 1″ x 6″ x 6′ cedar fence board will work for most songbird nest boxes and can be purchased for about $5.00. Add a package of #6 1 1/4″ screws and you are ready to start building. Many of the plans available call for a hinge on the top, so the boxes can be easily cleaned out at the end of each year. I have learned a trick over the years to save a couple bucks on hinges and makes cleaning the boxes just as easy. Before fastening one side, drill the top two holes in that side piece where the front and back pieces fasten one size larger than the screws. This will allow that side to pivot on those screws and swing out for easy cleaning. When assembling the box, place only one screw in the bottom of the front piece through that side to hold it in place. This will keep predators like raccoons and squirrels from opening it. In the fall remove the bottom screw, swing the side piece out, clean out the box, then place the screw back in and the box is ready for the following season. Building multiple boxes at once makes the process much faster as several pieces can be cut at the same time. I always make a few extras because friends, family and neighbours always appreciate receiving one of my homemade boxes. Children love helping make the boxes, so it is a great activity for the whole family.

If you are thinking about adding a nest box to your yard, buy one or build one now. It’s never too early to put one up, and birds will have lots of time to find it come breeding season. My favourite place to find plans to build nest boxes for 70 species of birds as well as tips on where and how high to place them can be found here.

http://www.50birds.com/birdhouses/bird-species-that-nest-in-birdhouses.htm.

Good birding,
Paul

A Fowl Day Birding Isn’t A Bad Thing

Birding during the harsh winter months can be difficult. Songbirds are not as active in the cold weather, and will stay hunkered down in cover during extreme weather. Birds of prey are less likely to be flying about during snowy or windy conditions, and spotting Snowy Owls is nearly impossible not to mention dangerous on county roads in adverse weather. The easiest birds to find during the toughest winter conditions are waterfowl. Find open water, and you will find waterfowl. A flowing current prevents water from freezing, so the best place to search for ducks, geese and other types of fowl is at your local river. As lakes and ponds freeze waterfowl species will congregate by the hundreds in small areas of open water. Many species that spend the summer months further north will migrate south to areas of open water as a food source. This makes winter the only time of year to view such species.

Mallards are a very common species of duck, but I have watched their numbers increase on the local river as the temperatures drop. You can tell the majority of these birds are migrants from the north by their wariness of humans. In the summer months local mallards swim over to the bank hoping to be fed when walking by, but in winter the migrant birds fly out into the middle of the river, a sure sign they are not accustomed to humans. Notable species that winter on my local river are: hooded merganser, common merganser, common goldeneye, and bufflehead. I observed an American coot on the coldest day of the year, and other highlights have been a female northern pintail and male redhead.

As the temperatures plummet in January finding waterfowl becomes easier. Slower moving sections of rivers will freeze, or become jammed up with ice. This makes the areas of open water smaller and the concentration of waterfowl greater. Sections of my local river have frozen about 3/4 of the way across during this extreme cold snap and therefore has presented some very close looks of these beautiful birds. Search areas of your local river for open water and you too will find large quantities of waterfowl.

Remember that rivers can be extremely dangerous anytime of year, but especially in winter. Stay away from the edges as the snow and ice there are not always as firm as they appear. Keep children and pets away too, and under no circumstance walk out onto the ice. No look of a bird is worth jeopardizing your safety over.

Bundle up and head out to your local river this winter in search of waterfowl. It is a great way to get out and find large quantities of birds during the winter months. Chances are, you may just cross a new species or two off your life list.

Good birding,
Paul

My Take On Owl Baiting

With all the Snowy Owl sightings in our area this winter, the common debate about baiting them for photography has risen again. For those of you who don’t know what baiting is, many photographers will take live mice out into the field and release them near owls and other birds of prey in order to get better shots. Not only can food get the birds closer to a photographer, but it can also present what some consider incredible shots. I personally do not bait owls or any bird of prey and do not agree with it for several reasons.

Baiting often takes place near county roads which draw the birds closer to the road resulting in collisions with vehicles. Not only can this cause injury or death to the bird, but to the occupants of the vehicle as well. Wildlife rehabilitation centers treat owls and other types of birds of prey every year with broken wings and other injuries as a result of being hit by cars while swooping down on prey. I viewed several photos last year of a Great Gray Owl in Algonquin Park on a photo-sharing website that was being baited by photographers. After a few weeks of photos, I read that the bird had been killed in a collision with a car. I can only ask myself if this bird wasn’t baited so close to a road would it have been killed? Perhaps it would have found another area to hunt away from traffic if not encouraged by the handouts. Is the life of such a beautiful bird worth it for a picture?

Photographers who bait owls also tend to walk out in the fields in order to do so. This quite often will spook the birds causing them to fly further away or leave the area completely. Not only does this put added stress on the bird, but it also ruins the opportunity for other birders and photographers to view the bird. Many websites that report bird sightings have stopped reporting Snowy Owl and Short Eared Owl sightings for this exact reason. I have read multiple reports this winter of Snowy Owl sightings only to read updates later that the owls were chased from the area by photographers. Snowy Owls, in particular, do not move too far from an area once set up for the winter. They will also return to the same area year after year if not disturbed. If you do not get a look or photo the first time around, keep returning to the spot until you do. The bird will likely be in the same area and if you are patient it will eventually present a good look.

Most photographers that enter farmer’s fields in order to get closer to owls or bait them do not have permission from the landowner and are therefore trespassing. Regardless if you are pro or anti baiting you can’t argue the trespassing debate. If someone walked into your backyard with a camera, binoculars, or a handful of seed in order to view a cardinal you would have a problem with it; so what makes it okay on a farm when the house is a kilometer or more away? Fields this time of year can be planted with winter wheat, in which case farmers definitely do not want you in their field.

This is a very sensitive subject depending on what side you are on. Photographers who do bait will argue that it is legal to do so and compare it to feeding birds in your backyard. I disagree with the comparison to a bird feeder. I feed songbirds in my yard that typically feed on native seeds, insects, and berries. These three foods are not readily available during winter, therefore I am providing food that is otherwise scarce. In my opinion, offering a Snowy Owl a store-bought mouse in an area in close proximity to a city dump is not doing the owl any favours. Why are there so many owls near the dump? My guess is that the dump is a great place to find mice, rats, and gulls; no shortage of food exists for the owls.

Regardless of your position on this subject, try to be respectful of at least one of the following when out searching for owls: other birders, photographers, landowners and of course the owls.

Good birding,
Paul

Subscribe To My Blog

Make Use Of Your Fresh Cut Christmas Tree After The Holidays This Year

With Christmas now over, many of us will soon be taking down our fresh cut trees and either placing them at the curb for collection, or returning them to one of the local tree depots. Christmas trees can be put to great use after the holidays as they provide excellent cover for your backyard birds.

Placing your tree outside after the holidays will provide your feathered friends with the perfect spot to get out of January’s squalls, cold winds, and a safe hiding spot from raptors and other backyard predators. By laying your tree down on its side, or standing it up in the snow, birds including: Blue Jays, Dark-eyed Juncos, Black-capped Chickadees, and Northern Cardinals will quickly use it as a source of shelter. I like to place mine near the feeder so that the birds can quickly dive into it if one of the local Cooper’s or Sharp-shinned Hawks takes a swipe at them. Just be sure that it is positioned far enough away that the squirrels can’t use it to gain access to your feeder.

chick - Make Use Of Your Fresh Cut Christmas Tree After The Holidays This Year — **Black-capped Chickadees are among the many backyard birds that use coniferous trees for shelter.**

If you put up an artificial tree rather than a fresh cut one but you wish to provide cover in your backyard, you have several options. Ask a family member for their tree, watch for neighbours to place theirs out on garbage day, or drive to your local tree depot and pick one up. I love the added cover Christmas trees provide in my yard and often collect trees from family, neighbours, and the depot, as well as placing mine outside.

After the snow melts and the new growth starts to reappear in your yard, your reused Christmas trees can then be placed to the curb with your other yard materials when collection resumes in the spring. This will save you the hassle of taking it to one of the local Christmas tree depots and having to vacuum all those fallen needles out of your car. By placing it out with yard materials and not your regular garbage it will keep it out of the landfill and your tree will be mulched up and reused as compost at a later time. Not only will you be helping the birds, you will be helping the environment.

Good birding,
Paul