If you’re interested in birds in Calgary and the surrounding region, you should know about the Bird Alert phone message.
City of Calgary and Nature Calgary’s Bird Alert Number (403) 221-4519
Compiled twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays, the message gives a rundown of all the unusual bird sightings that have been reported by birders. It lists the bird species and the location where it was seen, so you can take your chance of seeing it as well.
You can listen to the message for bird locations, or if you have a bird to report, you can bypass them, or do so at the end of the recorded message.
A bird that should be reported can be either a rare bird not usually found in the area, or one here in the wrong season. While beginning birders will not know what to report, checking this message on a regular basis will give you a good idea, and help to increase your birding skills.
The report for the first week in November included the following unusual birds in Calgary:
- In Mt. Royal – Mountain Chickadee, Pine Grosbeaks
- In Valley Ridge – Common Redpolls
- On the Elbow River – Wood Duck
- On the Glenmore Reservoir – Common Loon
- In Elliston Park – Pied-billed Grebe
- At Inglewood Bird Sanctuary – Harlequin Ducks
Although it isn’t in Calgary, a birder has reported the first Snowy Owl of the winter season near Irricana. This tundra-breeding species likes open prairie spaces. It will be a challenge to find them in the city during the 2010 competition. If you see one, please let us know!
Pat Bumstead
Laycock Park n.w part of the nose Creek. We have been seeing a blue heron along with two regular herons. But today at 10: 30am July 1st we encountered a bird that wasn’t quite as large as a heron but had a longer neck but was either solid dark brown or a version of all black. Maybe it was a very large duck. He circled around overhead quite low several times trying to make up its mind if it was going to land near the water. It was not a black Canadian goose doesn’t look anything like the pictures online. It was not a black swan or at least it didn’t look like the pictures available online. He did have a rather bright bill Orange-ish.
Could not see if it had a nodule.
Did not seem shy of humans he was literally doing circles and flying off and coming back and flying above us. It was more of a glide.
Not frantic just smooth like he was saying hey do you see me look I’m magnificent.
Anyways thought maybe it could be an exotic pet someone has lost due to the wildfires and recent storms.
I thought it would be wise to report it
That bird is probably a Double-crested Cormorant. They are an aquatic bird that dives from the surface to catch fish. There are quite a few around but they usually are on the Bow River. Nose Creek is probably too shallow for them.
Hi,
We spotted a male and female Western Tanager this morning on May 6th in the Britannia area of Calgary. Beautiful birds. Apparently just passing through.
I saw a hen robin in Sunnyside today at noon. Where the paved pathway comes off of the street on the west side of the base of the Crescent Heights hill.