Revering a Raptor

Oct28

From the day that I first laid eyes on the species, gliding on broad wings over a coniferous forest in the Rocky mountains of Alberta, I have always looked with awe at it, astounded by its sheer magnificence. Many people have soft spots for raptors. I have a soft spot for one in particular: the Northern Goshawk.

I first saw a goshawk just over a year ago. It was early October 2010, and I had signed up for the Mount Lorette Golden Eagle field trip with Nature Calgary. I went out on my own to explore the area right around the location of the watch, and, while out on the path, witnessed an adult goshawk rise up from the spruce trees and circle away. From that moment on I was always looking for goshawks; every chance I got, I would go searching for them.

Rising up out of the forest; my first views of a Northern Goshawk

Several days later, on a biking trip to Fish Creek Provincial Park, I came across an adult Goshawk perched high up in a poplar, sitting and gazing at the world around him. I stood and watched this magnificent raptor for more than half an hour, pointing the bird out to anybody who came near. Many of these were joggers or were merely walking their dogs. They took little interest in this bird, that is somewhat tricky to spot in the city of Calgary. I was rewarded though by the few who did pause to look up at the goshawk and comment on his size.

“What did you say it was called?”

“A Northern Goshawk”, I would reply eagerly, ” it’s somewhat unusual here in Calgary.”

“Really? Wow! Look at how big he his!” After staring up at him for several more seconds, they would smile and move on. Hopefully the Goshawk had made an impression on them though.

While I watched this large, strong accipter (agile, forest dwelling hawks with short rounded wings and long tails) it scratched its head withs its talon, giving me glimpses of those wicked sharp utensils it uses to tear apart its prey. Eventually, it lifted off and disappeared amongst the trees.

Goshawks are among the largest, strongest and most audacious of the hawks of North America. In November 2010, a little over a month since I first observed this species, I got an excellent opportunity to view this audacity. I was riding my bike home from Fish Creek and was running slightly late. I looked down for a moment as I pulled onto a dirt path going around a storm water pond, and, when I looked up again, there, sitting merely yards away from me in a small tree no taller than 10 feet, was an adult goshawk. They now seemed to be everywhere I went! I slammed on the brakes as hard as I could and screeched to a stop, panting breathlessly. Pulling out my camera, I marveled at how close this bird had let me get. I stood watching him, he stood watching me, this went on for several minutes before he abruptly flew away.

Taken with a 200mm lens and no crop; I could see every detail in the feathers

Instead of leaving altogether though, the goshawk started hovering over a field, pulled up, started hovering again and then pulled up once more. Then, with a sharp turn, he came whizzing right at me and flew by me at a distance of about 4 feet! The raptor was so close that my lens couldn’t focus on it!

These incredibly neat personal experiences combined with an amazingly beautiful species, have come to make me love the Northern Goshawk.

Posted by Matthew Sim

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Oct 25

Oct26

Have you seen an unusual bird in Calgary? If it is on this Reportable_Birds (PDF), please report it to the Nature Calgary Rare Bird Alert line at 403 221-4519 and leave a message after the beep at the end of the recording. If you would like some help with species identification, us email us at zoxox@shaw.ca To report injured wildlife call the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society at 403 239-2488, or the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation at 403 946-2361.

This Bird Alert was recorded on Monday Oct 24 at 10:10 am.

Bird Sightings:

Oct 20:
DUNLIN (1), PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, STILT SANDPIPERS, 400 DOWITCHERS at Weed Lake, Phil Cram, Brian Elder & Ray Woods.

Oct 22:
PACIFIC LOON, SURF SCOTER female at Glenmore Res., Bill Wilson.
1000 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 800 SNOW GEESE at Namaka Lake SE of Strathmore, Andrew Slater.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET (2), PINE GROSBEAK (2) at Big Hill Spr. PP, Steve Kassai.
COOPER’S HAWK, TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE, BOHEMIAN WAXWING (60) at Votier’s Flats, FCPP, Katrina Lybbert.
FRANKLIN’S GULL (1) at Shepherd Landfill, Terry Korolyk.
TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE (7), AMERICAN ROBIN (25), RED CROSSBILL (6), GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, Votier’s Flats, FCPP, Gus Yaki & FFCPP.

Oct 23:
DUNLIN (1) at Chestermere Lake, Terry Korolyk.
DOWITCHER (400), BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (5 juv.), PECTORAL SANDPIPER (3), 1st yr. THAYER’S GULL at Weed Lake, TK.
MAGNOLIA WARBLER, Mount Royal district, Phil Cram.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday Oct 27.

Sunday Showcase: Young Swainson’s Hawk

Oct23

Rob English was fortunate enough to capture these stunning shots of a young Swainson’s hawk hunting grasshoppers. He took them in Hulls’ Wood, Fish Creek Park in early September. He says the bird hung around the area for about three days, and showed no fear. His wife named him “Mr. Personality.” Thanks so much for sharing these Rob! Click to enlarge.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Oct 20

Oct20

This Bird Albert was recorded on Oct 20, 2011.

OCT 16

GREAT GRAY OWL – Grand Valley Road on the first east-west section of road past the 4-way stop, Ron Kube
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – 4 juveniles, yard in Mount Royal, Phil Cram
TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE – on the summit of Sulphur Mtn in Banff NP, Thomas Glen
RUSTY BLACKBIRD – Found again at a slough east of Calgary on Rge Rd 28 just south of Glenmore Trail, RK

OCT 17

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – over 60 seen by Gus Yaki and the FFCPPSoc at Votier’s Flats in Fish Creek PP
RED CROSSBILL – 4 juveniles/females, yard in Mount Royal, PC

OCT 18

RED-THROATED LOON – on Glenmore Reservoir between Yacht Club and Canoe Club, TG
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – 12 in Votier’s Flats of Fish Creek PP, Gus Yaki and the FFCPPSoc
RED CROSSBILL – 3, as above
NORTHERN GOSHAWK – 2, as above
PINE GROSBEAK – 1, as above; also 2 immature/female birds seen by PC in Britannia

OCT 19

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – more than 60 seen by GY and the FFCPPSoc at Votier’s Flats
PACIFIC LOON – 1 seen on Glenmore Reservoir from Heritage Park, Bill Wilson

The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Mon Oct 24.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Oct 17

Oct18

This Bird Albert was recorded on Oct 17, 2011.

OCT 10

GREAT GRAY OWL – Grand Valley Road, Ian Maton and Keith Sharkey

OCT 13

SANDHILL CRANE – 2 flocks east of Carstairs-Didsbury area, 9 birds on Rge Rd 270 south of Hwy 582, 30 birds at Twp Rd 314 and Rge Rd 271 junction – seen by Corinne Griffin
SNOW GEESE – 200 seen by CG at Twp Rd 314 and Rge Rd 271 junction
TRUMPETER SWAN – 7, CG at Twp Rd 320 just west of Hwy 791

OCT 15

TRUMPETER SWAN – 4 at the north end of Chestermere Lake – Terry Korolyk and members of Nature Calgary
TUNDRA SWAN – flocks of 20 and 30 in the middle of Weed Lake – seen by TK group as above
GREATER SCAUP – on Chestermere Lake – 3 to 5 seen by TK group
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER – juvenile at Weed Lake, Nature Calgary group with TK
PECTORAL SANDPIPER – 1, as above
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER – 3-4 as above
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER – 45 as above
RUSTY BLACKBIRD – Found by Ron Kube at a slough east of Calgary on Rge Rd 28 just south of Glenmore Trail

OCT 16

RED-THROATED LOON – on Glenmore Reservoir between the sailing club and the canoe club, reported by Bob Storms
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE – TK, 16 birds at the south end of Clear Lake (15 kms east of Stavely)
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER – TK, north end of Clear Lake
LESSER YELLOWLEGS – 5 birds as above
GREATER SCAUP – TK, 3 as above
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK – near Bow Valley Ranch in east Fish Creek PP, seen by Steve Kassai
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW – 7 as above

The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Thu Oct 20.

95+ Years of Pigeon Roosts

Oct18

If you’ve ever driven south on Deerfoot Trail, you would have passed the Federal Grain Elevator in Bonnybrook, on the west side of the road.

This grain terminal was built around 1916, and over the years, has provided roosting and nesting sites for untold thousands of rock doves. When the grain trucks were delivering to the building on a daily basis, the spilled grain also attracted ducks and geese from the nearby Bow River. All that terrestrial bird activity naturally attracted the predators, and it was often a good place to spot a Northern Goshawk in the winter.

As of last Sunday, the rock doves have lost their perch. Apparently the high cost of operating the aging structure meant it was no longer financially advisable, so it was imploded at 8:00 am Sunday morning.

On a chilly pre-dawn morning, we were lined up on the hill to the west of the elevator with the media, police and a host of spectators. I was there because I was curious about the bird aspect of the whole thing.

The charges were set mid-way down the building, so when it went down, the rock doves on the roof went up. They circled the area, drifting in and out of the large dust cloud as it wafted towards the east.

The explosion also lifted a flock of geese off the river, and a small flock of ducks.

The whole thing was over in less than two minutes. As the sun rose through the dust, the rock doves gradually settled on a small, remaining tower, no doubt wondering what on earth had just happened to their world.

Posted by Pat Bumstead

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Oct 13

Oct14

This Bird Albert was recorded on Oct 13, 2011.

OCT 7

PEREGRINE FALCON – off Hwy 2 near Crossiron Mills – Thomas Glen

OCT 8

LONG- BILLED DOWITCHER – 250 seen by Gordon Sick at Weed Lake

OCT 10

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL – second cycle year bird, seen by Ilya Povalyaev at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary
MEW GULL – 2 reported as above
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER – Terry Korolyk, immature at Weed Lake
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER – immature, as above
AMERICAN AVOCET – as above
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER – 200, as above; also 20 at the slough on Twp Rd 250 just east of Hwy 817
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER – one seen by TK at the slough mentioned above
SNOW GOOSE – TK, juvenile at Cattleland Slough
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE – 200, as above
WILSON’S WARBLER – 4, Jim Davis’s yard in Douglasglen
YELLOW WARBLER – hatch year bird seen by JD as above

OCT 11

RED-THROATED LOON – at the south end of Chain Lakes, by Joan and Malcolm Macdonald
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER – 2 at Chain Lakes, JM and MM
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL – seen by IP again at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER – 8 seen by Gus Yaki and the Friends of Fish Creek PP, in east Fish Creek PP along the Bow River

The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Mon Oct 17.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Oct 10

Oct12

This Bird Alert was recorded on Monday Oct 10 at 10:15 am.

Bird Sightings:

Oct 5:
-COMMON NIGHTHAWK flying over the yard of Matthew Sim, Willow Pk. Calgary.

Oct 8:
-CLARKE’S GREBE (1), 1200 SNOW GEESE, including 2 BLUE varients, 12 SURF SCOTERS, at Eagle Lake on a CFNS field trip, Rob Worona etc.
-800 SNOW GEESE at Third Lake, south of Hwy 552, SE of Calgary, Terry Korolyk.
-GREATER SCAUP (3) on a pond on Leighton Center Rd south of Calgary, TK.
-150-200 SNOW GEESE, RUSTY BLACK-BIRDS (3) at the Calgary Zoo Ranch, Dunbow Rd,south of Calgary, CFNS field trip, Gus Yaki etc.
-SURF SCOTER (1) on Glenmore Reservoir, Bill Wilson.
-SWAINSON’S THRUSH (4), HERMIT THRUSH, TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS (13) at Inglewood B.S., BW.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS (2), HERMIT THRUSH, NORTHERN SHRIKE, at S Glenmore Pk, GY and FFCPP.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS (10) on the ridge behind Spruce Meadows, TK.
-GRAY CATBIRD, PACIFIC WINTER WREN, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS (4), VARIED THRUSH, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS (8), WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS (2), DARK-EYED JUNCOS, SLATE COLORED (24), DARK-EYED JUNCO, PINK- SIDED (1), LAPLAND LONGSPUR at the Mt. Lorette Raptor watch, Kannaskis, Jim Davis etc.

A record number of migrating raptors (583) and record GOLDEN EAGLES (556) were counted at Lorette.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday Oct 13.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Oct 6

Oct7

This Bird Alert was recorded on Thursday Oct 6 at 9:50 am.

Bird Sightings:

Oct 2:
HERMIT THRUSH west side of Nose Hill Park, Steve Kassai.

Oct 3:
HERMIT THRUSH (3), FOX SPARROW (red), several large flocks of GRACKLES, and a raft of 143 COMMON MERGANSERS at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Greg Meyer.

Oct 4:
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS (2) at Mallard Pt, FCPP, Terry Korolyk.

Oct 5:
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER rescued after a window hit at Uof C, Eileen Cora.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS (15) in Bebo Grove, west FCPP, Al Borgardt.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday Oct 10.