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Rare Bird Alert Calgary: March 26

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 birdscalgary@gmail.com.  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.

March 22
–TRUMPETER SWAN(4), Bow River, LaFarge meadows, east Fish Creek Provincial Park, by Gus Yaki et al.
–LESSER SCAUP(5), same as above. Three seen again there on March 24 by GY et al.
–KILLDEER(4), same as above.

March 23

–LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL(1) Bow River, Inglewood Bird Sanctuary(IBS), by Russell Cannings et al. Again seen there on the 25th. Seen by Terry Poulson at Pearce’s Estate as well.
–BARRED OWL, Residential area, Baycourt Place, Calgary.
–NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL(3), heard in Weaselhead area, Glenmore Park, by D.Arndt.
–AMERICAN GOLDFINCH(1) , Calgary Springbank area, by Ruth Lennon.

March 24
–HOODED MERGANSER (3), Bow River, at Fish Creek PP, by several observers.

March 25
–GREAT BLUE HERON(3), Bow River, Hull Wood, FCPP, by J.Gill and B.Diebolt.
–GLAUCUS GULL(2 or 3), one at IBS by RC et al, and two on the Bow at the weir,by RC et al.
–NORTHERN SHOVELER(2) Bow River at IBS, by Sam Jones.
–GREAT GREY OWL(2) SW of Water Valley, by Ian Maton.
–SNOWY OWL, Langdon area, by Andrew Slater
–TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE, Bebo Grove, FCPP, by Steve Kassai.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday March 29..

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: March 22

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 birdscalgary@gmail.com.  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.

Mar 18:
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER still at George Lane Park, High River, Terry Korolyk.
HARLEQUIN DUCK at Inglewood BS, Bernie Diebolt, Janice Gill.

Mar 19:
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS (12), EURASIAN WIGEON, male, east of Elliston Park, 17 Ave, 68 St SE, Gus Yaki, FFCPP.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, male, 8 km west of Turner Valley, Richard Clarke.

Mar 20:
SNOWY OWLS (2), Hwy 564, RRd 253, Terry Poulton, Sam Williams.
GLAUCOUS GULL at Elliston Park, TP, SW, and at IBS, Brian Elder, Ray Wershler, Mike Mulligan.
RED-TAILED HAWK, west of Eagle Lake near Hwy 24, TP, SW.
FRANKLIN’S GULL, IBS, Sam Jones.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, SNOW GOOSE, IBS, BE, RW, MM.

Mar 22:
DARK-EYED JUNCOS (4-5) in a yard, Calgary Temple, Amanda Bradley.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday Mar 26.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: March 20

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 birdscalgary@gmail.com.  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.

March 14
DARK-EYED JUNCO(20+), Weaselhead area, by Kerri Martin

March 15
NORTHERN HAWK OWL(1),NW of Cochrane, by Phil Cram et al.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, Grand Valley Rd. NW of Cochrane, by PC et al.

March 16
AMERICAN KESTREL, North of Calgary, observer unknown.
NORTHERN HARRIER(3), two seen by Tery Korolyk on 210 Ave SW, and one seen on the 17th at Frank Lake by Dill Bahr.
GYRFALCON(1),north of Calgary, by unknown observer.
PILEATED WOODPECKER(3),one seen by Steve Kassai at IBS, and two by Bob English at Carburn park.

March 17
SNOW GOOSE(1), Bow River at IBS (Inglewood Bird Sanctuary), by Gus Yaki et al.

March 18
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, two at IBS by GY et al, and one by Richard Clarke in Kingsland area.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE(1),at IBS, by GY et al.,
GREATER SCAUP(2) Clear Lake by TK.
KILLDEER(1) Frank Lake
EURASIAN WIGEON,Clear Lake, by TK, and three at Carseland Weir, by Andrew Slater.
HERRING GULL(2), IBS, by GY et al.
TREE SWALLOW(1), IBS, by GY et al.

The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Thursday March 22.

So you think you can dance?

Spring appears to be arriving a little early in Alberta this year, and as the snow begins to melt (well I guess the snow never really came this year, did it?), prairie birders will begin to head out in the early mornings with the hope of witnessing the impressive courtship dances of our prairie grouse. The charismatic Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus ) is recognized among naturalists for many reasons, but is perhaps best known for the spectacular courtship displays that occur on mating grounds (lek sites) each spring.

Male Greater sage-grouse. Photo: C.Olson

The greater sage-grouse is the largest of all North American grouse, and both males and females camouflage well in prairie grasses thanks to finely marked brown, black, and white feathers. Male sage-grouse can be distinguished by the presence of an arched yellow comb above the eye, long feathers behind the back of the neck, and a large white breast patch within which two large air sacs are concealed. The survival of the sage-grouse is intrinsically reliant upon the presence and abundance of silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana) flats, found in the Dry Mixedgrass subregion of the Grasslands natural region. This succulent shrub provides the bird’s food, shelter and cover from predators.

Each year, usually beginning in late March, hopeful male sage-grouse head to traditional lek sites where they may spend up to several weeks displaying for female hens. During this lively and intricate performance, males inflate and compress their air sacs producing loud popping sounds. This auditory experience, combined with the stunning visual of raised tail feathers and majestic strutting is indeed one to remember- or so I hear that is. And unfortunately, hearing tales and watching videos may be as close as many Albertans ever get to experiencing sage-grouse mating displays first hand.

Throughout the last decade, the reputation of the sage-grouse has grown for reasons besides being the Casanova of Alberta’s grasslands; the greater sage-grouse is also the most endangered species in Alberta. The sage-grouse was designated an At Risk species in Alberta in 1996 (downgraded to Endangered in 2000), and was recognized by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as a federally Endangered species in 1998. Yet, it is now 2012 and neither provincial nor federal governments have taken any meaningful action to protect the sage-grouse or the habitat upon which its survival depends. Last spring, only 13 male sage-grouse were recorded on leks in Alberta. In neighbouring Saskatchewan, the only other Canadian province in which sage-grouse exist, populations are only slightly higher. These dismal counts represent an almost 90 percent population decline in Canada between 1988 and 2006.

It is clear that, like with most threatened and endangered species worldwide, this rapid decline can be attributed to habitat destruction and fragmentation. Degradation of native grasslands in southern Alberta due to urban expansion, cultivation, livestock grazing, and oil and gas exploration have left only approximately 43% of our grasslands remaining. Although 70% of the species at risk in the province reside in the grasslands, less than 1% is currently protected. In Alberta, sage-grouse can now be found only in the extreme southeast corner of the province, primarily surrounding the town of Manyberries, Alberta.

Sage-grouse are notoriously sensitive to disturbance, and studies have shown that, when confronted with oil and gas development, sage-grouse will abandon or avoid leks essential to their survival. Extensive energy development in southern Alberta has essentially impacted all remaining sage-grouse habitat.

Oil and gas development in sage-grouse habitat. Photo: C. Olson

Oil and gas development in sage-grouse habitat. Photo: C. Olson

Currently provincial species at risk are, sloppily, handled under the Alberta Wildlife Act. This piece of legislation does not require any mandatory actions to protect species at risk, besides the production of a provincial recovery plan. Since the Alberta Greater Sage-Grouse Recovery Plan was produced in 2005, populations have only continued to plummet. In light of this, we are relying upon provisions within the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) that state the federal Environment Minister has a mandatory duty to make recommendations to protect a species facing imminent threat of extinction. The environmental law group Ecojustice is currently representing Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA), and several other conservation groups as we pursue legal action against Environment Minister Peter Kent over his continued failure to protect Canada’s endangered greater sage-grouse. In order to prevent the imminent extinction of this prairie icon, the critical habitat necessary to sage-grouse survival and recovery must be protected through legislation. Sage-grouse require a buffer of at least 1.9 km around all nesting, brood-rearing and winter habitat, and a 6.4 km buffer around all lek sites. Within this buffer zone all industrial activity must be prohibited, and existing industrial infrastructure must be removed.

Female greater sage-grouse. Photo: C. Wallis

Perhaps the single most frustrating, but also encouraging, piece of the sage-grouse puzzle is that the bird’s ecology and habitat requirements are well-understood. If we want to recover healthy sage-grouse populations in Alberta, it is entirely possible. But what we are obviously still missing is the desire and the political will to take the necessary steps before it is too late.

So I hope to leave you not with a bleak perspective on the state of species at risk in Alberta, but with an awareness of a truly remarkable species, and the desire to seek action from both federal and provincial levels of government to ensure the native grasslands of southern Alberta have not witnessed the sage-grouse’s last dance. For more information on what you can do to help protect sage-grouse, please visit www.albertawilderness.ca

-Madeline Wilson, AWA conservation specialist

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: March 15

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 birdscalgary@gmail.com.  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.

MAR 12

EURASIAN WIGEON – male at Third Lake 2 kms south of Hwy 552 on 224 St SE (Terry Korolyk)
HARLEQUIN DUCK – still at IBS (Gus Yaki and FFCPP)
GOLDEN EAGLE – 1st year southeast of Calgary at Hwy 562 and 160 St SE (TK)
SNOWY OWL – one 5 kms north of Vulcan, one northeast of Frank Lake (Tim Allison)

MAR 13

VARIED THRUSH – still in Dover near the west end of 41A Ave

MAR 14

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE – a pair at Weed Lake (TK)
PILEATED WOODPECKER – a pair in Hull’s Wood of Fish Creek PP (Keith Craig)

The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Mon Mar 19.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: March 12

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 birdscalgary@gmail.com.  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.

MAR 9

CALIFORNIA GULL – 8 reported by Dan Arndt at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary

MAR 10

CANADA GOOSE – thousands at Frank Lake (Richard Clarke)
TUNDRA SWAN – 7 at Clear Lake (Joan and Malcolm Macdonald), 3 on Silver Lake (Terry Korolyk)
EURASIAN WIGEON – 1 male at Frank Lake (Joan & Malcolm Macdonald)
CANVASBACK – 4 as above
REDHEAD – 11 as above
NORTHERN PINTAIL, AMERICAN WIGEON AND MALLARD – numerous, as above
NORTHERN HAWK OWL – just east of Range Road 20 and south of Twp Rd 302 southwest of Carstairs (Phil Evans)
GYRFALCON  pale grey one on Hwy 8 near Hwy 22 (RC); a gray morph adult in Williams Coulee west of Nanton (TK)
GOLDEN EAGLE – an immature at Frank Lake (RC)

MAR 11

TUNDRA SWAN – 3 at Third Lake, 2 kms south of Hwy 552 on 224 St SE (TK)
EURASIAN WIGEON – 2 males, as above
AMERICAN WIGEON – 25 at Frank Lake (Andrew Hart and Nature Calgary)
GREEN-WINGED TEAL – 3, reported by TK; also 2 seen by Andrew Hart and a Nature Calgary field group at Frank Lake
NORTHERN PINTAIL – thousands, as above
CANVASBACK – 8 at Frank Lake (Andrew Hart and Nature Calgary)
REDHEAD – 20, as above
RING-NECKED DUCK – 1, as above
AMERICAN COOT – 1, as above
RING-BILLED GULL – 1 south of the Cushing Bridge (Terry Poulton and Sam Williams)
CALIFORNIA GULL – 17, as above
AMERICAN CROW – 2 north of Black Diamond (TK)

The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Thu Mar 15.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: March 8

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 birdscalgary@gmail.com.  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.

Mar 4:
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER overwintered in High River, George Lane Park is still there, Eugene and Lynn West.

Mar 5:
BARROW’S GOLDENEYE, 2 pairs, at the boat launch, Hull’s Wood, FCPP, Gus Yaki,FFCPP.
CEDAR WAXWINGS (7) and AMERICAN ROBINS (25) on a hill above the Glencoe Club 29th St SW, Phil Cram.

Mar 7:
NORTHERN SHRIKE as well as the WAXWINGS and ROBINS as above, unkown observer.
HARRIS’S, WHITE-CROWNED and SONG SPARROW east of the substation at 51 Ave & 68 St SE, Phil Cram.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS (12), seen between Priddis, Turner Valley, Black Diamond, DeWinton, Terry Korolyk.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday Mar 12.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: March 5

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 birdscalgary@gmail.com.  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.

February 28
–RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. Present in George Lane Park in High River since Oct.2011; seen recently by Phil Quinn.
–BARROW’S GOLDENEYE(3), Bow River at Carburn park, by Gus Yaki et al.

March 1
–HOODED MERGANSER(1), seen during Elbow River survey, by GY et al.
–SNOW BUNTING(1), N. end of Nose Hill park, by PQ.

March 3
–SWAN (sp), seen at Frank Lake by Terry Korolyk. May be the same bird seen there since Dec.2011.
–GREEN-WINGED TEAL(F). Bow River at Policeman’s Flats SE of Calgary, by TK.
–THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, Griffith Woods park, by Steve Kassai.
–NORTHERN GOSHAWK, Griffith Woods park, by SK.
–PILEATED WOODPECKER, (same as above) by SK.
–HORNED LARK. small numbers seen by TK between High River and Carseland.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday, March 8.

BIRD STUDY GROUP – Meets the first Wednesday of the month, September-May at 7:30 pm, Room 211, BioSciences Building, University of Calgary.The next meeting will be Wednesday March 7. The program is titled “High Science: The The Natural History of Alpine Ptarmigan”, by Kathy Martin.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: March 1

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 birdscalgary@gmail.com.  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.

February 25
– –MALLARD (leucistic female) Beaverdam Flats in SE Calgary, Rob English
–SPOTTED TOWHEE, farm ca. 5 km. N of Irricana, John Corbin 403-935-4340

February 26
–NORTHERN SHRIKE, Weaselhead Natural Area, SW Calgary, Phil Quinn – February 28
–CACKLING GOOSE, Mackenzie Meadows, Phil Quinn
– –GREATER SCAUP, Hwy 22x bridge E end of Fish Creek Prov. Park, Terry Korolyk
– –SNOW BUNTING (60), N. of Linden, Corinne Griffin
– –COMMON GRACKLE, Lynnwood subdiv., SE Calgary, Pat Bumstead

February 29
–GREAT BLUE HERON (6) Southland Dog Park parking lot, Deerfoot Tr. And Southland Dr., observer unknown
– –KILLDEER, Bow R. S. of Glenmore Tr. Bridge, Gus Yaki,

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday, March 5.

BIRD STUDY GROUP – Meets the first Wednesday of the month, September – May at 7:30 pm, Room 211, BioSciences Building, University of Calgary. The next meeting will be Wednesday March 7. The program is titled “High Science: The The Natural History of Alpine Ptarmigan”, by Kathy Martin.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Feb 27

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 birdscalgary@gmail.com.  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.

February 22
–SNOWY OWL, Storney Trail and McKnight Blvd., by Lori Anderson et.al.
–AMERICAN ROBIN(18), Queen’s Park Cemetery , by Dan Arndt.

February 23
–RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER(1) still in High River’s George Lane Park, by LA. Has been there for several months.

February 24
–NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, yard of Paul Kuelker in Montgomery. Not seen following day.

February 25
–GREEN-WINGED TEAL(F), Bow River, Policeman’s Flats, end of Bow River Bottom Rd, off Dunbow Rd., by Terry Korolyk
–GREATER SCAUP(2M) , Bow River, just N. of Hwy. 22x bridge, by TK.
–AMERICAN ROBIN(6+), backyard of Margaret Brunner in Oakridge subdivision.

February 26
–KILLDEER(2), Elbow River at Griffith Wood park, by Bob Lefebvre and Dan Arndt
–AMERICAN DIPPER(1), Elbow River at Griffith Wood park, by Bernie Diebolt and Janet Gill. One was also seen recently by Steve Kassai in Big Hill Springs PP.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday, March 1.

BIRD STUDY GROUP – Meets the first Wednesday of the month, September – May at 7:30 pm, Room 211, BioSciences Building, University of Calgary. The next meeting will be Wednesday March 7. The program is titled “High Science: The Natural History of Alpine Ptarmigan”, by Kathy Martin.