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BirdYYC2020 – WhatsApp Group for Rare Birds

Dec8

About

A WhatsApp group has been set up to allow Calgary birders participating in the 2020 “Big Year” Birding Challenge to share instant updates on rare/uncommon birds sighted within the city limits. The big advantage of this group over email listservs will be that everyone can send out and receive updates quickly. It is essentially like sending a text message, much faster and more direct than email. Photos can be also be shared with the app.

WhatsApp groups are currently restricted to 256 members, which we hope will be more than enough to include all the birders who want to get “instant” bird news while they are out and about.

For those who do not want instant updates we will have a weekly report of rare birds on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Follow the challenge on Twitter at @birdyyc2020.

Joining the group

If you don’t already have WhatsApp on your phone, you will first need to download and install it (via iTunes, Android Play or the Microsoft Store, depending on what type of smartphone you have). The app is free. Once you have the app, you will need to send a request to one of the group admins with your request to join the Birdyyc2020 RBA group.

WhatsApp
The WhatsApp icon.

There are currently two group admins: Gavin McKinnon and Bob Lefebvre. In order to join the group please send a message to either one of them and they will add you to the group. A text message to their phone number is the easiest way to do it. Gavin 403-519-8703; Bob 403-370-0556. Include your name so that it will be visible to users when you post messages to the group.

The group is open to all birders interested in Calgary’s rare birds. All BirdYYC2020 challenge participants will receive an email with a link to join the WhatsApp group. If you received this email simply follow the link to join the group. To join the challenge, email Howard Heffler at hheffler[at]shaw.ca with “Challenge” in the subject line.

Group Guidelines

● The group is only to be used for sharing information about rare and uncommon species within the city limits of Calgary. Please remember that every message you send goes out to everyone in the group. Although general chit-chat and banter is expected please avoid having conversations in the group chat.

● If you find a bird on the list of ‘reportable’ species, send a message to the group as soon as possible. (A list of reportable species will be provided to participants.) Include as much detail as you think necessary to enable others to find the bird if they choose to go and look for it. If you do pursue (“twitch”) a reported sighting please send an update on whether you have been successful or not.

● Consider the welfare of the bird at all times. Do not send out news of sensitive or breeding birds. Please do not report the locations of owls or other species prone to disturbance on the group chat. If you are unsure of whether or not to post please contact one of the group admins before doing so.

We encourage participants in the challenge to also share their sightings on the listserv Albertabird. If you are not a member of Albertabird, see this post for information.

Don’t wait until January to start using the app! We have been using it for a while already, and we’d like to see it used next week during the Calgary Christmas Bird Count, and on other counts over the Christmas season.

Mew Gull
Mew Gull, photographed on the Irrigation Canal in SE Calgary on October 13, 2019, by Gavin McKinnon, and shared immediately with BirdYYC2020 WhatsApp group users.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact Gavin McKinnon by email (gmckinnonbird[at]gmail.com) or phone (403-519-8703).

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Nov 12

Nov14

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, 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.

Compiled by Terry Korolyk

Bird Sighting

Nov 6:
PACIFIC LOON, SURF SCOTER, female, south end of Tilley Res. east of Brooks, Robert Warple.
GYRFALCON, dark morph, west of Vauxhall, RW.

Nov 8:
SNOWY OWL, Cross Iron Blvd, east side of Hwy 2, Anthony Miller.

Nov 9:
HARRIS’ SPARROW, 4 miles s of Okotoks, Wendy Adam.
CASSIN’S FINCH male, Wintergreen Woods Est. Bragg Cr., canuckbirder.

Nov 10:
SHORT-EARRED OWL, GREAT GRAY OWL, nw of Cochrane between Grand Valley Rd/Twp Rd 280/Jack Eby Rd/ Hwy 579, Dan Arndt.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, WESTERN GREBE Beaverdam Flats, Gus Yaki/FFCPP.
TUNDRA SWANS (2), Bowness Pk, k25jh, and 2 at SW corner McLeod Tr/Hwy 22x, Terry
Korolyk.

Nov 11:
TUNDRA SWANS (2), Beaverdam Flats, GY etc.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday Nov 15.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Oct 22

Oct24

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, 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.

Compiled by Terry Korolyk

OCT 18

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE – 2 north of Country Hills Blvd east of 14 St NW, Isabelle Orr and Susie Sperupt?

OCT 19

RED-THROATED LOON – Glenmore Reservoir, Ray Werschler and Bob Storms, also Al Borgardt
SURF SCOTER – 2 at Chestermere Lake, Hank Vanderpol
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET – yard in Banff, Terry Korolyk
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH – 2 in the Marlborough yard of Dorothy Johnston
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK – 21 in Black Diamond-Millarville-Priddis-Jumping Pound area, Ron Kube
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER – 5 on Chestermere Lake, HV
SNOW GOOSE – 7, as above
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE – 5, as above
CACKLING GOOSE – 3, as above

OCT 20

SURF SCOTER – 2 immature on Glenmore Reservoir through week; a male and 4 imm/fem reported on Glenmore Reservoir by Bill Wilson and Gus Yaki et al ; 5 imm at Chestermere Lake Dam by TK leading a Nature Calgary Field Trip
HOODED MERGANSER – 30 just east of Hwy 817 on Twp Rd 250; TK and Nature Calgary
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER – at Lorette Raptor Watch in K-Country, Jim Davis

OCT 21

SURF SCOTER – 7+ Glenmore Reservoir, Gus Yaki and FFCPP; 1 on Glenmore Reservoir seen by Janet Gill and FFCPP
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER – 4+, GY as above
BOHEMIAN WAXWING – Marlborough yard, Dorothy Johnston

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thu Oct 25.

BIRD STUDY GROUP:

Bird Study Group meets 1st Wednesday of the month, 7:30pm in Room 211
of the BioSciences Building, U of C.

WEDNESDAY, NOV 7, 7:30PM – DANIEL ARNDT AND DAVID PUGH will share their experiences with technology in the world of birding.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Sept 20

Sep21

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, 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.

Compiled by Terry Korolyk

Sept. 15, 17, 18 and 19:
Birds seen at Confederation Park included FOX SPARROW(2),and BLUE-HEADED VIREO(2) by Dan Arndt and Bill Wilson.

Sept. 16
At Weed lake, 20 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and one SANDERLING were seen by Bob and Dan Lefebvre.

Sept. 17
At IBS, a MAGNOLIA WARBLER, SWAINSON’S THRUSH and A SWAMP SPARROW were seen by Greg Meyer, and on the 18th he saw a MOURNING WARBLER there.
At Mallard Point,FCPP, a BROAD-WINGED HAWK and a PEREGRINE FALCON were seen by Gus Yaki et al., and on the 18th, they saw a COOPER’S HAWK there.

Sept. 18
At FCPP, Glenfield area, a MOURNING WARBLER was seen by Terry Korolyk, and on the 19th, a PURPLE FINCH by TK.

Note: IBS(Inglewood Bird Sanctuary); FCPP(Fish Creek Provincial Park)

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Sept 17

Sep19

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, 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.

Compiled by Terry Korolyk

Sept.13:
–Possible hybrid warbler, Tennessee/Mourning, seen by Terry Korolyk in Fish Creek PP, E. of bridge # 7.

Sept. 14 + 15:
–AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, S.end Weed lake along Hwy.560. Several seen there by Marcel Gahbauer, and one by TK.

Sept. 15 + 16:
–SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER(2), SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER(10), PECTORAL SANDPIPER(200+), SW corner of Hwy 560 and Hwy 24, by TK.
–RED-NECKED PHALAROPE(60), Cattleland Feedlot slough, N. of Strathmore, by TK.
–WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE(3) seen by TK 2km.S.ofHwy 552 on 304 Str. SE. Small flock seen by Ron Kube at RR 282 and TwpRd 360.

Sept. 16:
–BROAD-WINGED HAWK(2), by Peter Roxburgh and Calgary Nature members,seen at Plateau Mtn. in Kananaskis country.
–CLARK’S NUTCRACKER(500+) migrating through Plateau Mtn. area, as above.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Sept 13

Sep14

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, 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.

Compiled by Terry Korolyk

SEP 9

BROAD-WINGED HAWK – seen at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary by Greg Meyer
WILSON’S WARBLER – as above, also one seen in Lake Bonavista by Ann Simpson

SEP 10

BROAD-WINGED HAWK – as above
TENNESSEE WARBLER – Richmond area of Calgary, Phil Quinn
BLACKPOLL WARBLER – immature, just north of Scarboro Ave, PQ

SEP 12

HERRING GULL – 2 adults at Mallard Point, east Fish Creek PP, Terry Korolyk

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Mon Sep 17.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Sept 10

Sep11

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, 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.

Compiled by Terry Korolyk

Bird Sightings:

Sept 1-2:
COMMON REDPOLLS at feeder near Willow Park Golf Course, Marilyn Bushell.

Sept 6:
LAPLAND LONGSPUR (9) Nose Hill Park, Bill Wilson.
BROAD-WINGED HAWK, IBS, Gus Yaki with FFCPP.
MAGNOLIA WARBLER, TOWNSEND’S WARBLER, Confederation Pk, BW.
BLACKPOLL WARBLER, OLIVER-SIDED FLYCATCHER (2), IBS, Gus Yaki with FFCPP.

Sept 7:
TOWNSEND’S WARBLER, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, Confederation Pk, BW.
TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE, Mallard Pt FCPP, Helga Borgardt.

Sept 8:
LAPLAND LONGSPUR (16) Nose Hill Pk, BW
WESTERN TANAGER (2), Confed. PK, BW.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, HERRING GULL, IBS, Gus Yaki with FFCPP.
OVENBIRD, IBS, Kingsley Blades.

Sept 9:
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (2) at Third Lake, and 28 at Eagle Lake via Rnge Rd 245 access, Andrew Slater.
RED-TAILED HAWK dark phase immature, Mallard Pt, FCPP, BW.
OREGON DARK-EYED JUNCO, Carburn Pk, BW.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER(9), IBS, Bob Lefebvre with FFCPP.

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

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Sept 6

Sep7

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, 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.

Compiled by Terry Korolyk

SEP 3

LONG-TAILED JAEGER – east end of Cooking Lake, flying south, Gerald Romachuk
SANDHILL CRANE – 3 seen over the Calgary Zoo’s private facility off Dunbow Road, Dwight Knapik
STILT SANDPIPER – 500 on 304 St SE 2 kms south of Hwy 552; 500 at Weed Lake; 250 at Langdon Corner slough in the SW corner of the Hwy 1 and 9 junction – Terry Korolyk
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER – 30 at Langdon Corner slough, TK
SANDERLING – 5 at Weed Lake at the Hwy 560 pulloff, TK
LESSER YELLOWLEGS – large numbers at the water bodies mentioned above, TK
GREATER YELLOWLEGS – as above

SEP 4

TOWNSEND’S WARBLER – Confederation Park, Bill Wilson
HERMIT THRUSH – as above
BLUE-HEADED VIREO – as above
WILSON’S WARBLER – 40 banded at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary

SEP 5

PEREGRINE FALCON – perched on library tower at U of C, Bill Wilson

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Mon Sep 10.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Sept 1

Sep6

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, 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.

Compiled by Terry Korolyk

AUG 27

BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER – 2 at Confederation park, Bill Wilson
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW – 2 as above
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD – small hummingbird with buffy flanks seen in Braeside by Katrina Lybbert and her son; thought to be a Calliope

AUG 28

WILSON’S WARBLER – 12 at Confederation Park, BW
SOLITARY SANDPIPER – 5, as above

AUG 29

BLACKPOLL WARBLER – seen by BW at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary
OVENBIRD – as above
AMERICAN REDSTART – 3, as above
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH – as above
WILSON’S WARBLER – 5, as above
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER – 2, as above
TOWNSEND’S WARBLER – in Cranston subdivision, by Rick Robb

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: August 30

Sep1

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, 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.

Compiled by Terry Korolyk

AUG 27

BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER – 2 at Confederation park, Bill Wilson
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW – 2 as above
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD – small hummingbird with buffy flanks seen in Braeside by Katrina Lybbert and her son; thought to be a Calliope

AUG 28

WILSON’S WARBLER – 12 at Confederation Park, BW
SOLITARY SANDPIPER – 5, as above

AUG 29

BLACKPOLL WARBLER – seen by BW at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary
OVENBIRD – as above
AMERICAN REDSTART – 3, as above
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH – as above
WILSON’S WARBLER – 5, as above
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER – 2, as above
TOWNSEND’S WARBLER – in Cranston subdivision, by Rick Robb

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Mon Sep 3.

BIRD STUDY GROUP:

Bird Study Group meets 1st Wednesday of the month, 7:30pm in Room 211
of the BioSciences Building, U of C.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 7:30pm – Raptors and Friends – presented by
photographer Rob McCay