These photos were sent to us from Pam in Cochrane, who noticed an unusual bird at her feeders. This leucistic form of the House Finch is a very beautiful bird that is happily feeding in a flock of the normally coloured finches.
Rare Bird Alert Calgary: August 30
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
Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Aug 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, 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
MAGNOLIA WARBLERS have been widespread in Calgary and BLUE-HEADED
VIREOS have been reported in Confederation Park throughout this reporting period.
AUG 23
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER – 4 seen by Gus Yaki et al at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER – Confederation Park, Colin Young
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD – Confederation Park, Bill Wilson
AUG 24
HAMMOND’S FLYCATCHER – Terry Korolyk, Glenfield area of Fish Creek PPÂ east of the Macleod Tr Bridge
PACIFIC SLOPE FLYCATCHER – Bill Wilson, Confederation Park northwest Calgary
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER – as above
TOWNSEND’S WARBLER – 2, as above
AUG 25
SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER – a shorebird seen at the slough 2 kms south of Hwy 552 on 304 St south of Carseland by TK may have been a Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER – 1, in location above
STILT SANDPIPER – 300, as above
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER – 400, as above
AUG 26
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER – 3, Confederation Park, BW
CANADA WARBLER – Mallard Point, Fish Creek PP, TK and Nature Calgaryfield trip participants
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD – fem/imm; seen by above group at the Visitor’s Centre at Bow Valley Ranch in Fish Creek PP; also one seen in Confederation Park by BW
WESTERN TANAGER – female, Carburn Park, Steve Kassai
The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Thu Aug 30.
BIRD STUDY GROUP
Bird Study Group meets 1st Wednesday of the month, 7:30 pm, Room 211,
BioSciences Building, U of C. Wednesday September 5, 7:30pm: Raptors and Friends – presented by photographer Rob McCay.
Travel Tuesday – Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation, Coaldale, AB
Posted by Dan Arndt
One of my favourite trips in the wonderful book “Day Trips from Calgary” by Bill Corbett, is the magical and amazing Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation, located in Coaldale, Alberta. The drive itself is wonderful and offers plenty of opportunities for birding the dozens of lakes, sloughs, and fields in the two and a half hour trip into southern Alberta, but the grounds of the visitor centre would turn any non-birder into a confirmed bird lover.
You don’t even have to go in to the centre to get your bird fix. Surrounding the visitor centre are a series of ponds and marshes that are home not only to shorebirds, but also to passerines, flycatchers, and even large numbers of waterfowl.
A few of these Common Yellowthroat were seen just outside the visitor centre just before it opened.
Three or four Greater Yellowlegs were picking food out of the water just west of the visitor centre.
“But neither of these are birds of prey!” I hear you shouting. You’re right, they’re not. So, without further ado, on with the show!
Last year, the visitor centre housed a juvenile Swainson’s Hawk, which was penned near the front desk.
Juvenile Swainson’s Hawk
This year though, we were greeted by Basil, the Burrowing Owl, who cooed and huffed, but investigated us with as much curiousity as we had about him.
Basil the Burrowing Owl
There is a huge portion of the Birds of Prey Foundation that is devoted to rehabilitation of injured or orphaned birds of prey. Some of the current residents are recovering from their injuries, such as the Broad-winged Hawk and the Rough-legged Hawk in their care. Both of these birds are recovering from wing injuries, and will require rehabilitation for quite some time before they can be released back into the wild.
Broad-winged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
A few others birds on display are of unknown affinity, and I wasn’t able to track any of the volunteers down to ask them for clarification, but they’re beautiful birds nonetheless.
Northern Harrier
Long-eared Owl
Ferruginous Hawk
Great Gray Owl
Others are permanent residents of the centre, and are part of breeding programs that are incredibly successful. Both the Merlins and Burrowing Owls are successful parents, and have regularly fledged offspring for quite a few years.
Merlin
Burrowing Owl
Arguably just as important as the rehabilitation, breeding, and even the care of these gorgeous raptors are the educational animals that they keep on hand, (and in some cases, in hand!) for public events, or even just for a private moment or two with visitors to the Birds of Prey Foundation visitors centre.
Barn Owl – though not considered “native” to Alberta, they are occasionally reported here.
The Short-eared Owl is quite possibly my favourite owl species.
Spirit, the blind Golden Eagle
Lauren and Alex Jr., one of the Burrowing Owl mascots of the Birds of Prey centre.
Don’t we just look SO happy together?
It’s hard to narrow down from the dozens of pictures that I took here to figure out just which ones are the best and which ones to post. Even looking over the post now, I know I’ve missed a few species and quite a few great photos that would represent them, but really, it’s worth going and visiting for yourself. They’re open this season until September 10, 2012, and will reopen to the public early next May. Why are you still reading this? Get down there and visit them for yourself!
Birds and Beers reminder – August 28
Posted by Dan Arndt
Just a reminder to all those interested that the next instalment of Birds and Beers is this coming Tuesday, August 28, at Pat Bumstead’s. Her back yard is host to, as counted at the June B&B, Mourning Doves, House Finches, American Robins, and a number of other birds flitting in and out to the feeders while we engaged in some lengthy conversations and a few drinks. To RSVP, email us at birdscalgary@gmail.com for directions!
Hope to see you folks out there!
Sunday Showcase: More on Loons
Posted by Matthew Sim
Here are some more Loon shots from my camping trip; enjoy.
Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Aug 23
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.
Rare Bird Alert August 23
Aug 19:
PILEATED WOODPECKER E of Bebo Grove Pk lot, FCPP, Carla Holowatinc.
Aug 20:
WESTERN SANDPIPER (1 juv), STILT SANDPIPER (250), at Hwy 799 & 338 Ave SE, Terry Korolyk.
WESTERN SANDPIPER, SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER (1000), STILT SANDPIPER (300), at 304Â St SE 2 km S of Hwy 552, TK.
HUDSONIAN GODWIT, Weed Lake at Langdon, TK.
Aug 21:
MOURNING WARBLER juv, Glenfield, FCPP, TK.
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD juv, AMERICAN REDSTART (20), Confederation Pk, Bill Wilson.
Aug 22:
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER juv, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, SWAINSON’S THRUSH (2), PILEATEDÂ WOODPECKER,Glenfield FCPP, TK.
TOWNSEND’S WARBLER, Confederation Pk, Keith Sharke.
BLUE-HEADED VIREO, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, MAGNOLIA WARBLER Confederation Pk, BW.
CONNECTICUT WARBLER, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, Confederation Pk, David Pugh.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, IBS, Nature Calgary trip DP.
Rare Bird Alert August 20
Aug 16:
COOPER’S HAWK (2), SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, FCPP between Votier’s Flats and Bebo Grove, Al & Helga Borgardt.
PACIFIC SLOPE FLYCATCHER at Confederation Park, Bill Wilson.
OVENBIRD, AMERICAN REDSTART (4), IBS, Matthew Sim.
CONNECTICUT WARBLER (2), PHILADELPHIA VIREO (3), OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (2), IBS, Dan Arndt.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, juvenile, and an unidentified hummingbird, in her yard in Southview, Carol Coulter.
Aug 17:
CONNECTICUT WARBLER, Hull’s Wood, FCPP, MS.
SAY’S PHOEBE, Lefarge Meadows, MS.
Aug 19:
AMERICAN REDSTART (6), Confederation Park, BW.
WESTERN SANDPIPER, 1 at NW corner of Weed Lake, 1 at Langdon Corner Slough,Andrew Hart with NC field trip.
HUDSONIAN GODWIT, E side of Weed Lake, as above.
SANDERLING, S end Weed Lake, as above.
WESTERN SANDPIPER, S end of Weed Lake, Bob Storms
The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday Aug 27.
Nature Calgary Bird Study Group
Wednesday September 5 at 7:30pm: Raptors and Friends – presented by photographer Rob McCay.
Bird Study Group meets 1st Wednesday of the month, 7:30 pm, Room 211, BioSciences Building, U of C. Contact, Andrew Hart 403-279-5209
Migration at Hull’s Wood
Posted by Matthew Sim
Last week I rode my bike down to Hull’s Wood in Fish Creek P.P. twice to see how migration was coming along; I was not disappointed! As I rode through the woods both times, the chips of warblers and sparrows emanated from the trees and shrubs along the river. The woods were full of Yellow Warblers, Chipping Sparrows, House Wrens, Least Flycatchers and Warbling Vireos (not all of these were migrants) while several American Redstarts, Tennessee Warblers, Northern Waterthrushes and Baltimore Orioles were also present. There was also a single male Wilson’s Warbler, a single Yellow-rumped Warbler and a single Connecticut Warbler.
Least Flycatcher
Connecticut Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
This was all quite exciting but by 10:30 a.m. both days things quieted down for warblers so I went to Lafarge Meadows to check out shorebirds. Both days I found 6 species of shorebirds in Lafarge Meadows along the Bow River; Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Killdeer and Wilson’s Snipe.
Lesser Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs
Migration is coming along well, so if you have the opportunity, get out there! There are lots of great spots in and around Calgary for migrating birds whether it be Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Confederation Park, Weed Lake, Fish Creek P.P. or your own yard, find your favorite spot for migration and sit back and enjoy the show!
Beyond the reflection: the dangers of windows
Posted by Matthew Sim
As the fall migration starts to heat up and southbound warblers, vireos, flycatchers, sparrows and more pass through Calgary, birding can become quite exciting. While for us, this is a great time to be out and about, for the birds, it is dangerous; very dangerous. Migrating passerines (perching birds), for example, have to travel long distances all while on the lookout for predators such as hawks and cats, try to get food themselves and hope they don’t get caught in an early cold-snap which could potentially kill them. And this is just the beginning, there are even more dangers; one of them which is the most lethal of them all.
According to Sibley Guides Bird Mortalities, window strikes (when a bird hits a window) kill between 97 and 976 million birds each year, more than any other cause of bird deaths. (http://www.sibleyguides.com/conservation/causes-of-bird-mortality/).  I was in my neighbor’s yard when I noticed one of these fatalities on his patio. While I had been there, a migrating Ovenbird had struck his window and had died. Though birds can crash into  windows at any time of the year, window strikes tend to happen more frequently during migration as an influx of migrants come through unfamiliar territory, passing from tree to tree. As you can see in the photo below, it is quite easy for a bird to see its habitat reflected in a window and believe that it is simply another tree they are heading to; I’m sure most don’t know what hit them.
If I were a bird, I would probably fly towards these trees too.
Many bird populations are declining already due to a number of reasons and we don’t need to help them along with  reflective windows when we could easily prevent window strikes occurring.
This Ovenbird had struck my neighbor’s window while I was in his yard.
A closer look at the detail on the Ovenbird’s feathers
Probably the worst part of all this is that window strikes are senseless; it’s not like natural selection where it was meant to happen, window strikes are part of our devastating side effects on nature; however, they can also be easily prevented.
There are many ways to prevent birds from striking windows. If you are having birds fly from your feeders or bird baths into windows, you can either move these bird attracting features further away (25-30 feet) from the window or closer (1-3 feet) to the window so that if the birds do hit the window at just 1-3 feet they will not be going fast enough to do any harm to themselves.
Apparently, there is also a material called CollidEscape which can reduce reflectivity and transparency on the outside but still leave the windows transparent from the inside. You can check it out here.
Here are a few more options:
- plant shade trees outside windows to break down reflections
- install snap-on window dividers
- put a hanging plant outside of the window
These are just a few of the ways you can avoid window strikes and help reduce the number of avian mortalities each year. Often, preventing window strikes can be as simple as closing the curtains or blinds when not using the windows. You can see even more solutions here.
If you have birds hitting your windows, there are many ways to stop it; help out bird populations!
Something old, something new
Posted by Matthew Sim
For the third straight year, on a camping trip to southeastern British Columbia, I watched a family of Common Loons as they went about their lives despite living on a very busy lake and getting quite a bit of disturbance from vacationing families. As we watched the parents (something old as I have seen them before) tending to their young (something new) I couldn’t quite help but be amazed at how they can continue call the lake home despite the popularity of the lake among campers.
This year, there were two young loons. You may remember from last year’s post that there was only one chick last year (last year’s post can be seen here). It was quite remarkable to watch how the adult loons worked together this year with two chicks instead of one; sometimes each parent would take care of one of the chicks while at other times, one parent would give the other a break and watch over both chicks for a while before the parents eventually switched.
Though loons can be very sensitive to disturbance, these loons seem to have adapted well to human presence. Also, there is no motorized boat traffic on their lake, so maybe they are fine with kayakers, canoes and swimmers.
Off to feed its young
Common Loons nest on small islands, muskrat lodges and sometimes on the shores of their lake if these shores are forested and undisturbed. They lay one or two (sometimes three) eggs and take turns incubating these eggs for 28-30 days before the black, downy chicks are hatched. These chicks can swim immediately and they leave the nest with their parents within 24 hours of hatching. Though they can swim, for the first 2 weeks they will often ride on their parents backs perhaps to stay warm and avoid predators. Within six to eight weeks the young will be the size of the adults but until about eight weeks, they will continue to be fed by their parents. I noticed that of the 2 chicks, one seemed to be very independent already while the other one stayed close to at least one adult. Perhaps they had hatched several days apart?
The more dependent of the two chicks being fed; or maybe it just enjoyed free food?!
By three months, mountain lakes such as this one start to get colder and eventually the loons will have to leave; by three months the young can fly. During the 4 days that I was there, the young loons attempted flying a few times, though judging by all the splashing and flopping around, they still need some more practice.
Learning to fly
I found it quite interesting to observe the loons. Often, when I would watch them from a distance, patience would pay off and they would eventually swim quite close to me, within a few feet. The young ones seemed to be especially curious and would often linger around my raft. I had a great time watching the loons and spent many hours with them up close, learning different aspects of their lives. I got plenty of photos and as these seem to tell a story better than words I will leave it at that.
