Tag Archive | birding calgary

Calgary’s Most Visible Bird

Jul22
Black-billed magpie

Black-billed Magpie

With all of Calgary’s great green spaces and natural areas, we have birds everywhere! What do you think is the species seen most often in the city?

We have many species here year-round, and some summer visitors arrive in huge numbers, such as American Robins.

Some suggestions for permanent residents might be Black-billed Magpie, House Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Canada Goose, Mallard, House Finch…

Let us know what you think, and why you’ve chosen that species. Join our 2010 Birding Event to help answer this question!

We look forward to hearing from you in the comments below!

Birding The Sloughs

Jul20

Seven people set out on Thursday’s Nature Calgary trip to sloughs east of Calgary. The day was warm but mostly somewhat overcast limiting temperatures to the mid twenties.

After admiring a Cooper’s Hawk being mobbed by Eastern Kingbirds as we assembled at Carburn Park we went to Langdon and between Weed Lake and the northern end of the Langdon reservoir saw:

American Avocet
Black-necked Stilt
Eared Grebe
Red-winged Blackbird
Swainson’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Crow
California Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Franklin’s Gull
Ruddy Duck
Lesser Yellowlegs
Mallard
American Wigeon
Spotted Sandpiper
Killdeer
Forster’s Tern
Wilson’s Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Pectoral Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Savannah Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lesser Scaup
Northern Shoveler
Western Meadowlark
Marbled Godwit
American Robin
Brewer’s Blackbird
Common Grackle
Eastern Kingbird
Northern Pintail
Cinnamon Teal
Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Northern Harrier
Blue-winged Teal
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Barn Swallow
Black Tern
American Coot
Western Kingbird
Canvasback
Double-crested Cormorant
Marsh Wren
Common Goldeneye
Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Wilson’s Snipe
Bufflehead
Ring-necked Duck
House Sparrow
European Starling
Rock Pigeon
Gadwall

We went on to the slough near Hwy 24 and added:

Baird’s Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Killdeer
Canada Goose
Sora

Then we went our to Nakama Lake to add:

Baird’s Sparrow
American White Pelican
Clay-colored Sparrow
Western Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe

Finally we stopped st the SW corner of Eagle Lake to round off the day with:

Great Blue Heron
Common Tern
Upland Sandpiper

May Species Count Update

Jul8

I’ve finally finished the report for Calgary’s May Species Count and it has been posted on Nature Calgary’s website.

It turns out that it was a record setting year in the Calgary area for both number of species, 210 and number of birds, 100,000. The record for number of species had been reported as 216 in 2002 but, in checking the data, I found only 208 species listed. It appears that 8 reports of birds identified only at the genus level (e.g. Empidonax sp, accipiter sp. etc) were included in the total.

For any “mammalers” in the crowd, the following species were recorded on the count: Elk, Moose, White-tailed Deer, Mule Deer, Muskrat, Snowshoe Hare, White-tailed Jackrabbit, Coyote, Richardson’s Ground Squirrel, Columbian Ground Squirrel, Red Squirrel, Least Chipmunk, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Porcupine, Gray Wolf, American Marten, Deer Mouse and a vole species. Tim Allison was the lucky person seeing both the wolf and marten in K-country.

A little more recent info – there is at least one Violet-green Swallow in my NW Calgary neighbourhood. I’ve seen the bird on and off over the past month (3 weeks ago I had a male and female pair) … this will be a good species for next year’s Calgary competition if the bird(s) return. Also of interest for the competition, I heard a Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow a few days ago on the Country Hills Golf Course – the course is private but I believe there is a city path on the hillside near where I heard the sparrow.

Brian Elder

Dawn Chorus Census at Weaselhead

Jun21

Results of the CFNS Dawn Chorus, Weaselhead Natural Area, 0330-0715, 20June 2009. Clear sky, light fog, light wind, 10-12C. Seven participants. This year’s census was about ten days later than most previous years.

2008 results are supplied for comparison; CFNS Dawn Chorus; Weaselhead Natural Area. 0330-0745, 08 June 2008. Partly overcast, becoming complete, with light drizzle by end. NW wind, 15kph. Temp. 07-09C. Ten Participants.

In analyzing the data from the previous counts held in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005; 2006, 2007 and 2008 total number of bird species detected before 6am respectively were: 39, 46, 37, 34, 27, 20, 31 and 28, but this year it was 33. This figure could signify many things; in 2005 we had a devastating flood that adversely affect the bird population of the Weaselhead. It could also have been affected by the weather, or that more of the participants had better hearing and identification skills.

New species added to the count for the first time were: Pied-billed Grebe, American Coot and Tennessee Warbler. Beavers have impounded more water, thus providing more wetland habitat.

A total of seven mammals were recorded on this morning’s early census.

The time and order of the first detection of each species, and the approximate numbers of each species are shown below. 2008 results are supplied for comparison.

Year /Time……………… Approx. # of individuals encountered.

[2009](2008) Species. (2008); [2009]

0330; 0420. Coyotes howling——–2+; 2+

0330; 0413. American Robin———25; 25

0337; 0336. Clay-colored Sparrow—10; 6

——; 0337. Boreal Chorus Frog——2; –

——; 0338. Small flying bat———–1; –

0354; 0335. White-throated Sparrow–6; 10

0359; 0400. Spotted Sandpiper———1; 1

——; 0359. Gray Catbird—————2; –

0400; 0405. Killdeer———————1; 1

0404; 0414. Yellow Warbler———-12; 15

0405; ——. Tennessee Warbler——- 0; 1

0407; 0500. House Wren—————6; 6

0408; 0709. American Wigeon——–2; 1

0409; ——. Am. Beaver—————0; 1

0409; 0408. Veery———————-10; 12

0417; 0426. Mallard, flying————-6; 1

0444; 0430. Common Goldeneye, f—5; 2+

0446; 0353. Lincoln’s Sparrow———4; 1

0449; 0403. Great Blue Heron———-1; 2

——; 0444. Chipping Sparrow———2, –

0450; ——; Bald Eagle—————–0; 2

——; 0450. Muskrat——————–3; –

0455; 0443. Sora————————-4; 1

0456; 0451. Least Flycatcher———–4; 6

0457; 0550. Ring-necked Pheasant—1; 2

0504; 0509. Red-winged Blackbird—8; 4

0504; ——; Red Squirrel————-0; 4

0515; 0650. Gull sp.——————–1; 30

0516; 0712. Tree Swallow————2; 9

0516; ——; American Coot———–0; 1

0521; ——, Franklin’s Gull———–0; 20

0522; ——; Pine Siskin—————-0; 4

0522; 0545. American Goldfinch—–8; 3

0527; 0526. Pileated Woodpecker—-1; 1

0530; 0544. Common Raven———-2; 2

0534; 0537. Northern Waterthrush—2; 1

0536; 0535. Eastern Phoebe———–2; 1

0540; ——; Pied-billed Grebe——–0; 1

0546: 0425. Black-capped Chickadee-1; 1

0548; 0650. Brown-head. Cowbird—2; 4

0551; 0620. Red-breasted Nuthatch–1; 1

0559; 0550. Red-eyed Vireo———-1; 1

0604; 0640. White-tailed Deer——1; 2

0610; ——; Swainson’s Thrush——-0; 1

0612; 0543. Rose-br. Grosbeak——-2; 2

——; 0612. American Crow———-1; –

0620; 0506. Canada Goose———–10; 1

0625; 0708. Least Chipmunk——–1; 2

——; 0630. Baltimore Oriole———2; 1

——; 0630. Hermit Thrush————1; –

0639; ——; Common Yellowthroat–0; 1

0640; 0630. Cedar Waxwing——–10; 4

0641; 0710. Blue-winged Teal——–4; 1

0646; ——; Red-naped Sapsucker—0; 1

——; 0648. Western Tanager———1; –

——; 0655. Orange-cr. Warbler——1; –

——; 0700. Northern Flicker———-1; –

0709; ——; Snowshoe Hare———0; 1

0710; 0730. Cliff Swallow————5; 100

——; 0712. Mourning Dove———-1; –

0713; 0740. Black-billed Magpie—-1; 1

0715; ——; Rich. Ground Squirrel-0; 6

I thank all participants who participated and whose hearing help to detect all the birds.

Gus Yaki

Nature Calgary Summer Field Trips

Jun17

Activities are FREE, open to anyone interested. Come join us!

Sat Jun 20, 3:30am: Dawn Chorus, Weaselhead. Hear 40+ bird species. Meet
parking lot, 66 Av & 37 St SW. Dress warmly. Leaders, Gus Yaki/Aileen
Pelzer, 403-243-2248.

Sun Jun 21, 7am: Sheep River Valley for Lazuli Buntings.  Meet Anderson
LRT (Macleod Tr)  S of pedestrian overpass.  Bring lunch,  Leader, Mike
Harrison, 403-236-4700.

Sun Jun 21, 8am: Birding Griffith Woods Park, 2.5 km W from Sarcee Tr.
on Hwy 8, then left on 69 St SW into Discovery Ridge. Continue straight
at traffic circle, then left on Discovery link to parking lot. Leader,
Grant Brydle, 403-720-4957.

Sun Jun 21, 9am: See 30 of the largest or most unusual trees species
within a 3 km radius in Calgary. Meet at Stanley Park, 42 Av SW, two
blocks W of Macleod Tr. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248. Email
gyaki@calcna.ab.ca to register and receive advance information.

Tue Jun 23, 6:30pm: Birding Bowmont Park. Meet Maranatha Church, 2111 52
St NW (N end of Home Rd), Leader, Jan Reseneder, 403-286-5920.

Wed Jun 24, 6:30pm: Visit private garden for 70 species of Cactus and
succulents. Meet at 4915-15 St SW. Host, Hugo Render. For more info,
403-243-2248.

Sat Jun 27, 7:30am: Birding the Water Valley area. Meet Assumption
School, 34th Av NW (NW corner of Sarcee Tr, at Hwy #1). Bring Lunch.
Leader, Eric Tull, 403-295-0830.

Sun Jun 28, 9:30am: Tour of the private Canadian Rocky Mountain Ranch in
the foothills southwest of Calgary to see Bison and Elk, including
young, up close. Bring Lunch! Optional unguided hillside nature walk
after lunch. Meet at Anderson LRT Stn (Macleod Tr), S of pedestrian
overpass, to carpool. Hosts, Pat & Dr. Terry Church. Limit: 20
participants. To register,  call 403-249-2641.

Tue Jun 30, 6:30pm: Bird Griffith Woods Park, 2.5km W on Hwy 8 from
Sarcee Tr SW, then left at 69 St SW into Discovery Ridge. Continue
straight at traffic circle, then left on Discovery Link into parking
lot. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248.

Wed Jul 1, 6:30am: Monthly Elbow River Birding Survey. Meet Stanley
Park, 42 Av SW, just W of Macleod Tr. Walk to Glenmore Reservoir, ride
back (3.5 hours). Call leaders, Aileen Pelzer/Gus Yaki, 243-2248, to
ensure vehicle space for return.

Sat Jul 4, 8am: Birding Bebo Grove, FCPP, S end of 24 St SW. Leader, Al
Borgardt, 403-281-4306.

Tue Jul 7, 6:30pm: Bird Beaverdam Flats Park. Meet S parking lot
(Lynnview Rd & Lynnview Way, S of 62 Av SE). N from Glenmore Tr at 18 St
SE, then left. Leader, Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209.

Tue Jul 14, 6:30pm: Bird FCPP, S. of Hwy 22. Meet at Boat Launch, S. end
of Bow Bottom Tr SE. Leader, Nimali Seneviratne, 403-836-5146.

Sat Jul 18, 8am: Bird Weed Lake & Wyndham/Carseland Prov. Park. Meet at
Carburn Park, S from Glenmore Tr E at 18 St SE to second stoplight, then
right & follow signs.  Bring lunch. Leader, Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209.

Sat Jul 18, 8am: Bird Votier’s Flats, FCPP, S end of Elbow Dr SW.
Leader, Al Borgardt, 403-281-4306.

Sun Jul 19, 7:30am. Bird Bow Valley Provincial Park. Meet Assumption
School, 34th Av NW (NW corner of Sarcee Tr, at Hwy #1). Bring Lunch.
Leader, Eric Tull, 403-295-0830.

Tue Jul 21, 6:30pm: Bird Weaselhead Natural Area. Meet parking lot, 37
St/66 Av SW. Leader, Aileen Pelzer, 403-243-2248.

Tue Jul 28, 6:30pm: Bird Bowness Park, 48 Av, W of 85 St NW. Meet first
parking lot. Leader, TBA, 403-243-2248.

Sat Aug 1, 7am: Monthly Elbow River Birding Survey. Meet Stanley Park,
42 Av SW, just W of Macleod Tr. Walk to Glenmore Reservoir, ride back
(3.5 hours). Call leaders, Aileen Pelzer/Gus Yaki, 243-2248, to ensure
vehicle space for return.

Tue Aug 4, 6:30pm: Bird Mallard Point, E end of Canyon Meadows Dr SE.
Leader, Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209.

Sat Aug 8, 8am: Bird Carburn Park. Meet in parking lot. S from Glenmore
Tr E at 18 St SE to second stoplight, then right & follow signs. Leader,
Al Borgardt, 403-281-4306.

Sat Aug 8, 9am: Bird E of Calgary for autumn migrant shorebirds, etc.
Meet at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary at E end of 9 Av SE. Bring lunch.
Leader, Eric Tull, 403-295-0830.

Sun Aug 9, 8am: Birding Griffith Woods Park, 2.5km W on Hwy 8 from
Sarcee Tr SW, then left at 69 St SW into Discovery Ridge. Continue
straight at traffic circle, then left on Discovery Link into parking
lot. Leader, Grant Brydle, 720-4957.

Tue Aug 11, 6:30pm: Bird Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE.
Leader, Aileen Pelzer, 403-243-2248.

Sat Aug 15, 8am: Bird Hull’s Woods, FCPP, for autumn migrating warblers,
etc. Meet in first parking lot, E of Bow Bottom Tr after entering Park.
Leader, Al Borgardt, 403-281-4306.

Sun Aug 16, 8:30am: Bird Beaverdam Flats Park. Meet  S parking lot
(Lynnview Rd & Lynnview Way, S of 62 Av SE). N from Glenmore Tr at 18 St
SE, then left.  Leader, Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209.

Tue Aug 18, 6:30pm: Bird Carburn Park, S from Glenmore Tr E at 18 St SE
to second stoplight, then right & follow signs. Leader, Gus Yaki,
403-243-2248.

Tue Aug 25, 6:30pm: Bird Edworthy Park, Meet S side of Boothman
Pedestrian Bridge accessed from Shaganappi Tr & Bowness Rd if N of
river, or from W end of Spruce Dr if S of river. Leader, TBA, 403-243-2248.

Tue, Sep 1, 7:30am: Monthly Elbow River Birding Survey. Meet Stanley
Park, 42 Av SW, just W of Macleod Tr. Walk to Glenmore Reservoir, ride
back (3.5 hours). Call leaders, Aileen Pelzer/Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248, to
ensure vehicle space for return.

Calgary Area May Species Count

Jun7

The 2009 Calgary Area May Species Count was conducted on May 30 & 31 with 57 participants. The following is a summary of the results. Complete results will be posted on the Nature Calgary website once the data has been verified by participants.

In total, 210 species were recorded with an additional 7 species recorded in the count week (3 days before/after the count). In comparison, 205 species were recorded for 2008 and 207 for 2006; average number of species for the prior 10 years is 200; the high count was 216 species in 2002. There were no new species on this year’s count. 288 species have been recorded on the count since 1979.

Weather was not a major factor in this year’s count – at least concerning the comfort of the observers! We had generally clear skies with day-time temperatures in the low 20’s both days; however, it was just above freezing in the early morning and the wind did pick up considerably late Sunday afternoon.

Coverage was similar to recent counts with 143 hours human powered (walking, cycling) covering 200km and 204 hrs driving (including birding stops) covering 4000 km. Most of the areas have been done by the same participants for the last few years

This count is notable for its numbers – nearly 100,000 birds were counted – a new record. Ian Halladay and his trusty Frank Lake crew counted for over ¼ of the birds thanks to their diligent counting of Franklin’s Gulls. New highs were recorded for 51 species including Franklin’s Gulls.

· Canada Goose: 4687 (Prev: 3945, 10 yr avg: 2771)

· Lesser Scaup: 1166 (Prev: 1133, 10 yr avg: 825)

· Bufflehead: 777 (Prev: 395, 10 yr avg: 226)

· Pied-billed Grebe: 54 (Prev: 44, 10 yr avg: 20)

· Great Blue Heron: 76 (Prev: 68, 10 yr avg: 45)

· Osprey: 21 (Prev: 20, 10 yr avg: 12)

· American Coot: 6132 (Prev: 4081, 10 yr avg: 1782)

· Black-necked Stilt: 116 (Prev: 85, 10 yr avg: 17)

· Solitary Sandpiper: 16 (Prev: 15, 10 yr avg: 6)

· Ruddy Turnstone: 3 (Prev: 2, 10 yr avg: 0)

· Franklin’s Gull: 30621 (Prev: 13189, 10 yr avg: 9371)

· Mourning Dove: 76 (Prev: 70, 10 yr avg: 48)

· Eurasian Collared-Dove: 10 (Prev: 2, 10 yr avg: 0)

· Red-naped Sapsucker: 28 (Prev: 27, 10 yr avg: 12)

· American Three-toed Woodpecker: 8 (Prev: 7, 10 yr avg: 2)

· Pileated Woodpecker: 8 (Prev: 7, 10 yr avg: 5)

· Alder Flycatcher: 18 (Prev: 16, 10 yr avg: 3)

· Western Flycatcher: 5 (Prev: 3, 10 yr avg: 1)

· Western Kingbird: 80 (Prev: 60, 10 yr avg: 31)

· Eastern Kingbird: 201 (Prev: 158, 10 yr avg: 97)

· Blue-headed Vireo: 7 (Prev: 6, 10 yr avg: 2)

· Gray Jay: 70 (Prev: 39, 10 yr avg: 24)

· Blue Jay: 44 (Prev: 26, 10 yr avg: 21)

· Common Raven: 340 (Prev: 279, 10 yr avg: 175)

· Purple Martin: 20 (Prev: 12, 10 yr avg: 5)

· Mountain Chickadee: 36 (Prev: 35, 10 yr avg: 21)

· Brown Creeper: 4 (Prev: 2, 10 yr avg: 1)

· House Wren: 432 (Prev: 417, 10 yr avg: 262)

· American Dipper: 10 (Prev: 9, 10 yr avg: 5)

· Golden-crowned Kinglet: 39 (Prev: 27, 10 yr avg: 14)

· Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 397 (Prev: 314, 10 yr avg: 184)

· Hermit Thrush: 26 (Prev: 21, 10 yr avg: 9)

· Gray Catbird: 93 (Prev: 57, 10 yr avg: 35)

· Tennessee Warbler: 230 (Prev: 191, 10 yr avg: 61)

· Yellow Warbler: 746 (Prev: 721, 10 yr avg: 513)

· Cape May Warbler: 11 (Prev: 7, 10 yr avg: 1)

· Townsend’s Warbler: 30 (Prev: 22, 10 yr avg: 12)

· Common Yellowthroat: 101 (Prev: 97, 10 yr avg: 60)

· Vesper Sparrow: 236 (Prev: 233, 10 yr avg: 154)

· Savannah Sparrow: 756 (Prev: 670, 10 yr avg: 534)

· Le Conte’s Sparrow: 49 (Prev: 44, 10 yr avg: 17)

· Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow: 9 (Prev: 4, 10 yr avg: 1)

· Lincoln’s Sparrow: 136 (Prev: 123, 10 yr avg: 64)

· Swamp Sparrow: 5 (Prev: 4, 10 yr avg: 1)

· Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 41 (Prev: 32, 10 yr avg: 20)

· Red-winged Blackbird: 5033 (Prev: 4898, 10 yr avg: 2816)

· Yellow-headed Blackbird: 2373 (Prev: 2272, 10 yr avg: 1451)

· Brown-headed Cowbird: 1651 (Prev: 1056, 10 yr avg: 767)

· House Finch: 51 (Prev: 45, 10 yr avg: 11)

· Pine Siskin: 927 (Prev: 769, 10 yr avg: 226)

· Evening Grosbeak: 36 (Prev: 23, 10 yr avg: 4)

Thanks to all of the participants.

Good birding.

Brian Elder
Calgary

Help Us Count!

May5
Northern sawwhet owl by Scott Jubinville

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Nature Calgary is sponsoring a friendly competition to find all the bird species in Calgary during the year 2010.

It’s a fun way to learn new things, meet new people and get to know your city better while enjoying fresh air and exercise.

Register Now – It’s Free!

After you register you’ll receive regular information about the competition and birding in general so you can get the most out of your experience.

There will be several categories from beginners to experts, and youth categories too. Prizes will be awared quarterly.