Tag Archive | birds in calgary

Tips on Bird Photography

Dec12

I think it is safe to say that most of us here have an interest in birdwatching. Some of us are also interested in photographing birds, documenting what we see and also enabling others to enjoy these sightings . Bird photography can be very tricky though and doesn’t always come out the way we want it to. Through trial and error as well as tips from other nature photographers, I have slowly learned different tricks of the trade and am still learning. Here is one trick that I have found helps me a lot.

Take a look at the picture above. Probably doesn’t do much for you, right? Just a killdeer photograph, nothing exciting about the shot itself. What could have been done to make this a better photograph? I have found that getting low can often drastically improve the photo. Get down at eye level with the bird, you can often create better eye contact with the bird, bringing the viewer into a connection with the photo. The Killdeer will then seem more interesting, not only because of the lower angle, but because of the  change in the depth of field of the shot.

Depth of field (also known as DOF), is the term for the amount of distance between the closest and farthest objects that appear sharp in the photograph. In the second picture above, a shallower depth of field (meaning a blurry background) makes the photo less distracting and more pleasing to the eye. In the photo pictured below, I took it one step further, instead of simply kneeling, I lay on my stomach, creating a very shallow depth of field and therefore, a picture that is more likely to catch your eye than the first photo.

Changing the depth of field is a remarkably simple technique but incredibly powerful in the way a photo comes out. By getting low, chances are you can improve your bird photography.

Posted by Matthew Sim

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Dec 8

Dec9

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 Thursday December 8.

Bird Sightings:

Dec. 5

SNOW GOOSE (juvenile) Bow River, ca. 250 m. downstream from the Glenmore Bridge, Malcolm and Joan McDonald, Jerry Pilny

AMERICAN WIGEON, Bow River, mouth of Fish Creek, MJM, JP

GYRFALCON, overflight, Bow River, Glenmore Bridge, MJM, JP

AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, Burnsmead, Fish Creek PP, MJM, JP

Dec. 6

PINTAIL (male), Elliston Park, E Calgary, MJM

BLUE-WINGED TEAL, Policeman’s Flats, end of Bow Riverbottom Trail, off Dunbow Rd., just SE of Calgary, MJM

REDHEAD, Elliston Park, MJM

LONG-TAILED DUCK, Bow River, Eric Harvey Bridge, Carburn Park, Brian Elder, Bob Storms

HOODED MERGANSER (3) Elliston Park, MJM

KILLDEER (3), Carburn Park, BE, BS

AMERICAN PIPIT, same, BE, BS

DARK-EYED JUNCO, Oakridge, Calgary, back yard of Margaret Brunner.

RUSTY BLACKBIRD (3), Policeman’s Flats, MJM

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

Sunday Showcase: Calgary Corvids

Dec4

Corvids, which are crows and jays, are classified by their harsh voices and their aggressive manner, both of which draw attention to themselves; large and often very gregarious birds. Most corvids have bristles on their nostrils, located on very powerful, all-purpose beaks built specially for handling their varied diet ( berries, fruits, seeds, invertebrates, small mammals and carrion). Here are most of the species that you may see in the Calgary region, the only one missing, is the colorful Steller’s Jay.

American Crow

Blue Jay

Grey Jay

Clark's Nutcracker

Common Ravens

Black-billed Magpie

Posted by Matthew Sim

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Nov 24

Nov25

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 Nov 24, 2011.

WEDNESDAY NOV 23
–SNOWY OWL (1f) – RgeRd 263 south of TwpRd 262 (Keoma area) by Ron Kube
–BROWN CREEPER (a few) – reported in Calgary area recently

TUESDAY NOV 22
–KILLDEER (5) – LaFarge Meadows (south of Hull’s Wood in east Fish Creek PP) by Gus Yaki and the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial ParkSociety (FFCPPS)
–REDHEAD (1 juv) – location and observers as above
–GREEN-WINGED TEAL (2) – location and observers as above
–GADWALL (2) – location and observers as above
–FALCON sp (large falcon) – location and observers as above
–DARK-EYED JUNCO (3-4) – Oakridge subdivision in SW Calgary by MargaretBrunner
–EVENING GROSBEAK (3m) – location and observer as above

MONDAY NOV 21
–WILSON’S SNIPE (1+) – LaFarge Meadows by GY and FFCPPS
–NORTHERN HARRIER (1 juv) – location and observers as above
–KILLDEER (1) – location and observers as above

SUNDAY NOV 20
–AMERICAN ROBIN (12) – along the pathway near the Yacht Club in South Glenmore Park by MB

SATURDAY NOV 19
–SNOWY OWL (4) – RgeRd 261 just north of TwpRd 262 by RK; RgeRd 281just north of TwpRd 250 by RK; Hwy 23 a few km east of Blackie by Terry Korolyk; 242 St in SE corner of Frank Lake by TK
–COMMON REDPOLL (750) – road going south from Carseland Weir by TK.
Several observers recently reported HOARY REDPOLLS in REDPOLL flocks

The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Mon Nov 28.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Nov 21

Nov22

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 Albert was recorded on Nov 21, 2011.

NOV 19

SWAN sp. – 2 juveniles below the Carseland Weir, Terry Korolyk
BARROW’S GOLDENEYE – male and female on McElroy Slough, TK
RUDDY DUCK – on McElroy Slough, TK
GADWALL – male on Bow River in east Fish Creek PP, TK
LESSER SCAUP – (possible) female, Beaverdam Flats, Bill Wilson
SNOWY OWL – Grand Valley Road 5 kms south of the Bates Bar J Ranch Gateway southwest of Water Valley, Richard Clarke
COMMON REDPOLL – common throughout area over the weekend
PINE GROSBEAK – as above
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – as above
SNOW BUNTING – a flock of 300 reported just south of Frank Lake, TK

NOV 20

SWAN sp. – an adult at the dam at Pine Coulee Reservoir along Hwy 527 just west of Stavely, TK
WESTERN GREBE – 6, as above
AMERICAN COOT – as above
RUDDY DUCK – as above
GADWALL – a few, as above
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK – 23 around the Pine Coulee Reservoir boat launch, TK
GYRFALCON – an adult at Twp Rd 162 – Rge Rd 26 east of Nanton

The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Thu Nov 24.

Sunday Showcase: Goldeneye With Egg

Nov20

Some unique photos from Rob English, who says “I shot these last June in Carburn Park at the hundred year old tree. It was early in morning so the photos aren’t the best but I thought you might enjoy them anyway. I sent them to Gus Yaki  and he said it was something seldom seen, never mind photographed.

Who knows what she was doing? Cleaning her nest of a cracked egg or raiding the nest site for a takeover as there was a Common Merganser circling the tree.

What she was doing I guess we will never know, but it is interesting to see. After she had done the deed she just sat in the tree cavity”.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Nov 14

Nov15

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 Nov 14 at 10:05 am.

Bird Sightings:

Nov 10:
SNOWY OWL (possible) sitting in the middle of the road in Arbour Lake, NW Calgary.

Nov 11:
MACKAY’S BUNTING (possible) with a flock of 500 SNOW BUNTINGS on a frozen slough north of Blackie, at 338th Ave & Hwy 799. Seen very close to the vehicle, the
bird was almost completely white with black primary and tertial tips, buffy yellow crown and sides of neck and cheeks. Bill was bright yellow, eye black. Call Terrry Korolyk 403-254-1878 for more info.
GADWALLxLESSER SCAUP (likely) at Weed Lake N of Hwy 560 , TK and others.
GYRFALCON, SW of Water Valley, Malcolm MacDonald.
SNOW GOOSE juvenile, above Weir at Carseland, TK.

Nov 12:
GYRFALCON, gray morph, at the Yacht Club, Glenmore Res., Bill Wilson.
PACIFIC LOON at the dam at Chain Lakes PP, one also at the dam at Pine Coulee and another N of Hwy 522 bridge at Pine Coulee, TK.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN above the weir at Carseland , Cedric Hitchon.

Nov 13:
GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH (20) at feeders at Barrier Mtn Dr, Exshaw, Tony Timmons and Howard Heffler.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday Nov 17.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Nov 7

Nov8

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 report was prepared on Monday November 7.

Early in week
— BLACK SCOTER female, Eagle Lake, Rob Worona

November 2
— LONG-TAILED DUCK, Glenmore Reservoir, several observers

November 3
— SURF SCOTER, Eagle Lake, Brian Elder, Joan & Malcolm McDonald
— WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, same, BE, J&MM
— BLACK SCOTER, same, BE, J&MM (Hat Trick!)

November 4
— HOODED MERGANSER, Glenmore Reservoir, Ilya Povalyaev
— RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, same, IP
— BONAPARTE’S GULL, same, IP
— DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, Pearce Estate weir, Terry Korolyk

November 5
— WHITE-FACED IBIS, Frank Lake, Greg Wagner
— MOURNING DOVE, Calgary yard, Pat Bumstead

November 6
— LONG-TAILED DUCK, Pine Coulee Reservoir, TK
— RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, same, TK
— PACIFIC LOON, same, TK
— AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, Clear Lake, TK
— SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, Mallard Point, Tony Timmons group
— NORTHERN GOSHAWK subadult, Weaselhead, Steve Kaffat(?)
— CHIPPING SPARROW, Hay Meadow near Nakiska, Bill Wilson

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday November 10.

Bird Profile: Bohemian Waxwing

Nov5

A rush of wings, followed  instantly by  high-pitched trills break the silence. It is a cold, wintry scene, snow falling slowly from the never-ending sheet of clouds that blanket the sky in a gloomy grey. Standing still, nothing is to be heard; no cars, no people, and, above all, no birds. Just when it seems as though the entire world has gone into a peaceful slumber, the calm is broken by the sound of nature.

When they descend in hundreds, berries don’t last long at all. These birds are highly social and travel tight together, descending en masse on fruit bearing trees, where they proceed to rapidly consume thousands of berries. A very hardy bird, the Bohemian Waxwing toughs out the frigid winters of northern latitudes, enduring harsh conditions.The waxwing is both gregarious and elegant with a slick crest, and soft, silky plumage; it is deemed attractive by many. Named for the red, drop-shaped, waxlike tip on their feathers, this bird has warm grey-brown plumage, a black patch through the eye and a yellow-tipped tail. Bohemian Waxwings are berry aficionados and during winter, survive on the fruit of trees such as mountain ash and juniper, but also eat saskatoon and choke berries. Such a heavy reliance on one source of food can greatly affect a birds population and will cause much fluctuation. If there is a high population one year and a low fruit crop the same year, many waxwings will disperse in winter further south out of their regular mapped range. These years are known as irruptive years and are cherished by southern birders who do not usually get the opportunity to observe these birds.

I love witnessing large flocks of Bohemian Waxwings, it is possible to hear the whir of thousands of wings as they land, the twittering as they communicate endlessly, and the soft thud of berries as the fruit falls into the snow below, dropped by  a careless tug from the beak of a waxwing. Sometimes, after the flock has left, the snow will be littered with bright red berries. Then as cars and people pass over the fruit, the snow will be stained a rose color, evidence of the masses of birds that banqueted there.

Remember next time you are shoveling snow in -30 degree weather; you are privileged in that you can witness this elegant species brightening up the dull grey day. These birds are truly northern and hardly extend into the U.S. They are definitely one of the things I will miss most about Calgary winters.

Posted by Matthew Sim