Tag Archive | calgary backyard birds

The House Finch

Feb25

By Cathy Warwick

House Finch
Male House Finch. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

If you are walking around Calgary and hear a bird singing its heart out in a long trilling song, it is most likely a House Finch. These small birds are identified by their brown bodies, heavy beaks and the red colour on the male. It’s hard to believe that these now ubiquitous birds were fairly rare in Calgary, until as recently as the 1990’s! In theory most of us can remember a time when there were no House Finches around. In practice I barely remember the 90’s. Look at a group of birds at any feeder now and you will probably see some. The females have a striped body, and I find if you look for the stripes you can tell them apart from the House Sparrow fairly readily.

House Finch
Male House Finch (left) showing off his reddish rump, with a sleepy female House Finch. Photo by Bob Lefebvre.

The House Finches origins start in the Southwestern US and Mexico. In the 1940’s someone tried to rebrand them as a ‘Hollywood Finch’ and sold them to pet stores in New York. In what way are they symbols of Hollywood I’m not sure, it was a different time back then. The Migratory Bird act came into effect, and all of a sudden pet store owners had illegal birds in their store. What do you do with a bird you don’t want? You open the window and let it fly away! If that bird is a tough and hardy finch, it will spread across North America.

The House Finch is prone to an eye disease called Mycoplasmal Conjunctivitis. If you see one with red puffy eyes don’t bother running out with tiny little cucumber slices, that bird is too far gone. According to Project FeederWatch you should take down your feeder for a couple days and then wash it. This will stop the spread of the disease to other House Finches.

These birds are fairly strict vegetarians, they fill up on seeds, buds, roots and foliage. Their colour is believed to be related to how well they are fed, if you see an orange male it could be that he isn’t getting all the nutrients he needs. Studies show the females choose the redder males. The male House Finch is responsible for feeding the young so it’s important to choose one that is a good provider. According to allaboutbirds, during courtship the male mimics regurgitating food to the female, showing off how good a feeder he is! These are monogamous birds, and very social, so really what you are seeing around the feeder are just a bunch of couples hanging out together. 

House Finch
This House Finch is pretty orange. Photo by Pat Bumstead.
House Finch
And here is a very yellow male. Photo by Bob Lefebvre.

What I love about them is their song that seems so out of place on a cold day. Listen for a “zzz” buzzing sound that is part of the up and down warble and it sure to be a House Finch. You can look for the singer and you will see a little brownish bird way up in the heights of a tree singing, perhaps lamenting its ancestors’ move from Mexico. Or perhaps it’s trying to win back its Hollywood moniker with a winning solo.

More about the House Finch on All About Birds, including audio.

The Birds & the Bees – Seminar This Weekend

Apr20

Spring migration is bringing new birds to our yards every day now, so you may want to learn more about backyard bird feeding. Golden Acre Home & Garden in Calgary is hosting a seminar this weekend on backyard birding and on beekeeping.

A Northern Flicker feeding on nuts in a Calgary yard.

Alex Taylor of Sun Country Farms will do a presentation on feeding birds, including what types of feed to use at different times of year. This will be followed by another talk on beekeeping. There is also a sale on bird seed this weekend.

To sign up to attend this free seminar on either Saturday or Sunday, and for more information, see this page.

Golden Acres Home & Garden is located just off McKnight Blvd. and Edmonton Trail, at 620 Goddard Avenue NE. It is well-known as a garden centre, but they have just revamped their birding supplies department and will be offering waste-free seeds and nuts from a Canadian supplier that uses sustainable practices. They even have some seeds that are processed in a allergy-aware facility, so that any child can safely begin to feed birds. Proper bird-feeding is important, so this is a welcome addition for local backyard birders.

Sunday Showcase: Leucistic Sparrow

Sep11

Jahzi Van Iderstine saw this leucistic House Sparrow in her yard in Airdrie, just north of Calgary, in mid-August. It appears to be a young House Sparrow as it is associating with them and has been seen begging from a female House Sparrow.  All photos by Jahzi Van Iderstine.

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The bird has dark eyes, so it is not an albino, but it is almost completely white and actually appears a bit pinkish. Leucism is a condition in which some of the dark and coloured pigments are missing from a bird’s feathers.

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Here it is with other House Sparrows:

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And below it is begging from a female House Sparrow who has a sunflower seed:

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Here are a few more photos of this striking bird:

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Wednesday Wings: Merlin with Rock Pigeon

May27

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

I have often seen Merlins chasing Rock Pigeons, but it seems to be a very hard bird to catch. On April 10, 2015, near 19 Street NE and the Trans-Canada Highway, Chris Johnson got this excellent shot a Merlin with its Rock Pigeon prey.

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Merlin with Rock Pigeon. Photo by Chris Johnson.

Taken with a Canon 6D 70-200 2.8 lens. At 200mm, f/4.5 1/400 and ISO 100.

Wednesday Wings: Hairy Woodpecker

Nov28

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

This female Hairy Woodpecker has been coming to my backyard feeders occasionally for the last two weeks.  It looks like the same bird every time – it has a band on its right leg.  This is only the second time I’ve had a Hairy Woodpecker in the yard.

Backyard Bird Conservation

Oct24

By Ernie Allison

Ernie Allison loves nature. More specifically, he loves birds and wants to teach others how to appreciate them, too. To help further this mission, he writes for the Perky Pet bird feeder provider, birdfeeders.com .

Many bird enthusiasts wish they could help more with bird conservation efforts, but they just don’t have the money to donate to national and international foundations set up for the cause. Luckily, there is a lot you can do in your own back yard to help birds and nature in general. Here are some simple steps you can take to enjoy nature and protect it at the same time.

Bird Feeders

While it is true that birds survived before people started using bird feeders to feed them, the presence of bird feeders have changed the habits of many species.  A few birds that would naturally migrate during the winter may choose to overwinter if you make food available (Overwintering Birds of Calgary). This means that by researching what birds are native to your area, you can provide the right food to keep them healthy during the winter. Fat is hard for them to come by in cold weather so suet, peanut butter, and other fatty treats are best.

White-breasted Nuthatch at suet feeder. Photo by Pat Bumstead

Northern Flickers will come to suet feeders. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

This does not mean that you should only feed birds in the winter. Truthfully, in the summer there is more competition because there are more birds around, so by feeding year-round, you will be more effective, as well as get to see more variety of species. This is also a good way to get birds in the habit of visiting your yard.

Millet feeders attract house sparrows, blackbirds, cowbirds and not much else. So if your goal is to attract a variety of birds, a millet feeder alone will not do the trick. In order to attract a variety of birds you must have a variety of feeders and food types.

Pine Siskins eating niger seed. Photo by Pat Bumstead

House Finches and Dark-eyed Junco. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

However, the activity around your millet feeder will attract the attention of other birds. Other birds will land nearby to see what is going on. Once they see that the sparrows have found millet to eat in a safe place, they will check your yard for other types of food. If the type of food these birds are looking for is available, they may decide to feed in your yard as well.

Be sure that you know what kind of birds will be attracted to your feeder. Certain feed attracts Rock Pigeons, which are not only annoying, but it is illegal to feed them in some areas. While Alberta and Calgary are not among these places currently, it is always good to check out your local laws to be sure.

American Goldfinch eating a niger seed/sunflower seed mix. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

Mourning Doves at sunflower chip feeder. Photo by Pat Bumstead

The types of birds you see will depend on the type of food you provide. Black-capped chickadees will be most attracted to oil-sunflower seeds, but will also visit suet feeders occasionally. House finches and nuthatches also enjoy sunflower seeds, so this is a good choice if you want to attract a variety of birds with one type of food. Woodpeckers enjoy suet feeders most. Make sure your feeder is properly anchored and has bars and places for the birds to cling to. Saucer feeders are effective for woodpeckers as well, and woodpeckers have even been seen at hummingbird feeders.

Northern Flickers on nut feeder. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

 White-crowned Sparrow. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

Wildlife Garden

A great way to help out the avian creatures in your area is to provide a natural environment where they can thrive. By installing plants that are native to your area, you promote the health of other local native species.

Be sure to provide water sources as well. These are great for the health of your garden and for attracting wildlife. Running water is less likely to lie stagnant and accumulate diseases, but there are many ponds and birdbaths that can be easily cleaned with a little effort.

American Robins are regular visitors to birdbaths.  Photo by Bob Lefebvre

House Finch bathing in a fountain.  Photo by Bob Lefebvre

You can also design your landscaping in a way that allows smaller birds to be unseen by predators when they are at your feeders. By having multiple levels of trees and shrubs, you promote a safe, diverse environment.

If invasive species are growing in your lawn or garden, remove them by hand. Chemicals harm native species and animals as well. By taking the time to weed by hand, you are protecting the environment, not exchanging one evil for another.

By leaving rotten trees, grass clippings, and other debris in specific areas, you can attract wildlife. You also keep those materials out of the landfill by allowing them to compost in your yard. There are ways you can arrange it so that it’s not an eyesore. The bugs and worms that are attracted to these areas will draw birds and other creatures, which can lead to some great photo opportunities.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are attracted to flower gardens. Photo by Pat Bumstead

Common Grackles feeding on the ground. Photo by Pat Bumstead

While house sparrows are the most common species attracted to birds in the Alberta area, by doing a bit of research, you can set your sights on rarer birds. There is an abundance of wildlife in this area, so take these steps to protect it and enjoy it at the same time.

Swainson’s Thrush. Photo by Pat Bumstead

Varied Thrush. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

Baltimore Oriole feeding on oranges. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

Harris’s Sparrow. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

A Sharp-shinned in my yard

Jun14

Posted by Matthew Sim

The other day, I was sitting outside in my yard, soaking up some sunshine when I heard a big commotion coming from the spruce tree in my yard. There were Grackles, Robins, Blue Jays, Pine Siskins, Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches all making as much noise as they possibly could. The reason? Look at the photo below; do you see anything?

How about now?

Though the Sharp-shinned hawk was rather well hidden, it couldn’t hide from the neighborhood birds who know all too well what will happen if they leave this predator undisturbed.

Here are some more photos of this beautiful bird.

Wednesday Wings: The Down in Downy

May16

Posted by Bob Lefebvre.

I have three Downy Woodpeckers that come to my feeders regularly.  They are not shy, and I managed to get some close-up photos that show the prominent nasal tufts of this species.  These help to keep wood chips (and nut chips) out of the bird’s nostrils.  It is sometimes said that Downy Woodpeckers are named for these downy feathers at the base of their bill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monitoring a Flicker nest

Feb24

Posted by Matthew Sim

As spring approaches once again, I like to reminisce about the previous year and all of its most exciting moments.

For the past several years, flickers have nested in my neighbor’s tree. I had never really observed this nest closely before; however, last year, I did just that.  Flickers usually excavate nest holes in dead or dying tree trunks or large branches. These nest holes are most often found at 6-15 feet off the ground and will often be reused.  By late May/ early June in Calgary most flickers have laid their 5-8 white eggs. I started to notice that the flickers were more active around the nest in early June and it is my belief that on around the 3rd or 4th of June, “my” pair laid their eggs.

This is the nest hole with the female looking out on June 10. The flickers had been in and out of the hole since late May

    Incubation of the eggs ranges from 14-16 days and I had been closely following all the bird’s actions in attempt to discover when the eggs would hatch. On June 24, I heard the first sounds coming from the hole. The flickers had been born! I think that we can assume that there is a possibility that the young flickers were born a day or two earlier and I had not heard them until then.

If you compare this shot with the photo above, you can see that the leaves around the hole grew a lot as the summer progessed, adding even more security and privacy to the flicker residence.

The first visible evidence of the young flickers was the clean-up crew. As all parents can attest to, there is a lot of cleaning up involved with kids.  The adult flickers, both male (pictured in photo above) and female, had to work constantly to ensure that their young were well-fed, safe from predators and, perhaps most importantly, in a clean home.

July 1st came around and I had still not seen the young flickers, though I had definitely heard them. Each and every day they were getting louder and louder and soon I could hear them from across the alley, in my yard, maybe 35 feet away. The young flickers cry is often described as a hissing noise and is uttered for two weeks, day and night, growing stronger as the birds grow older.  I was not worried about not having seen the flickers yet as their eyes do not open until they are ten days old, so  wouldn’t be seeing them until then. July 3, I was up in Banff, where I happened upon a flicker nest with two young already poking their heads out of their hole. At that point, I couldn’t help but wonder how my flickers were doing.

July 5th, marked a special day for my monitoring project. That day, I got my first glimpse of the young flickers. I took my first photos of the young flickers on July 9th, and they were looking healthy and fit; all 3 of them!

But that’s where it went all wrong. The nest holes of flickers (and often of many other species of birds) are the scenes of very fierce battles. Three young birds with very sharp bills, duking it out for supremacy and the right to remain looking out of the nest hole, therefore receiving the most food. The stronger birds almost invariably end up on top, and maintain their authority by jabbing the others with vicious pecks of their beak. The opening is only big enough for two heads and the third one gets pushed to the bottom. There, the young flicker receives very little food and consequently, it perishes. July 9th, I took the photo above, showing 3 young flickers. By the next day, July 10th, I was only seeing 2 young flickers.

Disappointed though I was, I realized that sometimes, this is the way nature must work. I continued to watch the flickers for several days, amazed at the rate at which they grew. After about 4 weeks, the flickers would fledge and would begin to leave the nest; my flickers started appearing out of the nest around July 16th. The two young birds started hopping about and practicing flying, getting ready for the day when they would leave the nest altogether.

Than one day, I did not see the flickers. Nor did I see them the next day. Or the day after that. It would seem that the two young flickers that I had watched for a nearly a month had successfully fledged. I don’t think I ever saw these two again, though I was seeing flickers in the neighborhood, which might just have been one of the young. From time to time, I did hear the distant call of several Northern Flickers and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was the fledgelings, calling away.