Tag Archive | calgary rare bird alert

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 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.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: July 13

Jul15

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 Thursday July 14.

June 26
— UPLAND SANDPIPER, near Frank Lake, Peter Roxburgh, group

July 1
— ARCTIC TERN, Kitsim Reservoir near Brooks, Gerald Romanchuk, Steve Knight

July 2
— COMMON POORWILL, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, GR, SK
— DUSKY FLYCATCHER, same

July 3
— CASSIN’S VIREO possible, east of Edworthy Park (Calgary), Marcel Gahbauer

July 4
— HUDSONIAN GODWIT, Murray Marsh (Edmonton area), Don Delaney

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday July 18.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: April 14

Apr16

Welcome to the City of Calgary and Nature Calgary’s (CFNS) Bird Alert. This Bird Alert was recorded on Thursday, April 14, at 10:25 am. To report a bird sighting, phone 403 221-4519 and leave a message after the beep at the end of the recording. To report injured wildlife please call Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society at 403 239-2488, or the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation at 403 946-2361.

SIGHTINGS FOR:

Wednesday, April 13

–BLACK-NECKED STILT (3) – at a slough E of Irricana (the road to Tschetter Hutterite Colony) on RR 260, N of Twp Rd 270 seen by Joan & Malcolm McDonald.

–GREATER YELLOWLEGS (1) – as above at a slough on the W side of RR 254 about 1 Km N of the farm by J&MM.

–TREE SWALLOW (1) – observed by Cedric Hitchon on the Bow River at the Hwy 22X Bridge in SE Calgary.

–TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE (1) – reported by Matthew Sim in his yard in the Willowpark community in SE Calgary.

Monday, Apr 11

–SNOW GOOSE (1) – observed flying in with Canada Geese on Twp Rd 314 E of RR 253 N of Linden by Corrine Griffin.

–GADWALL (2 pair) – near the observation blind at Frank Lake on Hwy 23 about 8 km E of High River by Greg Wagner.

–PEREGRINE FALCON (3) – 1 seen feeding on a duck along the SW shoreline of Basin 1 at Frank Lake by GW and Thomas Glen reports a pair in downtown Calgary.

–LAPLAND LONGSPUR (300) – seen on Twp Rd 314 E of RR 253 N of Linden by CG.

–RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (1 male) – seen by Carol Coulter in her yard in the Southwood subdivision in SW Calgary.

Sunday, April 10

–RUDDY DUCK – seen at Frank Lake by GW.

–SHARP-SHINNED HAWK – reported by Dwight Knapik at the Calgary Zoo private breeding facility off Dunbow Rd just SE of Calgary.

–WHOOPING CRANE (2) – seen flying northward over the Hwy 2 & Hwy 547 overpass S of Calgary by Roger Hoffort

Saturday, April 9

–AMERICAN KESTREL – watched by Bob Lefebvre by the irrigation canal at 32 Ave & 26 St SE in Calgary.

–PRAIRIE FALCON (1) – seen on the S side of the river upstream from the Bearspaw Dam W of Calgary by Kelly Day & Christine McDonald.

–RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (3) – seen just SE of Frank Lake by GW.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is Monday, April 18.

Posted by Pat Bumstead