End of May

Dave checked the nesting box again last week and the Tree Swallows were still sitting on eggs. Last night I did hear some peeping coming from the box, so I suspect we may finally have a successful hatching! We'll check the box later today to be sure.

The baby chickadees are growing quickly as well. They are making quite a racket now!



And this morning we had an Eastern Bluebird show up for the first time in WEEKS! He was checking out a vacant nesting box, so we're hoping he'll decide to take up residency. It's been a few years since we've had Bluebirds nest here and we'd love to see them again.

More first of the year sightings

Last night I was lucky enough to spot a Great-Crested Flycatcher in the trees. I heard him calling out first, and knew it was a new sound in the yard. I crossed my fingers that he would stick around while I ran in to get the camera and he did! He actually flew a bit closer and I was able to snap a few pics. A quick consultation with Dave and Sibley's confirmed it was the GCF. They were checking out nesting boxes last year, so it would be great if they decide to settle this season.





On May 19th, we had our first two Eastern King birds in the dead tree behind the house.

And on Saturday, we saw a Blackpoll Warbler (male) in an oak tree in the front yard. This is not just a first of the year, but a first time ever sighting! A new addition to the life list! We didn't get a picture of him, but here's one from http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blackpoll_Warbler/id



Cool Facts

* The song of the male Blackpoll Warbler is one of the highest-pitched of all birds.
* Part of the fall migratory route of the Blackpoll Warbler is over the Atlantic Ocean from the northeastern United States to Puerto Rico, the Lesser Antilles, or northern South America. This route averages 3,000 km (1,864 mi) over water, requiring a potentially nonstop flight of up to 88 hours. To accomplish this flight, the Blackpoll Warbler nearly doubles its body mass and takes advantage of a shift in prevailing wind direction to direct it to its destination.


AMAZING!!


In other news, the Chickadees have hatched! There appears to be one egg that didn't hatch, but I count at least 7 babies. They are so tiny, but they are already pretty noisy. We'll be checking on them again soon.

A visit to Acorus Restoration

On Sunday, we packed a picnic and took a road trip to Acorus Restoration, an Ontario Native Plant Nursery. What a beautiful place! It's very quiet, peaceful and so wonderfully green. Aside from the nursery, they have walking trails that lead through various habitats for wildlife, all with native plants. We stocked up on native plants for our own front yard naturalization project. The staff is very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. Arthur and Lola were even invited to go for a swim in the pond to cool off!






We saw the following birds on our walk:

Baltimore Oriole and an Oriole nest, hanging from a tree over the pond.


Wild Turkey


Cedar Waxwings


And new to our life list- the Willow Flycatcher! We were able to ID it based on the shape of the head and a sound recording of it's song.






Yellow Warbler



We also saw Song Sparrows, Eastern Bluebirds, an Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbirds, and Barn Swallows. I highly recommend a visit to Acorus. They have some interesting workshops and you can even camp there if it's too far for a day trip.

Important information/links

From the latest Bird Studies Canada Newsletter:


Another Bird Species at Risk in Canada

3 May 2010 – The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has recommended that Bobolink be added to Canada’s list of species at risk. Last assessed by COSEWIC 10 years ago, it was also recommended that the status of Lewis’s Woodpecker be upgraded from Special Concern to Threatened, owing to population declines stemming from ongoing loss and degradation of its forest habitat. Two species (Whooping Crane and Acadian Flycatcher) were reconfirmed as Endangered, while Sprague’s Pipit was reconfirmed as Threatened, and Flammulated Owl was reconfirmed as Special Concern.
Over 25% of the Bobolink’s breeding range is in Canada. It met COSEWIC’s criteria for Threatened status owing to significant population declines (88% since 1968) that are due to habitat loss and degradation, high levels of nest failure resulting from increasingly intensive agricultural operations, and threats faced on its wintering grounds in South America. A familiar species across eastern North America, the Bobolink joins a lengthy and growing list of other birds, plants, insects, and other wildlife that are designated as at risk and that depend on grassland habitats.
Jon McCracken, BSC’s Director of National Programs, co-chairs COSEWIC’s Birds Specialist Subcommittee. “The addition of a hitherto common species like the Bobolink is particularly worrisome, but perhaps should come as no great surprise. As with nearly every other grassland species in North America, the declines are widespread and severe.”
Select this link to read COSEWIC’s press release. More detailed information about all the species assessed at the COSEWIC meeting, including plants, insects, mollusks, amphibians, fishes, birds, and mammals, can be found on the COSEWIC website.


Aerial Insectivores – Ontario Sightings Wanted

19 May 2010 – As a first step in identifying factors behind the significant range contractions and population declines of aerial insectivores observed during the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, Bird Studies Canada is developing research projects targeting three species of concern: Bank Swallow, Chimney Swift, and Whip-poor-will. To increase our understanding of the current distribution and abundance of these species in Ontario, and to identify their habitat needs, we are compiling reports of breeding locations from anywhere in Ontario.
Report Bank Swallow colonies online through the Ontario Bank Swallow Project on the Nature Counts website or contact Myles Falconer, mfalconer@birdscanada.org. Report Chimney Swifts entering a chimney or other structure through the Ontario Chimney Swift Project or contact Elisabeth van Stam, evanstam@birdscanada.org. Report observations of singing Whip-poor-wills to the Ontario Whip-poor-will Project or contact Audrey Heagy, aheagy@birdscanada.org.
More information, and additional resources such as observation forms and online reporting tools, will be posted on these project websites as they become available. In the meantime, keep track of sightings (date and location), and consider reporting all your bird records through eBird Canada.


Marking of Eastern Loggerhead Shrikes

19 May 2010 – Loggerhead Shrikes are declining across much of their range. In Canada, the Eastern subspecies is critically endangered, with less than 35 pairs found in 2009. The majority now breed in Ontario, where a captive breeding program has been releasing about 100 shrikes annually since 2006.
To maximize chances of spotting these shrikes after release, Wildlife Preservation Canada is colouring the breast of the birds, which will be released from May-August. An extensive area of their breast or belly may be coloured green, blue, or purple. All released birds, and a large proportion of the wild population, are also colour banded.
If you see a shrike with a coloured breast and/or wearing bands, please report it to Wildlife Preservation Canada at jessica@wildlifepreservation.ca or 519-836-9314. Please include details about specific location (GPS coordinates are ideal, but not essential) and any colours (breast and/or bands).
Bird Studies Canada serves on the scientific committee of the Loggerhead Shrike recovery team.

Nesting News

A week ago, I posted about the Tree Swallows in the nesting box, with 5 eggs. Dave checked on the box last night and there are still five eggs, but nothing has hatched. And now the eggs are in a different spot and feathers have been added. We also saw the Tree Swallows mating last night and then going back into the same box. Dave isn't sure, but is wondering if they started over and rebuilt a nest over top of the eggs we observed last week.



Another note of concern is that it looks like one of the eggs may be damaged, possibly pierced? The House Wrens are back and have built a nest in another nesting box. Last year, the House Wrens, Tree Swallows and Robins were all sitting on eggs about the same time. I was worried about the House Wrens getting at the other birds eggs/young, but it didn't seem to be an issue last year. Is the small hole in the egg on the far right a piercing from the House Wren?



"A House Wren weighs about as much as two quarters, but it’s a fierce competitor for nest holes. Wrens will harass and peck at much larger birds, sometimes dragging eggs and young out of a nest site they want – even occasionally killing adult birds. In some areas they are the main source of nest failure for bluebirds, Tree Swallows, Prothonotary Warblers, and chickadees." (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/House_Wren/lifehistory)

So I'm wondering, would the Wren even bother with the Tree Swallows if they aren't competing for a nest site? The Tree Swallows returned to their same box and the House Wren went back to the one it used last year, and there is some distance between the two. Or is the damage to the Swallow egg something else? The entry hole to the nesting box is too small for a Starling. Could it be a House Sparrow? Any thoughts/ideas you have to share are appreciated.


The House Wren nest:

I so love this time of year! The migrating birds are making their appearances at the feeders, the fields and forests. There are so many colours brightening up the landscape- we have the return of our beloved Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Baltimore Orioles, and as of last night- our male Indigo Bunting! He is just so beautiful!!




We also saw and heard multiple Bobolinks in a nearby field. They were singing and flying through the farmer's field. The males are very distinctive with their yellow hats. We were hoping for a closer view, but we'll take what we can get. This was our first sighting of the year of the Bobolink.




We now have at least two female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds visiting the feeder. It was nice to get some pictures of them. Usually one will chase the other away, but there was a truce proposed over dinner last night.



And as you know, one of my favourite birds is the Red-bellied Woodpecker. It was thrilling to see him back at the suet yesterday (and even checking out the orange, chasing off a Baltimore Oriole). At the suet, he would take large pieces of the suet and then fly off, so me thinks there are babies being fed. I heard two Red-bellies calling to each other this morning, so they are active in the area again. Yay!



The male House Wren has returned to the same nesting box they used last year. He has been perched on top of it and singing his very loud and long songs this morning.


Some discouraging news is that our Downy Woodpeckers are being harrassed by Starlings. The Downys have worked hard to excavate a nesting cavity in one of the dead trees out back and I suspect they have eggs and/or young. The Starling(s) have been around the nesting site and this is causing great upset for the Woodpeckers (who are the smallest woodpeckers in the area). The male and female are flying towards the Starlings and calling and clamouring. I feel so awful that the Downys are expending so much time and energy defending their nest from a non-native species. I hope the Starlings aren't able to access the nest and that the Downy parents are safe. We're keeping an eye on it and any tips to keep these Starlings at bay would be appreciated.



Our Tree Swallows are still busy with their nest. We are due to check it again soon to see if there has been any hatching.


We also spotted Barn Swallows flying in and out of the shed this morning. I peeked in and there's no nest yet, but it would be wonderful if they decided to nest in there! The door to the shed broke off (that's another story and it's not very exciting) so they have unlimited access to the space.

More about Bird Banding

Bird banding is part of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network, which is part of Bird Studies Canada and is done on a mostly volunteer basis by private individuals. The government will supply the bird bands and then it's up to the individual bander to buy the rest of the equipment (nets etc).

Why is bird banding important? Well, we know that there has been a 40-60% decrease in migratory bird populations, with a continued downward trend. This is a result of habitat loss and this includes loss of habitat for breeding, nesting, wintering and rest stops. It's a far-reaching problem and one that needs to be addressed further. Birds are a very important part of the ecosystem and the food chain. Just imagine the number of insects we would be overrun with if there were no birds to eat them! The banding program gives us a glimpse into what is going on with the various populations. We learned there are 23 bird-banding stations and approximately 8 are year-round.

I asked the workshop leader, licensed bird bander Brian Pomfret, what the most common birds he bands in the area, and while it can vary year to year and from site to site, he said White-throated Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and American Goldfinch and/or Chickadee. Brian said he has caught all kinds of birds over the years- even large birds such as ducks, geese, owls, hawks. The method for banding those is a bit different and extra protection has to be taken when handing the birds of prey with their powerful talons.

Out at the banding table, Brian walked us through the process and joked that often it can be easier to identify a bird in the field rather than in the hand, because in the field you can observe the birds habitat, song and behaviour. When it's in the hand, you might have a harder time to id, especially when there are many female warblers who are very close in colour and markings. Once they determine what the bird is, they are able to band it.



The code is recorded, along with species, age determination, weight, sex, which can sometimes be difficult to tell. In the case of the Great Crested Flycatcher, both male and females look similar and incubate eggs and therefore both have a brood patch. The brood patch is developed by birds for sitting on the eggs and keeping them warm.



(A Baltimore Oriole gets his weigh-in)

Age is determined by looking at feather fro growth bars, as well as the overall condition of the feathers. The bander will also examine the primary covert feathers and check the head feathers as well. Measurements of the wing are taken, from the elbow to the tip of the longest feather. The bander measures the fat storage and muscle mass of the bird and rates these on a scale of 0-3, 3 being in excellent shape. The fat is stored under the throat, and there is visible yellow/orange tissue.


If you ever come across a dead bird with a band, it's important to report the band number and the location. Just google "report dead bird" and the information will come up.

Recommended reading if you are interested in learning all the details about birds is "Identification Guide to North American Birds" by Peter Pyle.

It was a very informative and entertaining session (Brian is hilarious) and I would recommend people attend it next year. I know we'll be back!

We saw our first Ruby-throated Hummingbirds of the season! Both male and female made an appearance. We have seen them frequently at the feeders since Friday. We really enjoy these little birds.





We were up early Sunday to attend a bird-banding workshop at Mountsberg Conservation Area. It was a very interesting and informative session. We would really like to learn more about this program and get involved. It seems it's done mostly on a volunteer basis and I don't believe there is a formal banding location that's very close to us. Mountsberg had one in the past but apparently it hasn't been happening for a few years due to lack of staff/volunteers. It would be fantastic if it could get up and running again (whether at Mountsberg or not). We would need more training before delving into that. It is something to investigate further.


This male Baltimore Oriole was not pleased about being caught. He was squawking up a storm and attracted the attention of two other males Balties, who flew in to see what all the fuss was about. The entire process only takes a few minutes and the birds are then released. Mountsberg seems to be the Baltimore Oriole haven- there were so many singing in the trees.



The Common Yellowthroat was another bird we were able to get a close look at during the banding session. This is a warbler and the since these birds usually stay high up in the trees and move so quickly, they are difficult to spot. We only have 8 Warblers on our life list out of the 30 (or more?) that are found in Ontario. It was a great experience to be able to see Warblers up close and personal this way. Dave saw this bird once before but it was my first sighting of it.



and a female Black-throated Blue Warbler was banded. This was our first ever sighting of this bird. Sibley's describes the females as "more difficult to identify", compared to the unmistakable male Black-throated Blue, which unfortunately we did not see.


And a beautiful Barn Swallow was also banded (along with a female Cowbird, Chipping Sparrows and a second Barn Swallow).

We also saw the American Redstart (first of the year), two Ospreys (first ever!). They are nesting at Mountsberg and we walked to the viewing area for the nest, didn't see any movement, started to walk away and then both flew overhead!


After we left Mountsberg, we drove by a water/muddy area and saw Greater Yellowlegs (first of the year), Semi-palmated Plover (first of the year) and the Spotted Sandpiper. There were also some Peeps in there, but we were unable to determine exactly what they were.